When a father in Oklahoma placed his 3-year-old daughter Jami on a horse, the action led — many years later — to Jami Ricks opening the JHK Equestrian Country Club in Edinburg. Ricks established the horsemanship academy after she had spent 25 years showing and competing nationally in English and Western riding contests. At one time she was ranked first in the nation in English equitation and first in Western showmanship and Western horsemanship. Along the way she rode multiple grand champion horses in reining, halter and other divisions.
So it was a natural progression when in 2006, Ricks took over an 11-acre horse facility on McColl Road. It is no surprise to learn that Ricks’ own daughter Nacole, also known as KK, began riding a horse at three years of age and has herself won multiple national and state riding championships. Today KK (a UTPA economics and finance student with a 4.0 GPA) and her younger brother Buck (who will be attending a Kentucky farrier school) are competitive horsemen. KK, who was home-schooled, has been the head riding instructor for four years and an integral part of the family business.
“We provide a full equine program for kids and adults focused equally on riding and on care of horses,” said Ricks. Behind her in the riding ring, a young girl is training her horse on a lunge line. “Besides horsemanship, the students learn how to care for and adjust riding equipment and how to care for horses, including understanding horse health and basic first aid.”
Because of the mother-daughter team’s experience, the school offers a full horsemanship program and goes beyond the skills of a single riding discipline. “They learn horsemanship skills they can apply to any type of riding: Western and English along with polo, Western dressage, trail riding and others. We provide them with a solid foundation to enter the equine world.”
An emphasis on safety underlies the entire program of teaching young and mature riders about
balance and horse behavior. “Falling off is not part of learning to ride a horse,” Ricks said. “We insure kids have a positive experience.” Students work to develop balance and are matched to a lesson horse with appropriate skill levels. JHK Equestrian Country Club horses are certified lesson horses and meet high training standards, Ricks explained. The animals are retired show and professional horses. One was on a championship-winning U.S. Open polo team. A few of the 25 horses at the academy are owned by students.
Four years ago, the riding school shifted from one-hour after-school private lessons to two-hour group lessons. “That’s proven to be much better because it gives the youths opportunities to engage in riding and horse care, learning different skills, as well as horse anatomy, breeds and behavior,” Ricks said.
For more on this story by Eileen Mattei, visit the “Current & Past Issues” or pick up a February 2014 copy of Valley Business Report.