Libben
Horsemanship Academy
West Bakersfield · Est. by H&K Farms
Riders ages 5–105 learn to ride, care for, and connect with horses in a supportive, family-oriented environment, through our learning levels curriculum, nestled in the peaceful farm country of west Bakersfield.
Featured on KERO / Turn to 23 — in February, our students adopted wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management in Ridgecrest and took on a 100-day challenge to train them for adoption. Read the story →
The Foundation
Most people come to us wanting to ride. What they discover is a beautiful relationship with the horse — both in and out of the saddle. Trust is what makes everything possible. That's horsemanship. And it's where every student at Libben begins.
A horse is a 1,200-pound prey animal. It does not follow commands — it chooses to partner with someone it trusts. Ground work teaches students to earn that trust through consistent, calm, and clear communication before ever asking for more.
Horses communicate through posture, breath, and movement — and they read the same in us. Learning to be aware of your own body, and to notice the horse's responses, is a skill that carries directly into the saddle and sharpens everything about how you ride.
Students at Libben don't just ride — they learn to groom, feed, tack, and care for the horses in their program. That responsibility builds a relationship that no amount of ring time can replace, and it's one of the qualities parents tell us transfers into every other part of their child's life.
The Partnership
A relationship that grows with every lesson
Students who build this foundation ride with more confidence, more safety, and a connection to their horse that students who skip straight to riding rarely develop. It's the Libben difference.
Ready to see the difference a horsemanship foundation makes?
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Programs
Individual attention every lesson, customized to your rider's pace and goals — English or Western.
See lesson tiers →
Hands-on grooming, feeding, tack, and safety — building riders who are confident on the ground, too.
What students learn →
A full day of riding, horse care, crafts, and games. Space is limited to 9 students per session.
Ask about camp →Not sure which program is right for your rider? Start with an intro lesson.
Contact UsMeet Your Instructor
Nervous about riding? Grace specializes in helping riders rebuild confidence — at any age, at any level.
Grace Webb has been passionate about horses since the age of three. Her lifelong journey in the saddle includes competing in USEF 3-Day Events, Dressage, Ranch Horse, and the Extreme Cowboy Challenge. Since 2017, she has specialized in training and competing with Mustangs and Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) across multiple disciplines.
In addition to her competitive background, Grace has been teaching riding lessons in both English and Western disciplines for several years. She is known for her patient, intuitive approach — helping riders of all levels build strong foundations in horsemanship and technique.
After experiencing a serious riding accident, Grace shifted her focus toward helping others rebuild their confidence in the saddle. Today, she shares her deep knowledge and personal experience to guide riders through mental blocks, fear, and performance anxiety — empowering them to ride with trust, clarity, and joy.
Meet Grace in person — contact us to set up an intro lesson.
Contact UsFamilies Like Yours
“We absolutely love it here! Knowledgeable instructors, very safe with children. Clean barn areas. We are glad we started horse lessons here at Libben!”
Karissa E. · Google review
“My daughter loves taking lessons at Libben! The instructors are so knowledgeable and personable. It’s been a wonderful experience!
I know she is gaining valuable knowledge about horse behavior and health that was missing at our last location.
They’re learning to love riding and care for the horses!”
Patty G. · Google review
Join the families who've made Libben part of their week.
Contact UsPrograms & Pricing
For people who want to “try it out”
Pre-Academy
$300 / month
Included
Curriculum, community & goals
Academy 1
$350 / month
Included
Group riding & show privileges
Academy 2
$700 / month
Everything in Academy 1, plus
Assistant instructor track
Academy 3
$900 / month
Everything in Academy 1 & 2, plus
All packages billed monthly. 30-minute evaluation lesson: $65.
Academy 3 package + board for 1 horse = $1,400 / month.
Questions about which tier fits your rider? The intro lesson is the best place to find out.
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High Demand
Common Questions
We welcome riders ages 5 to 105. Younger riders begin with ground-based horsemanship before moving into mounted lessons at an instructor's recommended pace.
Yes. The intro lesson gives new students a safe place to ask questions and see what it’s all about in person, with the horses.
Closed-toe shoes with a small heel, long pants, and a helmet if you have one — we have helmets available to borrow for your intro lesson.
Yes. Every new student starts with ground work and a paired horse-and-instructor match suited to their comfort level before progressing to independent riding.
Yes — this is something Grace cares about deeply. After her own serious riding accident, she shifted her focus to helping riders rebuild confidence, working through fear, mental blocks, and performance anxiety at a pace that feels safe. Every rider starts on the ground, and the intro lesson is a good, no-pressure place to talk it through.
Contact us and we'll add you to our waitlist. We keep groups small intentionally, so openings come up as current students move levels — most families hear back within a few weeks.
Reach out to our office directly — we work with families on schedule changes and pauses on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. Libben students have adopted wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management in Ridgecrest and trained them through a 100-day program, helping the horses become calmer and more adoptable. The program was featured by KERO 23ABC News in Bakersfield.
Still have questions? An intro lesson is the best way to see it all for yourself.
Contact UsVisit Us
Contact us to set up an intro lesson and see why families across Bakersfield trust us with their riders. A 30-minute intro lesson is $65.
