Edgewood Farms sits off Robinson Road near Lloyd’s Market, tucked away down a dusty driveway and into a clearing surrounded by trees. The clearing is full of stables, barns and horses. There are plenty of fenced-in areas with Arabian breeds trotting around. Two dogs watch from the other side of the wooden posts and try to steal a little water.

And then the kids arrive.

Edgewood Farms holds Summer Programs for beginner to advanced riders and teaches anything from safety to grooming to show riding. Helmed by Lisa Mann, Edgewood has been having these programs since the farms’ founding nearly 10 years ago.

“I’ve always grown up around horses,” says Mann, who has over 20 years of experience. “And since horses have been in my life so long and helped me through tough times, I want to share that with others.”

The first few days of the week are for beginner riders. There’s no age limit, Mann says, so there could be kids as young as four to adults. They start the day grooming the horses in the stables. Today there are eight girls and three horses.

Helping Mann are Alicia Chochrek, Kylie Panek and Jessica Correia.

“I graduated with an equestrian science degree, so I decided to put it to use,” Chochrek says. “This is fun. And the kids learn the fundamentals of horses as well as riding twice a day. It’s a great step for learning horses.”

Panek thinks it also helps kids mature. “There’s a lot of responsibility involved,” she says. “You basically learn to take care of [the horses].”

“And riding the horses is just peaceful,” Correia added. “That’s always a big attraction to it.”

As the kids brush the horses, the three assistants guide them through the process of putting on saddles and bridles. One of the horses, Percy, especially loves the attention. After the horses are prepped for riding they’re walked up a small hill to a large dirt-floored barn and misted with fly spray. On a hot day, Chochrek says, the bugs are always going for the horses.

The 15-acre plot of land that is Edgewood Farms has come a long way since its beginning with six stalls. It now holds 30 stalls, the indoor arena a large outdoor ring and training pen. Although Mann says Edgewood Farms has grown, equestrian has been in a bit of a decline.

“It’s a bad time for horses,” she says. “People can’t afford to take care of them anymore. They just can’t keep them. It’s sad because these horses have so much to give.”

Giving is something Edgewood is all about. Though most of the horses are Arabian breeds, Mann says she has taken in a few “rescue” horses that needed a good home. Tootsie, for instance, was a scrawny horse in desperate need of care, Mann says. She’s still thin now but filling out and keeping healthy.

As some of the girls mount the horses to ride, Mann and the assistants keep an eye out and encourage the young riders to be in command. Riding a horse isn’t easy, but the trainers help remind the girls to use certain postures or movements in addition to controlling the speed of the animals.

“Everyone works hard,” Mann says. “It boosts the kids’ confidence too. We had a girl that was so shy when she first came here, but is now a cheerleader at school. Being here helps boost their confidence. And the things they learn here are reflected in their work at school or when they grow up.”

Edgewood Farms hosts a number of programs and private lessons, as well as birthday parties at the farm. Mann says she expects to hold a “Horsing Around” program in the fall in partnership with the Mattapoisett Recreation Department.