Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Benson.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began teaching lessons in the summer of 1996, when I was only 12 years old. A hand-painted sign stood in our front yard on Glade Road in Euless, proudly announcing my new venture. Horses had always been my safe haven — the place I went to process my fears, worries, accomplishments, and the everyday highs and lows of being a young girl. Passing on my love of horses felt important enough to build something of my own.
I taught in an open pasture, with an “arena” pieced together from round pen panels. There was no real barn or storefront — just passion, grit, and a love for horses. I continued teaching through high school and even came home on weekends during college to continue giving lessons.
In 2011, my dad walked into the pasture while I was teaching and told me I needed to consider getting a “real job.” After nearly ten years of fighting with the city of Euless over ordinances that would ultimately prevent us from keeping horses on our property, it felt like everything was shifting. We were surrounded by duplexes, and new regulations meant we would no longer have enough land to keep our horses.
I told him teaching horseback riding lessons was my real job — and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Within a week, I took a different route home and passed what is now Full Circle Riding Academy on Chapman Road. I pulled in on impulse, spoke with the owner, and boldly asked if she would consider selling. I had no clear plan for how I would afford it or sustain a larger facility — but within six weeks, and with the help of my granddad, we were closing on the property.
Since September 2011, Full Circle Riding Academy has operated from our Watauga location as a legitimate storefront. We survived Covid, grew steadily, and now offer a competition team that allows students to compete on our horses — because not every horse-crazy kid has the opportunity to own one, and every one of them deserves the chance to chase that dream.
The care of our horses has always been foundational. Every lesson horse participates in a comprehensive wellness program that includes stretching and conditioning work, monthly massage and energy work, along with routine veterinary, chiropractic, dental, and farrier care. Their physical and emotional well-being matters deeply to us — because they are not just lesson horses; they are partners in this mission.
We’ve also built a strong volunteer program that fosters responsibility, community, and horsemanship beyond the saddle.
What began as a hand-painted sign in a front yard has grown into something far bigger than I could have imagined at 12 years old. At its core, though, it remains the same: a safe place, a deep love for horses, and a calling to help others experience what these animals are capable of teaching us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but every stretch of it has shaped who we are today.
In the beginning, I was just a teenager trying to balance schoolwork with what had quickly become a very real job. I’d go from classes and homework straight into teaching lessons and caring for horses. In college, it was more of the same — long days, late nights, and constantly learning how to carry responsibility at a young age. It wasn’t glamorous, but it built resilience and work ethic early on.
The fight with the city of Euless was another emotional chapter. After nearly ten years of trying to keep our horses on our property, we ultimately lost that space. It felt heartbreaking at the time — like something I had grown up with was being taken away. But in hindsight, that closed door pushed us toward something far greater. Within weeks, we stepped into what is now Full Circle Riding Academy in Watauga. What felt like loss was actually redirection.
At the same time, I was building a family while building a business. Learning how to be present as a mom while carrying the weight of employees, students, horses, and finances hasn’t always been easy. There were seasons of exhaustion and seasons of growth — often happening at the same time.
And then Covid hit. The impact was devastating, both emotionally and financially. Like many small businesses, we’re still climbing our way fully back. But that season forced us to adapt, lean into our community, and clarify why we do what we do.
It hasn’t been a straight or simple path — but every challenge has strengthened the foundation beneath us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Full Circle Riding Academy?
Full Circle Riding Academy is a western riding lesson program rooted in horsemanship, confidence building, and genuine connection — both between horse and rider, and within our community.
We serve riders as young as two years old all the way through adults and retirees. While many programs focus primarily on riding skills, we specialize in developing the whole horseman. That means our students learn not just how to sit in the saddle, but how to communicate with, care for, and truly understand the horse beneath them. We believe horsemanship is about partnership — not control.
One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment to making opportunity accessible. Not every family is in a position to own a horse, so we offer a competition team that allows students to compete on our well-trained lesson horses. That gives “horse-crazy” kids the chance to chase big dreams without the financial barrier of ownership.
Another major differentiator is the level of care we provide our horses. Our lesson horses are athletes and teachers. Each one is enrolled in a comprehensive wellness program that includes stretching and conditioning work, monthly massage and energy work, along with routine veterinary, chiropractic, dental, and farrier care. We are deeply intentional about their physical and emotional well-being because their health directly impacts the safety and success of our riders. We don’t view them as tools — they are the heart of everything we do.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the culture we’ve built. We’ve created a place where kids grow in confidence, responsibility, and resilience. A place where families feel welcome. A place where horses are respected. A place where young riders learn that success comes from patience, consistency, and partnership — lessons that extend far beyond the arena.
At its core, Full Circle Riding Academy is about creating a safe haven — for both horses and humans. It started that way for me as a child, and it remains the foundation of our program today.
What I want readers to know most is this: we are not just teaching riding lessons. We are shaping character, building community, protecting the well-being of our horses, and helping the next generation fall in love with these incredible animals the right way.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I remember getting home from school every afternoon and heading straight for the pasture. I wouldn’t even bother going inside first. I’d drop my backpack and run out to him — to my horse — like he’d been waiting for me all day.
I would press my face into his mane and whisper everything. The good parts of my day, the embarrassing moments, the things that hurt, the things I didn’t feel brave enough to say out loud anywhere else. Some days I cried. Some days I’d just chatter about nothing at all. He never rushed me. He never judged. He just stood there and listened, steady and warm, breathing quietly while I sorted through my world.
I can remember climbing up on top of a round bale of hay with a book in my hands, sitting quietly while he munched on his dinner below me. The sound of him chewing, the smell of fresh hay, the warmth of the late afternoon sun settling over the pasture — that was peace for me. It wasn’t exciting or dramatic. It was steady. Predicatable. Safe in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve felt it.
When I look back, it wasn’t one big moment that shaped me. It was that daily rhythm. The consistency of showing up. The comfort of being around an animal that didn’t need anything from me except honesty. That time in the pasture taught me more about connection, patience, and quiet strength than I realized at the time.
And truthfully, I think that’s still what I try to create now – a place where kids can step into a barn at the end of a long day and feel understood without having to say a word.
Pricing:
- Western Group Lessons (ages 6 & up) $315-$445/month
- Western Private Lessons (ages 2-5) $210-$415/month
- Birthday Parties $325
- Year Round Camps $105/day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fullcircleridingacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fcrawatauga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullCircleRidingAcademy
Image Credits
Cheyanne Suffka, JoH Photography, Ashley Mannon
