Frequently Asked Questions

United Mustangs of America is a horse handling science school and community based in Arroyo Grande, California on the Central Coast. We teach students how to understand, handle, care for, and partner with horses — from the ground up.

Our program is built around the foundational work of Monte Foreman and rooted in a method called Horse Handling Science. We work with a small number of students at a time, on purpose. Every student gets real attention and every horse gets real respect.

Horse Handling Science is the study of how horses actually think, communicate, and learn. It is the foundation of everything we teach at UMA.

Rather than teaching students to perform in a specific discipline, Horse Handling Science gives you the tools to understand any horse in any situation — on the ground, in the saddle, at home, on the trail. When you understand how a horse thinks, everything changes. You become someone a horse chooses to be with.

UMA operates in Arroyo Grande, California on the Central Coast. The exact ranch address is shared privately with confirmed students after booking — it is not published publicly to protect the horses, the property, and our scheduled sessions.

Monica O. Knight is the founder of United Mustangs of America and a horse handling science coach with decades of hands-on experience. She competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover multiple times, placing in the top ten finals each time, and three of those horses are now in her school.

Her teaching is rooted in the work of Monte Foreman and informed by Evidence-Based Horsemanship, Enlightened Horsemanship, and thousands of miles of trail riding on the Central Coast with her Mustang Juno. She is currently writing a book about Monte Foreman’s horse handling science and the path that brought her here.

Read her full story here.

Every student begins with the UMA Introductory Session — a 2-hour hands-on first session for $100. You meet Monica, you meet the horses, and together you figure out the right starting point and next step.

Before booking, you are welcome to take the UMA Fit Check to see if the program sounds like the right fit for you. Monica reads every response personally.

Book your Introductory Session here.

The UMA Introductory Session is a 2-hour hands-on first session for new students. When you arrive, Monica will talk with you about your goals, your experience, and what you are hoping to find at UMA.

Depending on the student, the session may include an introduction to the horses and ranch environment, basic safety, reading horse behavior, groundwork and handling, horse care and grooming, and possibly riding if appropriate.

At the end of the session, Monica will recommend the right next step. This is a mutual fit process — you are deciding if UMA is right for you, and Monica is deciding if UMA is the right environment for the student.

If it is a good fit, Monica will recommend the appropriate membership path — Basic Membership at $440 per month or Horse Lab at $880 per month. If Monica feels a different starting point or program would serve the student better, she will say that honestly.

Students are not automatically enrolled after the Introductory Session. Acceptance into the program is a deliberate decision made by both the student and Monica.

UMA accepts students ages 9 and up. Adults are equally welcome — UMA has students of all ages and backgrounds. The program is designed for anyone who is ready to learn, follow safety instructions, and show up consistently.

Completely fine. Many of our students start with zero experience and that is actually a great place to begin — there are no habits to unlearn and no shortcuts to untangle. Monica will meet you exactly where you are.

What matters is curiosity, willingness to learn, and showing up. The horses will take care of the rest.

Basic Membership — $440/month includes four lessons per month plus access to the UMA Student Center. This is the core learning path for students building real horsemanship skills.

Horse Lab — $880/month includes everything in Basic plus additional scheduled horse time at the ranch. Horse Lab is for students who are ready for deeper, more immersive involvement with the horses and the program — more hands-on time, more responsibility, more growth.

Monica will recommend which path is right for you after your Introductory Session.

Both Basic Membership and Horse Lab include four lessons per month. Consistency is important — horses learn through repetition and so do students. Monica works with a small number of students intentionally so that each lesson is meaningful and each student gets real coaching attention.

Yes — beach trail rides at Pismo Beach and the Oceano Dunes are part of the UMA experience, and they are something students genuinely look forward to.

Beach rides are available exclusively to current UMA members who have developed the handling and riding skills to ride safely and confidently in an open environment. They are not available as a standalone service or to the general public.

When a student is ready for a beach ride, Monica will let them know. It is one of the most memorable parts of being a UMA student.

Yes. UMA has a herd of Mustangs that students learn on. Three of them are Extreme Mustang Makeover horses that Monica gentled, trained, and competed with herself — placing in the top ten finals each time. These are not backyard horses. They are experienced partners who know how to teach.

Equipment is also available to borrow for students who are just getting started.

Wear: Closed-toe boots or sturdy closed-toe shoes. Jeans or riding pants. Weather-appropriate clothing that allows safe movement. Nothing loose or dangling.

Bring: Water, sun protection, and an ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet if you have one. If you do not have a helmet yet, Monica will help you figure out what to get — helmets are required for any riding.

Come prepared for a real ranch environment — dirt, animals, uneven ground, and normal horse-life conditions.

Sessions are held at the ranch in Arroyo Grande, California. The exact address is shared privately with confirmed students after booking. When you arrive, park by the white and green sheds next to the horse corrals.

Yes. UMA lessons are available through Heartland Charter School. The enrollment process is slightly different for Heartland families — please read the instructions on the Heartland page before booking so we can get you started smoothly.

Heartland enrollment instructions →

UMA is a school and community, not a trail ride service. We do not offer tourist rides or drop-in lessons to the general public.

Every student begins with the $100 Introductory Session and progresses through the program from there. This structure exists because real horsemanship takes time, consistency, and the right foundation — and that is exactly what we are here to build.

Start with the UMA Introductory Session. Complete the intake form, sign the required waivers, and pay the $100 session fee. You will then receive a link to choose your session date and time, and a confirmation with the ranch address and arrival instructions.

If you want to check your fit first, take the UMA Fit Check before booking.

Book your Introductory Session here →