About the Program
Scallywag Stables' Homeschool Academy is a hands-on Friday enrichment program designed for homeschool students ages 13 through high school. Students spend their mornings learning about horses and developing their riding and horsemanship skills, then transition in the afternoon to academics, leadership development, and discussion of assigned reading.
Meet Program Manager: Christina Bray
SWS Academy is led by Christina Bray, a lifelong athlete, entrepreneur, and leader with a passion for developing confident, capable young people.
Christina was a NCAA Division I rowing champion and team captain at Yale University, where she learned firsthand what it means to set ambitious goals, put in the work, perform under pressure, and lead a team. She participated in some of the most rigorous academic opportunities offered by Yale, including the highly competitive Studies in Grand Strategies. She was also a nationally competitive swimmer and later competed as a professional triathlete.
Her leadership experience extends well beyond athletics. Christina completed Officer Candidate School at Quantico and holds a Master’s Degree in Military History and a Leadership Certificate from Norwich University. Her approach to leadership is grounded in discipline, personal accountability, teamwork, resilience, and leading by example.
Christina also brings more than 15 years of business, sales, marketing, and finance leadership experience, including founding and building businesses and serving in executive and board-level roles.
At SWS Academy, Christina brings all of these experiences together. Through horses, academics, athletics, and leadership development, her goal is to help students become confident, disciplined, independent young adults who know how to work hard, solve problems, communicate effectively, and lead themselves and others.
Her philosophy is simple: Learn to lead yourself first—and then learn to lead others.
This is a place where students can get out of the classroom, get outside, work with animals, and develop practical skills that build confidence and character.
Day to Day
9am - 11:30 am
11:30am - 12:15 pm
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm
2:40 pm - 3:20 pm
3:20 pm - 4:00 pm
Riding
Horsemanship
Horse Care
Stable Management
Lunch Break
School Work - students bring assignments that they need to work on and complete
Leadership Training
Reading Discussion
Stable Management
Program Details
Morning: Horses & Horsemanship
Mornings are dedicated to horses and riding. Students will develop practical horsemanship skills while learning to care for, communicate with, and ride horses.
Depending on experience and ability, students may work on:
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Riding and developing independent horsemanship skills
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Grooming, tacking, and horse care
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Stable management and daily barn responsibilities
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Horse behavior and communication
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Riding theory and safety
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Trail riding and situational awareness
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Leadership and problem-solving through horsemanship
Students will learn that becoming a good rider is about much more than sitting in the saddle—it requires discipline, responsibility, attention to detail, confidence, and the ability to lead yourself and your horse.
Afternoon: Academics & Leadership
Afternoons provide dedicated time for students to complete their own schoolwork in a quiet, supervised environment. Students bring their own assignments and materials, allowing them to use this time to stay on top of their homeschool coursework.
The afternoon also includes:
Leadership Development
Students will explore practical leadership principles including responsibility, self-discipline, communication, teamwork, decision-making, accountability, and leading by example.
Monthly Book Discussion
Each month, students will read an assigned book and participate in a guided discussion. We will explore the characters, challenges, decisions, and leadership lessons within the book—and connect those ideas to real life.
What Makes SWS Academy Different?
Scallywag Homeschool Academy combines education, horsemanship, academics, and leadership in one unique environment.
Students will have the opportunity to:
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Build confidence and independence
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Develop responsibility and work ethic
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Learn to lead themselves and others
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Strengthen communication and problem-solving skills
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Develop practical horsemanship and animal-care skills
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Complete schoolwork in a productive environment
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Build meaningful relationships with peers and mentors
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Spend a day each week learning outside the traditional classroom
This isn't just a day at the barn. It's a day to learn how to ride, work, think, and lead.
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