Horses Helping Our Community

A young woman with glasses and short brown hair smiling, holding two colorful ribbons that say 'Learning Levels,' 'Horsemanship,' and 'Rainbow Level' on the left ribbon, and 'Learning Levels,' 'Horsemanship,' and 'Red Level' on the right ribbon, standing in a garage.
Girl riding a horse on a sunny day in a grassy area with trees and a fence.
A young boy riding a white horse with a woman leading the horse on a leash in an outdoor riding arena with trees in the background.

Bringing Joy to our East Texas Community

Welcome to Lake Fork Stables, a 501c3 nonprofit organization nestled in the heart of Yantis, Texas. At Lake Fork Stables, we believe that horses can be powerful teachers and partners who can help us navigate life’s challenges, no matter how young or old we are. 

As we step into a new chapter at Lake Fork Stables, we are committed to extending our services beyond just the children of East Texas. Our aim is to cater to the needs of our entire Lake Fork community, including our senior citizens. Our programs are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that everyone can experience the joy and benefits of equestrian activities regardless of age. 

Through our Riders Up! and Joyful Journey programs, participants discover:

  • Self-reliance

  • Independence

  • Self-confidence

  • A deeper sense of empathy for others

  • The beauty of the horse-human connection

  • The soul cleansing of nature and being outdoors

Every young rider who graces our stables becomes a part of the Riders Up! Family. Our primary objective is to create a warm and enjoyable environment where children feel safe and eagerly participate in each lesson. 

Our comprehensive programs cover all facets of safe horsemanship and adhere to a Levels-based curriculum providing goals and rewards for each level completed. 

Explore our Programs for more detailed information on the opportunities we offer. Join us in making horsemanship and life skills accessible to all community members right here at Lake Fork Stables.

Committed to Thoroughbred Aftercare

Thoroughbred Aftercare is an important part of our mission and we are proud to be the only Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization in East Texas and one of only three in the whole state! Using retired racehorses as lesson horses helps to ensure that they have second careers after racing.

It is our goal for them to be ambassadors of the breed, proving that the Thoroughbred is suitable as a lesson horse, kid horse, and family horse. Learn more about our Thoroughbred residents here.

A badge with the text '2025 & 2026 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance,' featuring an illustration of a horse's head and a ribbon with the words 'ACREDITED ORGANIZATION'.
A brown horse with a saddle and bridle standing in an outdoor riding arena under a clear blue sky.

Riding Lessons in Yantis, Texas

Explore programs
  • Logo of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and The Paddock Foundation featuring a black horse silhouette
  • A logo for Big Bass Bingo featuring a largemouth bass with a bingo ball in its mouth, set against a sunset over water. The logo includes a Dallas, Texas outline with an Texas flag inside, and the text 'Big Bass Bingo, A Boatload of Fun, ESTD 2023'.
  • Logo of the North Texas Hunter Jumper Club with a black silhouette of a jumping horse and rider, green circular accent, and green text reading 'NTHJC' and 'North Texas Hunter Jumper Club'.
  • Red background with white CWDS logo in the center.
  • A dark scene with a silhouette of a person standing outdoors, possibly near water, with a faint light in the background.
  • Logo of the United Horse Coalition featuring a black horse head silhouette inside a circle with a red, white, and blue background, and the text "United Horse Coalition" with the tagline "Educate. Advocate. Collaborate."