One of the things I enjoy most about being a Realtor is getting to know the people and small businesses that make Siouxland such a great place to call home. These locally owned businesses bring something special to our communities, and I believe their stories deserve to be shared.
Recently, we had the opportunity to spend time with Elizabeth Cooley, owner of Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities near Onawa, Iowa. What she has created is about much more than learning how to ride a horse. It is a welcoming place where children and adults can build confidence, learn responsibility, develop horsemanship skills, and form meaningful partnerships with horses.
Watch Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth started Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities approximately three and a half years ago, building the business around her lifelong love of horses.
Today, she offers a variety of experiences, including:
- Horseback riding lessons
- Trail rides
- Birthday parties
- Pony rides
- Vendor events
- Horse training
She also works with horses belonging to other people, helping with training and building a stronger foundation between the horse and its owner.
Sharing the Knowledge She Had to Learn on Her Own
Elizabeth’s path into horsemanship was largely self-taught. She explained that she did not have someone available to teach her everything when she was first learning. Instead, she spent years figuring things out herself, including learning through research and information she found online.
That experience helped shape the way she teaches today.
Elizabeth wants her students to have the instruction and guidance she wished she had when she was starting out. Her goal is to help people experience the joy of horses while learning how to ride and care for them properly.
Her program is not focused solely on getting into the saddle. Students learn the entire process, from safely approaching and working around a horse to grooming, saddling, riding, and caring for the animal afterward.
Creating a Partnership Between Horse and Rider
One of the most meaningful parts of Elizabeth’s program is her emphasis on building a partnership with the horse.
As she explained, horses are not vehicles. They have their own minds, personalities, and responses. Riders must learn to understand what their horse is doing and communicate with the animal through their hands, legs, posture, and body movements.
Elizabeth teaches students to be aware of their surroundings, recognize their horse’s behavior, and develop a bond based on communication and trust.
That deeper understanding helps students become safer, more capable riders, but it also teaches patience, empathy, and responsibility.
A Program for Riders of Many Ages
Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities welcomes a broad range of ages and experience levels. Elizabeth has introduced toddlers to horses alongside their parents, worked with children learning the basics, and taught adults who want to become more comfortable and confident around horses.
“I don’t really have an age limit,” she explained. “It’s for everybody.”
Each lesson can be adapted to the rider’s comfort level, experience, and goals. Some students may be meeting a horse for the first time, while others are ready to improve their riding skills or learn more advanced horsemanship.
Horses With Different Personalities and Experience Levels
During our visit, Elizabeth introduced us to several horses involved in her program.
Some are experienced lesson horses that are calm and dependable with children. Others are younger or still in training and may eventually become part of the lesson program as they gain experience.
Elizabeth’s primary lesson horse, Bullseye, is eight years old and has experience in competitive events, including rodeo and sorting. His calm temperament also allows him to transition from competition to patiently working with young riders.
Each horse brings a different personality and background to the program, giving Elizabeth an opportunity to match riders with an appropriate horse while also teaching them that no two horses are exactly alike.
Helping Children Discover the Joy of Horses
For Elizabeth, one of the most rewarding parts of her work is seeing children connect with the horses.
She loves watching their expressions as they learn, gain confidence, and become excited about spending time with the animals. Horses were an important part of her own childhood, and she wanted to find a way to share that same experience with others as an adult.
That passion is evident in the patient way she works with her students, offering encouragement, explaining each step, and celebrating their progress along the way.
Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities gives children and adults a place to slow down, learn something new, and experience the special connection that can develop between a person and a horse.
Contact Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities
Whether you are interested in riding lessons, trail rides, birthday parties, pony rides, horse training, or simply learning more about horses, Elizabeth would be happy to help you explore the possibilities.
Follow Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities on Facebook to see updates, photos, and upcoming opportunities.
Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities
23215 Gum Avenue
Onawa, Iowa 51040
Elizabeth Cooley
Phone: 712-635-1555
Facebook: Hidden Valley Equestrian Activities
Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your story and for everything you do to inspire the next generation of horse lovers in Siouxland.
— Aaron Bircher
