How
long are riding lessons? |
Riding
lessons are 50-60 minutes. You are expected to be ready to ride
at the beginning of your scheduled time. Beginners who need
assistance catching and tacking up their horse are an exception.
Since catching and tacking up the horse is part of learning
to be a good horseperson, this is part of the lesson. However,
your first lesson will be scheduled for 2 hours, including an
orientation of the stable as well as information about safety,
horse handling, and tacking up. |
Can
I come out to watch a few lessons before enrolling? |
Absolutely.
Just give us a call to schedule an appointment to come out and
watch. |
What
will we do for our first lesson? |
Your
first riding lesson, beginner or not, will be twice the normal
amount of time. During the first part, you will be familiarized
with the stable’s layout, rules and policies, as well
as where your horse is kept and which tack you will be using.
The second part will be riding. |
Does
your stable have a list of rules? |
The
stable has a very strict set of rules that are included in your
welcome packet. These rules are mostly safety guidelines and
are designed to keep everyone (and the horses) safe. Students
who wish to take their lessons at Windfall Farm need to take
these rules seriously for the safety of themselves, others,
and the horses. |
Are
students at Windfall Farm supportive of each other or is it
more competitive? |
Our
stable is very sure to make everyone’s riding experience
here positive and encouraging. Our students always try their
best, and any comments made should be to congratulate their
efforts. Negative remarks, name calling, teasing, or making
fun of any rider, someone’s horse, or someone’s
performance will not be tolerated and may be cause for expulsion
from farm activities. Report any incidents of this to the stable
management immediately. |
What
am I expected to do after my lesson is done? |
You
are expected to clean up after yourself. Sweep up your dirt
and put things away. Tack is to be clean after every use. If
it needs cleaning, the stable staff can show you where the tack
cleaning supplies are located. If you are caught putting your
tack away dirty, you will likely end up cleaning a LOT more
tack. |
Is
it okay to leave my child at the stable to “hang out”
with their riding buddies? |
We
pride ourselves as a constructive outlet for kids, and our stable
is often busy with youth who enjoy just being with both their
friends and horses. Parents are welcome to either drop off their
children for lessons or to watch and or videotape lessons. Responsible,
mature riders are welcome to enjoy the horses and being with
their friends if the stable rules are followed. Playdates need
to be scheduled with your instructor or stable management. |
Is
there any opportunities to ride a horse for pleasure, without
instruction? |
With
limitations, yes. As a student becomes more advanced, there
are more privileges to ride for fun or practice. We
encourage students to ride for fun, or to go for an occasional
trail ride once they are capable. These privileges are different
on a case-by-case basis, and your instructor will be very clear
on what horse you can ride, where you can ride it, and what
you can work on. If you would like to come out for a pleasure
ride, it needs to be scheduled with the stable management. |
What
do I do if I feel unsafe or nervous in a situation with a horse? |
It
is imperative that you remove yourself from any situation in
which you feel unsafe. If you are leading a horse who becomes
agitated, aggressive, or frightened, you are to LET GO of the
horse and remove yourself to a safe place. We are more concerned
about the safety of the handler than the horse – we don’t
want anyone to get hurt. If you do need to set a horse loose,
IMMEDIATELY notify any stable staff member or any competent
horse person nearby who can handle the situation safely. In
regard to riding, it is important to reveal fears to your instructor,
as we will not ask you to perform a task that makes you uncomfortable
or frightened. |
Do
all of the students show? |
Although
some students show to some degree, there are certainly those
that choose not to show for various reasons. We will be sure
to ask if you would like to participate in any upcoming events,
but we do not pressure anyone to show that wishes not to. However,
we do encourage all students to attend shows as spectators,
as well as clinics and other events for purely educational merit.
|
Do
you start students in an English or a western saddle? |
Almost
every student will start riding in an English or hunt-seat saddle,
although some die-hard western lovers have opted to start in
western. Riding English in the beginning stages develops a more
balanced rider more quickly. It helps develop feel and an independent
seat much faster than in a western saddle. Once the basics have
been achieved, the student may choose which direction to take
their riding, be it dressage, jumping, pleasure, equitation,
etc. We cater to many different styles of riding, but we do
not teach driving, saddle-seat, or any working western event
with the exception of reining. If a student wishes to persue
one of the disciplines we do not teach, we will help you find
a different riding school that offers it. |
Do
I need my own helmet? |
Students
are not required to have their own helmets, as we have many
schooling helmets for use in lessons. However, riding in a sweaty
helmet that is always adjusted to someone else’s head
does encourage some to buy their own. If you choose to purchase
your own helmet, it must be ASTM and SEI approved. There is
a label stating safety certifications on the box and on a tag
inside the helmet. Helmets for bike riding, rollerblading, motorcycling,
etc. are not approved for equestrian use and cannot be used
for riding lessons. |
What
if I am late? |
If
you are late for your lesson, you may miss part of your lesson.
We usually schedule our lessons back-to-back and we can’t
hold up the whole day if someone is late. |
What
if I can’t make it to a lesson? |
If
you are sick or have some other reason that you can’t
make it to your lesson, please call to cancel your lesson as
soon as possible. |
Do
you do riding lessons year round? |
Yes.
We ride all 12 months of the year. |
What
do we do in the case of inclement weather? |
We
do not do riding lessons in temperatures below 10 degrees or
a heat index of over 95 degrees. We also do not do lessons in
conditions of winds in excess of 40 mph, thunderstorms watches
andwarnings, or tornado watches and warnings. If any of these
conditions exist, call to verify the extreme conditions and
cancel your lesson. It is possible that the stable may contact
you to cancel the lesson if we notice extreme conditions are
eminent. In rain, the indoor arena can get quite noisy, so we
may cancel if the rain is heavy. |
Can
I pay for lessons in packages? |
Yes.
You can purchase lesson packages of 4 or 8. Discounts apply,
and see the current price sheet for details. Click "Pricing"
under the "Riding Instruction" bar on the left of
this page. |
Do
you offer discounts for 4-H or Pony Club members? |
Yes.
We offer 10% discounts on training and lessons for 4-H and Pony
Club members as well as volunteers. |
FAQ's
