06/20/2026
We have had a busy week of lessons out here! We have a couple more openings for groups, but private lesson spots are mostly full unless a cancellation occurs or you have a flexible schedule. As we navigate the busy season with rising temperatures and crazy schedules, here are a few reminders, rules, and policies to keep things running smoothly around here.
1. Please be responsible for preparing your child appropriately for warm temperatures. This means cooling towels, water bottles and electrolyte drinks, sunscreen, sun hats, etc. Please supply whatever they will need to remain comfortable and prepared for their lesson.
2. Please give me the courtesy of 48 hours notice for cancellations. We have a waiting list for private lessons, and if you can’t make your scheduled class, I am able to fill it with sufficient notice. The horses rely on the activities for all of their needs! Hay is $1000 every month, medications are almost $1000 every month, our farrier expenses are around $1000 every month. We have had 2 shelters put in that require monthly payments. We purchased new 2 saddles towards the program so kids can ride those 2 horses in the same lesson. $50-$65 might seem like a small fraction to you, but being able to budget what funds we can expect is crucial to making sure the horses have what they need.
3. If you want a spot for a camp or class, please ask as soon as possible! I am not often able to accommodate when you ask me the night before or day of. I try my best to fit everyone in, but trying to scramble and move things around because you told your child you would ask last-minute is super stressful for me! I love teaching your children and seeing their progress, and I don’t love disappointing them and hearing how they were upset when they couldn’t come today. I do my absolute best; giving me as much of a heads up as possible relieves some stress to scheduling.
4. Please come when your lesson is scheduled! Oftentimes, I have back-to-back lessons from 9am until 2-4pm 5 days per week, and miscellaneous appointments and chores on Thursdays. If you arrive 20-30 minutes early, it often interrupts the lesson before yours and adds a distraction to the student trying to learn. Please be respectful of our time and arrive when you’re scheduled. I love when students are excited for their lesson, but I am not able to begin earlier than your scheduled time so just arrive when I expect you!
5. Please be responsible for arranging payment on time. Once again, the horses rely on the funds from activities for their needs, so when you pay several days after your lesson, I can’t budget appropriately for the horse’s needs. Depending on the expenses coming out that week, it can be very stressful. If your child had their ride, lesson, camp, birthday party, etc, it should be paid for at the time of service. If you need an exception to coordinate with your pay schedule, please message me BEFORE I expect payment, not after. Neglecting to pay or communicate about payment makes me feel like you don’t value the service. If you don’t appreciate what we do and the time I spend educating your child and keeping them safe, then please allow me to spend the energy on someone who does.
6. Please encourage your children (both spectators and students) to be respectful of the property and equipment! This includes but is not limited to, no climbing on fencing and gates, no rough housing and horseplay during classes, no climbing or peeling bark on trees, no running at the horses, no sword fights with sticks and twigs, no screaming and yelling, and no entering horse areas without permission. Even our smallest pony weighs 500 pounds. If she wanted to, she could do some serious damage to a person or property. Please do not take for granted their kindness and patience when working around the children. They are generally very kind, well-behaved, and have a lot of training that results in their gentle demeanors, so show them some respect and appreciation by acknowledging they are a prey animal with natural instincts to avoid predatory behavior. We should not behave however we want to around them. If you appreciate what they have to offer, show them some kindness and respect in return.
It is our mission to educate the public about horse care and handling, while incorporating the equines in our care into these educational opportunities. It is inappropriate to whine about the horse you have the privilege to ride. It is inappropriate to leave other people’s equipment on the ground, in the dirt, and on the fencing after you had the privilege of borrowing strength and speed on the back of this great creature. We are raising the next generation of horse owners, riders, caretakers, and members of society. If we don’t teach them kindness and respect, who will? If we don’t show them an example of how to treat people and animals, who will? If we don’t teach them that hard things are worth doing, who will?
Please do your part in teaching your student and leading by example how we do or do not treat others. If you have read this far, understand these words, appreciate what we do out here, and support our mission, I would love to hear from you in the comments.
I walk an average of 22,000 steps every day and am up from early morning until after midnight. The horses needing me is what keeps me going. Your support and appreciation goes a long way. Thank you for your support and understanding. 🙏
