Building Confident Riders & Strong Horsemanship Since 1996
We guide you from novice horse enthusiast to competitive equestrian, and ultimately to mentor and leader, creating a full-circle journey that fosters a dynamic horse-first mentality while building a positive and supportive equestrian community.
Our Story
Founded in 1996, Full Circle Riding Academy was created through a belief that horses help develop confidence, responsibility, work ethic, patience, leadership, and resilience.
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.
At its core, Full Circle Riding Academy is about creating a safe haven — for both horses and humans. It started that way for Stephanie, our founder, as a child, and it remains the foundation of our program today.
Our goal is to help students become knowledgeable horsemen and horsewomen while building life skills that extend far beyond the barn.
We value safety, consistency, communication, respect for the horse, and creating positive learning experiences for every rider.
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.
A Welcoming Place to Learn & Grow
Our facility is designed to provide a safe, encouraging, and hands-on learning environment where students can develop confidence around horses while enjoying the experience of being part of a positive equestrian community.
Full Circle consists of a 24-stall barn, two lighted arenas, nine turnout runs and a dry lot, and individual lockers for safe tack storage.
We take pride in creating an atmosphere where riders feel supported, families feel welcome, and horses receive quality care.
What Makes Full Circle Different
Horsemanship First
We teach riders to understand, care for, and communicate with horses — not just ride them. Students develop real horsemanship skills that build confidence and lasting partnerships.
Beginner to Competitive Development
From first lessons to competition teams, we utilize the Horse Sense Learning Levels structured development program that support long-term rider growth at every stage.
Positive & Supportive Environment
We intentionally create a welcoming environment where riders feel encouraged, challenged, supported, and connected while learning and growing together.
Stephanie Benson
Stephanie has been riding horses since she was 2 and began teaching horseback riding lessons at the age of 13 at her dad’s home in Euless. She taught horseback riding through High School and while she earned her B.S. at Tarleton State and Sam Houston. She majored in Animal Science and minored in Business, allowing her opportunities to work with some of the best horse trainers and breeders in the barrel racing industry. Upon graduating in 2008, she then returned to the HEB area to continue teaching. Her extreme passion and love of horses is what drives the business of Full Circle. She relishes the opportunity to pass along her love of horses to other children and help them to excel in whatever discipline they choose.
Stephanie currently competes in local barrel races and playdays. She has won numerous checks, buckles, saddles, and various prizes for her skills on horseback over the last 20 years. Stephanie piloted our lesson horse, Pebbles, to be the 2018 APHA Reserve World Champion pole bending horse and top ten for barrels and stakes. She is a CHA-certified instructor and attends various clinics throughout the year. She has a passion for learning something new and is always looking for advanced techniques she can pass along to her students.
Stephanie took up Equitation and Hunter/Jumper classes in the English world in summer 2018 and continues to pursue her passion for learning.
She has a supportive family with her husband Mike and their four children – Teagan, Presley, Micah, and Brady.
Cheyanne Suffka
Cheyanne grew up in Watauga and took English riding lessons at the Chapman barn in 2006 at the age of 12. When the barn changed owners, she fell away from the barn but never forgot the bonds she made with the horses there.
As a senior in high school, Cheyanne stopped by her old barn and met Stephanie, the new owner. Immediately she started volunteering, taking lessons, and working as a lesson assistant and camp counselor. Anything she could do to be at the barn.
Cheyanne went to Texas Christian University majoring in Astrophysics, but worked part-time at FCRA the entire time, eventually purchasing her first horse Korra in 2017. While completing her Master’s in Education, she worked as an Education Manager at the Frontiers of Flight Museum from 2016-2020, then as a High School science teacher in Irving, TX from 2020-2025. But the barn was always there- as a second job and a home for Korra.
Cheyanne and Korra have won 6 barrel racing buckles and a pole-bending buckle, as well as the trophy saddle of the Keller Saddle Club Master’s division for 2021. They both love trying new things and have dabbled in trail riding, jumping, cross country, cow sorting, and their new endeavor: roping!
Finally, the stars aligned in 2025 when Stephanie made Cheyanne the Program Director, where she currently heads the lesson program, competition teams, working students, volunteers, and staff.
