Ridding Lessons at WillowPondsFarm

Lessons at Willow Ponds Farm

Lessons at Willow Ponds Farm are taught by Kim Krieckhaus, certified by the American Riding Instructors Association (1996 - 2006) beginner to intermediate dressage and recreational riding.

Evaluation Lesson:

This is a student's first lesson and takes approximately 1 hour. It allows me to assess skills and aptitude in order to place the student into an appropriate level lesson. In case of a waiting list, this lesson will also allow me to immediately place a student when space becomes available in a group, or time becomes available for a beginner private lesson.

Beginner Private Lesson:

This lesson is one hour long. The first 20-30 minutes (depending on proficiency) is spent grooming and tacking up the horse. This is followed by riding instruction. The final 5-10 minutes is spent cooling and turning out the horse.

This lesson is recommended for anyone who is not experienced or is returning to riding after many years. Students may ride in a Beginner Private Lesson only until they are adequately skilled to join a group. Students wishing to continue in private lessons will be charged the Advanced Private Lesson fee, although format will remain unchanged until the student progresses to an advanced level.

Beginner Group Lesson:

This lesson is 1½ hours long. Students with similar interests, abilities and ages, ride in groups of up to five. Students will prepare the horse during the first 20-30 minutes. The mounted instruction will run for 45 minutes to 1 hour, and students will use 5-15 minutes cooling and turning out their horses.

This Group Lesson is recommended for “seasoned beginner” riders. Students must be able to stop, steer, perform posting trot consistently, and have begun learning to canter in order to enter a group lesson. Grooming, tacking, and turnout will be supervised.

Intermediate Group Lesson:

This lesson lasts about 2 hours. Students at an intermediate level groom and tack their horse without direct supervision. Most lessons will have a full hour of mounted time. The lesson's more advanced techniques will require that students be prepared to spend additional time in cooling their mounts (up to ½ hour).

To be in an intermediate lesson, students must be able to walk, trot and canter consistently and be proficient in the basics of their chosen discipline(s). For students under 16, it is necessary for an adult to be present in the barn during grooming and tacking, and s/he must accompany the students when they are turning out their mounts.

Semi-Private Lesson:

This lesson is available students at an intermediate level who want more intensive instruction. It is run on the same format as the intermediate group lesson, but is limited to two students.

As with the Intermediate Group Lesson, students under 16 must have an adult present in the barn during grooming and tacking, and be accompanied while turning out their mounts.

Advanced Private Lesson:

This lesson is for advanced students struck with “Horse-Crazy Perfectionist Syndrome”. This lesson is 45 minutes to 1 hour of intensive mounted instruction. In addition to grooming and tacking before the lesson, the student must warm up the horse for 10-15 minutes before instruction begins, and, of course, cool and turnout the horse after the lesson.

This lesson is recommended for students who have mastered the basics of their chosen discipline, and who wishes to refine his/her skills to an exacting standard. Students at this level may be eligible to part-lease a lesson horse for independent practice.

It is each student's responsibility to be ready on time! Students are welcome to arrive earlier if they need more time to prepare their mounts (or themselves J ), but lesson times will not be delayed for lagging students. Because groundwork is such an essential part of horsemanship, each student is responsible for the grooming and tacking of his/her own mount--although students in groups are encouraged to help one another be ready on time.

Horse assignments are made according to student's level and personality, as well as his/her individual strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, while students should feel free to request a particular horse, the final assignment is at the instructor's discretion.

When only one student is present for a group or semi-private lesson, the lesson will follow a Beginner Private format.

If a student's schedule requires that s/he leave early, that student must inform the instructor at the beginning of the mounted instruction so that the instructor can have the student dismount early in order to properly cool the horse before turning it out.

Lesson Prices

The following rates will be effective September 1, 2010:

Board: $220/month.

Board Services:
Handling for veterinarian or farrier and special care (poultice, cold-hose, etc.): $15 per hour. There is no fee for scheduling and handling regular maintenance visits using my schedule and professionals.
Spring blanket washing: $15

Lesson rates:

Lesson Type:                        Regular Lesson                   Frequent Rider Rate
Beginner Private                   $40/lesson                                         $35
Group                                   $40/lesson                                        $35
Semi-Private                         $50/lesson                                         $45
Advanced Private                 $60/lesson                                         $55

Lessons not ridden within 60 days of purchase are void, no refund.
(Exception: Lessons cancelled by me for weather or any other reason that were unable to be rescheduled, may be carried forward.)

Frequent Rider Rate:
This is a new policy and replaces the ‘Monthly Rate’, please read carefully.

The Frequent Rider rate rewards regularly attending students. You must have ridden in four (or more) lessons in the previous month to purchase lessons at the discounted rate.

The Frequent Rider Rate is usable ONLY during the month after a qualifying month. Any number of lessons may be purchased at the Frequent Rider rate, as long as the required four lessons were ridden (or cancelled by WPF) the previous month. Lessons not ridden within 60 days of purchase are void, no refund.

Any lesson cancelled by Willow Ponds Farm still counts towards eligibility. In other words if I cancel due to weather, illness, absence or any other reason, you may count that lesson as one of the four required. If a lesson that was rescheduled is cancelled again, it only counts as one lesson.

Lessons cancelled by you for any reason, with or without advance notice, do not count. Students may, however, schedule make-ups within the month, to maintain eligibility. In months where the student’s regularly scheduled day occurs five times, one missed lesson will not affect eligibility.

Students are not required to ride in lessons taught by a substitute instructor. If a student chooses not to ride, it is considered a lesson cancelled by Willow Ponds Farm.

Showing fees:
Number of Students competing: 4 3 2 1___
Coaching Fees per student $ 40 $ 45 $ 60 $ 80

Use of a School Horse: $10

Trailering Fees @ $1.50/mile
Sample costs:                        Mileage
Stony Hill                 55                    $ 21               $ 28               $ 47               $   83
William Woods        90                    $ 34               $ 45               $ 68               $ 135
Stephens                  37                    $ 14               $ 19               $ 28               $   56
Sunny Oak               40                    $ 15               $ 20               $ 30               $   60
Fox Run                   29                    $ 11               $ 15               $ 22               $   44

I will be competing myself and this will occasionally affect Saturday lesson times. Coaching fees (and hauling fees) will be reduced by one ‘student’ at shows where I am also a competitor.

Riding Attire

Headgear: ALL riders MUST wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet with the harness fastened. I have some available to borrow, but I recommend to the dedicated student that you get your own—it is the most important piece of equipment you will buy.

Footwear: Students MUST wear a shoe or boot with a heel (or ride without stirrups!). It is best to have a hard sole with little to no tread, and a heel that is sharply defined. I recommend that your footwear provide at least some ankle support and protection. Rain boots are an economical option, although they do not afford much protection from a horse stepping on a foot. Hiking boots are discouraged because the deep gap between toe and heel treads can trap the stirrup in an unsafe position.

Leggings: Long pants are strongly recommended: the saddle and stirrup leathers can create serious rubs. I recommend 'stretch pants' or sweats as an economical alternative to riding tights or breeches. Jeans are fine as long as they allow unrestricted movement but are not so loose as to chafe. Students may wish to invest in chaps which can be worn with shorts during summer's heat and provide additional warmth during winter.

Gloves: Gloves are not required during warm weather, although some riders find it easier to ride with gloves throughout the year. Lightweight leather gloves or “string-backed” gloves are ideal for summer riding. In winter months, it is best to have lined,
well fitted, (but not tight) gloves. Thinsulate is a nice compromise between warmth and bulk.

Etiquette

On the Farm, please:
   • Do not exceed 10 MPH on the driveway.
   • Do NOT drive on the grass to avoid potholes.
   • Park on the east side of the concrete drive, in front of the detached garage. It is okay to block these garage doors,
     but please do not block the driveway or the main garage.
   • Remember, this is a non-smoking establishment.
   • Use the trashcans in the barn. Paper can be recycled into the empty feed bag, and there is a milk crate to recycle
      bottles and cans.
In the Barn:
   • No running.
   • No bare feet.
   • No shouting or screaming near the barn or during lessons.
   • No chewing gum, or hard candy while mounted.
   • Sweep the grooming area before you leave it.
   • Please bring treats in paper bags; a swallowed plastic bag can kill a horse.
   • Do not leave water on when not in use. (Turn off hydrant, not just the hose)
   • Children not taking a lesson may not handle the horse, nor pet it, nor feed it treats without the direct supervision of
      the instructor.
   • NO flash cameras! Some horses are very frightened by the flash—they may spook and harm your child or someone
      else’s.
Safety Tips
Listed below are some rules that will help prevent accidents. In addition, always bear in mind that horses are easily frightened and unpredictable. Even the kindest, gentlest horse has the ability to harm.

   * Never walk up behind the horse without calling out, and always walk past the side with more room.
   * Do not walk directly behind a horse; do not stand directly in front of a horse.
   * Always use a lead rope when leading a horse.
   * Long hair should be tied in a ponytail or braided.
   * Do not try to stop or control a runaway or panicked horse. Get away, and get the instructor. Always remember,
      human safety is paramount!