Introduction Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy- SHTRA

Introduction to Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy

​Created By: Tiffany R. Spurling

Who Are We?

​Officially Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy was founded and began services in January of 2022. The idea had been in the works for about a year or two before.

​Instructor Tiffany Spurling did instruct riding lessons for several years (well over 10 years) privately under the owners of Gallberry Stables out of Hope Mills, North Carolina.

What Are We About?

• ​We want to help students and clients reach their goals for horseback riding from time in the saddle to day clinics and online interactive programs. This academy was built on the idea of teaching all students from the ground up.

• ​We also strive to help students find their best match in an equine partner once they have progressed to a level where they want to find a horse of their very own.

What Is Our Motto?

• ​A Motto is something most academies and clubs come up with to describe what is valued in the academy or club. It is a saying we hold true to our hearts.

• Our "Motto" at Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy was originated back in the days of Tiffany Spurling instructing at Gallberry Stables and it goes:

​"A Well Rounded Horse Does It All"

What Is Our Motto?

• To add to this motto, I wanted something more to add to explain what each of our riders purpose is in the academy.

• So I have added the second half to our "Motto" at Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy as :

​"A Well Rounded Rider Is Eager to Learn It All"

Why Is This Our Motto?

• All great horseback riding academies need at least three things:

  great "well-rounded" school horses, an experienced instructor/trainer, and attentive and willing students who are eager to learn.

​"A Well Rounded Horse Does It All"

​"A Well Rounded Rider Is Eager to Learn It All"

• ​I believe one of the most important parts of a successful riding academy is good all around trained lesson horses who do not know just how to do one thing, but are schooled in many disciplines. This makes them smart, athletic, and versatile for the students who ride them.

Who Is Our Mascot?

• All great horseback riding academies and teams also need a Mascot. Our Mascot is a pirate. You may have noticed him lurking next to her front door.

• When coming up with the name of the riding academy, instructor Tiffany Spurling wanted a name that would stand out and be close to her and her interests. The riding academy being in her last name was meant to help honor her parents, Joseph Spurling and Candice Spurling, who also both loved horses and had a way with them.

• The pirate theme has always been one thing she loves and she wanted to incorporate this into her theme and for her mascot ideas.

About Your Instructor

• Tiffany R. Spurling has been riding horses since she was 7 years old. She began riding in Maryland under instructor and International Barrel Horse Association Board Member Sheila Harr.

• She began riding at Easy Rider Ranch in which she learned the basics as well as participated in shows with lesson horses at the farm where she even was presented a Reserve Grand Champion ribbon as well at a trophy placing 8th overall during her show season. She learned halter, showmanship, western pleasure, and barrel racing along with gymkhana type horse events in which she competed in.

About Your Instructor

• After losing her father at age 9, she moved to North Carolina at the age of 10 where her mother (Candice Spurling) bought her the first horse she ever owned named Jax.

• She decided she wanted to learn English riding between ages 10 and 11. At first she did not have an instructor in this and it definitely caused some issues because both styles of riding are so much different although the basics still carried over.

About Your Instructor

• During the same year she learned English after getting an instructor at age 11, she attended shows for 4-H in Western and English and qualified on an instructor's horse for state finals (Emily McKoy- who was a certified equitation instructor). Due to funding we did not attend State Finals that year. Jax was still in training at this time.

• At 11 years old she had her first ever fall from a horse in an English saddle. Although she did break her wrist, she continued riding with a cast up until it was completely healed.

About Your Instructor

• After a while of competing in these shows, she went on to going back to her first love, barrel racing. She taught her own horse the pattern and attended several open barrel racing shows to include the Central Carolina Barrel Racers Association Show Series. On her own horse that she taught these events to, she won a year end high points plaque and a high points trophy for the day about 5 times within that year.

• Over the next few years she began showing heavily in English/Western Open Shows, all while racking up the ribbons (too many to count). Jax became a top contender even in the Hunter/Jumper classes, jumping up to 3'6".

About Your Instructor

• She was placing in local Dressage competition and eventually competed in 3-Day Eventing Schooling Shows. It was during this time her first horse Jax was then diagnosed with ringbone in his leg and was unable to be ridden for a while.

• After barrel racing and speed events, she went on to learning Combined Training and 3-Day Eventing. Combined Training consists of Dressage and Show Jumping. She attended North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association shows to school in jumping where she again racked up the ribbons while looking for local events to compete in Dressage.

About Your Instructor

• Months later she was still giving lessons on Gallberry Stables horses as well as her new horse Spidi. Jax was finally sound again due to a wonderful farrier making special shoes for him, Jackie Blackman. She began competing on Spidi in everything from barrel racing to 3-Day Eventing and he also began to rack up the ribbons.

• She went on to buying another horse named Spidi. She was told that Jax may not ever be sound enough to compete again and possibly not ever be able to be a lesson horse again.

About Your Instructor

• Due to life changes she moved stables and took a short break from giving many lessons. In 2020, she decided she was going to start her own horseback riding academy and began trying to figure out how she was going to start it and where.

• In 2021 she moved to Bladen County and found herself with enough land to finally start working on her horse farm.

• Jax became sound enough to jump again up to 2'6" and competed now with her students. He kept her students in the ribbons and even continued to win classes and divisions, including a Reserve Grand Champion in the Hunters division with a 11 year old rider.

About Your Instructor

• Stevie and her both built the farm, board by board, fence post by fence post, until the horseback riding academy known as Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy was born.

• Still in the process of creating more pasture and building, she has a desire to keep moving forward and building up her farm to meet her goals and dreams.

• In January 2022 she finally had her land cleared and with the help of her other half, Stevie Tatum, they were able to open the farm and start horseback riding lessons and training.

Questions To Follow

​"A Well Rounded Horse Does It All"

"A Well Rounded Rider Is Eager To Learn It All"

Poll

How did you like using this program to learn about Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy and the instructor?

Click one of the following options.

• 0/10

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• 10/10

Multiple Choice

At what age did Tiffany Spurling start riding horses?

• 5

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• 8

Multiple Choice

At what age did Tiffany Spurling get her first horse?

• 9

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• 12

Multiple Choice

What best describes Spurling's Hidden Treasures Riding Academy's mascot?

• A Dog

• A Horse

• A Cat

• A Pirate

Open Ended

What are some subject areas you would like to see covered in future presentations? Type your answers below!

Conclusion

This was just an introductory lesson to the Academy and the next lesson plan will start on a new subject within the Academy!

Until Next Time...Ride On!

I hope you enjoyed this first powerpoint presentation and I look forward to your feedback on whether you would like to see more lessons like this one!