Jan Faithful gets fulfillment from watching people enjoy horseback riding.

For 22 years, she and her family have run the full-service Faithful Stables at 2685 S. Old Carriage Road in Rocky Mount. She teaches young and adult students riding lessons for horse shows and trail rides.

“We do trail rides for all ages and provide the horse, of course,” she said.

Her students range from 5 years old to retirees.

“Anyone can enjoy riding a horse and experience the feeling of riding a large animal,” she said. “Riding a horse gives one the feeling of excitement, accomplishment and confidence.”

Faithful Stables offers horse camps for children ages 6 to 14, including activities such as horse riding and grooming, fishing and swimming. Other topics include life on a farm, anatomy of a horse, cleaning stalls and the responsibility of having animals. The camps offer competitions in grooming, fishing, ridership and sportsmanship.

Lessons cost $40 and trail rides cost $60.

Faithful and her students also travel to horse shows to perform.

Q: What products or services you provide?

A: I provide weekly riding lessons, boarding and leasing horses, trail rides, summer horse camps, horse shows, Saturday group classes for Scouts, day cares and churches.

I also locate horses to buy and sell for customers.

I’m a full-service stable.

Q: How many people do you employ?

A: I don’t have anyone employed. I do it myself.

Q: Who are your key leaders?

A: This is a real family business. My boyfriend, Lee Williams, mows the pastures for our 21 horses. My father, Larry Vick, my mother, Jean Tatum, my stepfather, Jack Tatum, and my three adult children are on call to assist with horse camps, open houses and horse shows. Also, my experienced students and adult customers and friends assist on a regular basis and are greatly appreciated.

I can’t say enough about my experienced students who assist me.

Q: What is your business philosophy?

A: To teach adults and children to experience the joy of riding horses. It’s an unforgettable experience. It gives the rider confidence controlling a large animal. I want men and women of all ages to experience the joy of horseback riding.

Q: What makes business unique?

A: I’m going to say I have the facilities to teach anyone who wants to ride. I have been teaching horsemanship for two decades, and I have the facilities and experience to provide excellent teaching for anyone who truly wants to experience the joy of riding a horse.

Also, this is much more of a family environment. My customers do not have to make appointments. My regular customers do not. Customers do not have to ride and leave. They can enjoy their horse and stay all day if that’s what they choose to do. Most of my students are there on a daily basis and hang out the majority of the day, and that is the biggest thing that makes this stable unique.

At most other places, you go for an appointment, you ride and leave. You don’t hang out and spend the day there. There is always someone here to help you.

I do keep my expenses down because of my family members and experienced students who assist. I don’t have any other helpers.

Q: How has your business grown last few years?

A: I’ve done a lot of advertising. My business has gone up at least 10 percent per year. We have more horses and more students than we have ever had and are growing each year.