Foothills Equestrian Center
Why Foothills Equestrian Center?
Foothills has been proudly serving horse enthusiasts, horseback riders, and owners in the Hickory, Lenoir, Newton, Conover, and Taylorsville areas for over 30 years. Located in the small community of Bethlehem, near Hickory, offers boarding, training, lessons, camps, horse shows, with the utmost committment to providing the best quality horse care and horse back riding instruction available anywhere. Dedicated professionals ensure you, and your horse, safe, professional and correct assistance with your individual horsemanship goals. We offer hunter seat, dressage and western riding instruction to recreational and competitive riders of all levels and ages from 7 years and older. Our covered and lighted arenas are comfortable year round riding facilities for students and boarders. Visitors are welcome here. Contact us
We can help you safely find more fun and ease in your riding and living.
As a certified Centered Riding Instructor Dana works with riders of all levels and in all disciplines to help them benefit from the methods made famous by Sally Swift, and today known as Centered Riding ®. Instructors must complete ongoing continuing education to remain current in certifications from both Centered Riding ®, and the American Riding Instructor Association. Certification is your guarantee that instruction, training and coaching are correct, professional and ethical. Never settle for less!
A family friendly community
Because of the support of our clients, the Foothills Equestrian Center community has grown over the years to encompass many different areas and levels of skills among our students and boarders. We have structured programs to help horsemen of all ages and levels understand and conduct their own training for competition, or simply to reach a higher level of understanding and communication with their horse. Developing a deeper relationship based in harmony of purpose and understanding between horse and human is the essence of our training and instructional programs. Correctly executed, riding, training and interaction with the horse can bring many opportunities for personal growth and learning accessing a spiritual connection of the mind, body and horse. We specialize in helping guide people on their exploration of the many facets of horsemanship and developing the areas that uniquely suit each individuals needs and interests. We take pride in helping each individual reach the goals that provide the most benefit to them, whether competing, training, or simply spending quality time with horses. ALL interests are welcome here!
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Our Head Instructor:
Instructor Dana Dewey brings over 40 years of combined experience in teaching horsemanship and riding disciplines including; dressage, jumping, cross country, western, and recreational riders. She has years of experience as a 4-H leader, riding, training, showing and is an Advanced Level American Riding Instructor Association certified, offering safe, fun, and challenging instruction to riders of all levels. Foothill’s high-quality school horses and ponies are gentle, dependable, well-trained and carefully selected to match each student's skill and size. Let our highly qualified team lead you on your journey toward excellence in horsemanship and a better relationship with horses!!
The owner and head trainer at FEC has been an ARIA Advanced certified instructor for over 25 years and is a current certified Centered Riding® Instructor. She has been a full-time professional in the horse industry since 1978, after completing a year at Michigan State University in Pre-Veterinary study. Her teaching includes hunt seat, jumping, cross country, stock seat, colt starting, dressage principles and a thoughtful, humane approach to safe and harmonious training concepts including rider position and balance, and effective communication. She coaches competing students at all levels and in many disciplines from beginners though advanced.
Contact Dana at 828-381-0473.
Dana L. Dewey
As a rider from age 7 Cori has developed a broad understanding of horsemanship of many styles. Specializing in hunt seat she competed in IHSA with Appalachian State Equestrian team throughout college and currently continues to compete as an alumni. With over 5 years of experience teaching riding she is also a full time teacher of 4th and 5th grades in Caldwell County Schools.