Lesson Rates

Introductory lessons are available. We have four round-pens, an arena, and instructors available. Class size limited to one on one for beginners.
Horsemanship Lesson rates are based on 1 hour monthly blocks. These are individual lessons, or family group lessons.

$200/month for a lesson per week.
$300/month for a married couple or parent/child. Third and additional persons are $150. Additional instructors are used.
$300/month with two lessons each week. The second person is $200.
$375/month for three lessons a week.
$75 for individual lessons.
Missed lessons due to weather can be scheduled for ‘make-ups’ on other days. Payments are due at the beginning of each month.

Ride Rates

Students pay just $35 for each trail ride, or game day, plus any direct costs like entry fees. You will go when you demonstrate control of your horse, and control of your emotions. Trail Rides are listed on the "events" page of our website.

We don't "hire out" horses. If you are not a student, or a prior student, you need to contact us to schedule a qualification appointment. We want to match your riding skills with a horse that will make your ride safe and enjoyable. This once a year qualification takes less than an hour and is $75. Trail rides in the National Forest for non-students is $150, couples $250, plus hauling fees.

Hauling

Clients

$35 Less than 25mi, ie Bowie (22mi) Fant's Grove
$45 25 to 50 miles , Parsons Mountain (35mi) and Hunter Paces just north of Greenville area
$55 50 to 75 miles Croft (63mi), Tryon (70 miles),
$65 South Mountain (115 mi) Ashville Pasture (95 mi)
Couples may qualify for $10 discount

Others

$2/mile from our driveway to where we drop your horse. Stops are billed at $25/hour

Train the Trainer

Classes available for Train the Trainer – ground handling, round pen, starting and trail. Your horse or ours.

Program overseen by Mike Kinsey, fourth generation horseman.

We have over 30 head of quality registered Quarter horses and Paint horses. We match our horses to your needs. Training on the horse of your future is a possibility. Pasture boarding is available for clients.

"Those you control will always do one of two things; that which you make them do, or that which you let them do."
-- A General Officer to newly assigned Second Lieutenant Mike Kinsey, 1977, Korea.

"When you feel you are losing control while riding, remember, Pull one rein toward the saddle, then release, and try again."
--Mike Kinsey

Boarding

Pasture Board $250/month includes worming and pasture rotations

Paddock Boarding $350/month

Private Paddock Boarding $450/month

Stallion Boarding $1000/month

Yearling Board $150/month

Start 'em Right Weanlings and Yearlings get ground training, trimming, and worming included with their board.

The recent recall of Purina Feeds due to possible excessive amounts aflatoxin has concerned some of our clients. We do not use Purina Feeds at this time, and according to a statement released by Purina, no confirmed animal health complaints attributable to aflatoxins have been reported. Aflatoxins are a potent form of mycotoxins, which are secondary metabolites of molds.

Beetle bug poisoning is another concern and a potential issue for those who feed alfalfa hay. Although advances in hay processing and handling equipment have helped alleviate the problem, occasionally some slip through. Alfalfa is not currently used at the Start ‘em Right facility for a number of reasons.

We try to maintain horses in as natural and gimmick-free environment as possible.

Training

We have limited training slots available. Folks who want more than just a ridable horse, but a horse with good manners are our first priority. Buying a young horse here, having it boarded and trained here for the first four or five years of it's life is a prudent investment. Plus, it is just a lot more rewarding for me to deal with folks and horses that are pleasant.

Our training always starts with a diagnostics workup. We know where we'd like to be in 60 or 90 days. To get there, we need to know where the horse is now, from a behavioral perspective. This includes assessing the horse's inherited disposition, and his learned attitude. How well a horse learns depends on both. I'll guess that 85% of the time, the diagnostics will show me where we will be 60 days of training, and I'll know what it will take to get there. The other 15% of the time it may take me two or three sessions to figure out what all is going on in the horse's mind. These are generally horses that have passed through various owners with extreme opposing training perspectives.

It is reasonable for some owners to want an assessment before committing to the training. We charge $100 for a separate behavioral diagnostics workup.

	"Start 'em Right®" Training - Guaranteed* results. At 60 days your horse will stand tied without excess fidgeting; saddle quietly; stand while being mounted; go with slight leg pressure and a kiss; continue the gait on a loose rein; stop with only a lifting of the reins and a "whoa" stand quietly until given a cue to proceed, and begin to neck rein and back with light rein pressure. We use patience, gentleness and consistency, and we are exacting. Consequently, the horses we train will demonstrate these same qualities. *Guarantee applies to 2-4 year olds that meet Start 'em Right standards.
Photo by: Brian MacCormack	Trail Horse Training - Horses are trained to handle assorted obstacles one would expect to find on the trail. The horse will cross bridges, fast water rivers, ditches, logs, climb and descend steep slopes, ride along busy highways, approach barking dogs, and generally work in a safe, steady manner. They will load into step-up trailers. Within thirty days the horse will typically have "hooves-on" experience at three different trail systems in addition to daily training. Shoeing is required. Three year olds and older.
	Train-the-Trainer - Owners of horses in training qualify for a 50% discount for lessons. Designed for those who want to learn why their previous horse learned those annoying or dangerous habits. This is an excellent opportunity to get the rider started right and keep the horse progressing properly. Train-the-Trainer students get a free mountain trail ride at the conclusion of training.
Your Horse's Health - All horses in our pastures have current vaccinations and worming. All horses brought in must have a Coggins test. We wash saddle blankets regularly, and clean cinches and straps with a Betadine solution to control the spread of any skin fungus or bacteria. We do not use barb wire, hog wire, high tensile, or other "horse unfriendly" fences. We feed high quality extruded pellets balanced for nutritional needs. Vaccination updates, and worming can be provided, as well as shoeing. Free pickup in eastern Anderson County. Serious health problems are immediately referred to our vet.

"What are the costs?" Basic training establishes a horse's lifetime behavior. Our training is a prudent investment if you value your horse's long-term well being, your life, and your family's safety. We are happy to do a diagnostics session and demonstrate what your horse's attitude will be during training. Diagnostic sessions are $100 but included at no cost for horses in training.
Monthly Fees:	Training/Board
Weanlings - Ground training (2 week minimum)	$200/week
Yearlings - Ground training and preparatory saddle training (1 month minimum)	$750
Ground and basic saddle training (2 month minimum)	$1000
Ground and trail horse training (2 month minimum)	$1200
Behavioral issues; add 50% to the above training fees.
Stallions: Get 'em cut, then the prices above apply.

Start 'em Right horses are half price. Recurring annual training and 'tune-ups' qualify for a 25% discount (if you have completed the train-the-trainer course with your horse.) It is easy to inadvertently teach a bad or dangerous habit. To correct that same bad or dangerous habit is time consuming and requires advanced knowledge. Bad habits are never forgotten, and can crop up when you are least prepared for it. Our re-training fees for re-training failures reflect the risks we take.

If you are considering sending your horse to Mr. Mike's charm school.... consider this:
Horses that come here for training experience the same "culture shock" that a teenager would going to basic training. If your child or your horse has grown up in an environment of respect for authority, hard work and hard play, they will find basic training no big deal. If they have been sheltered from the consequences of life, basic training can be pretty traumatic. This is not a "half-way" home for the wayward. They are here for training, or they are not. Just as your child can expect to meet haircut standards, physical training standards, wear issued footwear and demonstrate respect for leadership, your horse will meet those same expectations. Don't want your child or horse to get a hair cut? Then don't even contact us. I don't babysit spoiled brats, and I won't be a victim of some well meaning but ignorant fad. Just as the Army turns snot-nosed kids into reliable soldiers in spite of mothers' fretting, are "mission" is turning your pet into a reliable mount. It ain't Burger King, you don't get it both ways.

Clinics

If you are interested in a clinic, please drop us an email or call Toni at 864-933-6700.

Give us a time frame and we'll talk about what we can do to help.

Our most common clinic we call "Truth or Consequences". Our approach is different than many folks have seen since we have been doing this before many popular clinicians owned their own horse, or in some cases, before they were born. We don't try to sell what is popular, only that which is good for the long-tern welfare of the horse and owner.

We also do clinics on trail horse training, on starting young horses, on diagnosing pre-purchase behavioral issues, adjusting behavioral issues, and round-pen basics. Expect to learn the difference between instinctual issues and behavioral issues. You will learn to recognize when to apply training corrections versus when and how to discipline appropriately. Our most popular clinic is when a number of a club or stable's clients or members sign up to bring their horse and behavioral issues. We listen to the owner, observe, diagnose, and teach the horse and handler techniques to build a relationship based on cooperation and respect.

Don't look for us to play the marketing game of "I'm kinder and gentler". We believe both kids and colts, need a tailored approach of respect, and cooperation. Cooperation comes from rewards and consequences. Kids and colts long-term development get our priority, not short term political correctness. If you are looking for 'feel good' entertainment, go see the big marketing boys. Mike began training professionally in 1962. Yep, that was before some of the big marketing clinicians first started going to see clinics or even owned their first horse.

When you are fed up with solutions that don't work, give us a call. We may be a bit blunt for some folks, but it is easier to apologize to an offended owner, then to make a young horse or a child understand that you short-changed him because you wanted to feel good.

We conduct clinics in the local area at a minimal cost, or we can travel. Typically you furnish the arena, round-pen, horses, and travel expenses. We will work with you on fee structure. If within hauling distance we can bring a couple horses to demonstrate 'issues'.

High Point arena has restrictions against alcohol during all equine events. At any High Point arena event, stallions must pre-register and the entry fees are double those stated with no discounts, unless handler and stallion have completed a
Start 'em Right® Stallion clinic.

High Point Arena Prices:
Contact Toni for details. Spectators are on a case by case basis at $10 each. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Bring your own lawn chair.

Kinsey Paint & Quarter Horses and High Point Arena is located at:

126 Docheno Road
Belton, SC.

Belton is about 15 miles east of Anderson, SC and 20 miles south of Greenville, SC.

Located off US Hwy 76/178 about 4 miles from Honea Path or about 2 miles from Belton. Docheno Road begins directly across from Highpoint Gas & Grocery. Farm is approximately ¼ mile on right.