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W E L C O M E PA C K A G E T E R M S & C O N D I T I O N S F O R R I D I N G L E S S O N

C L I E N T S

�2Table of Contents

Welcome …………………………………………………………………………….………… 3

Administration…………………………..…………………………………………….………. 4

Lesson Packages and Cancellation Policy

Payment

Personal Property

Safety ……………………………………………………….…………………………….….… 6

Equipment

Interacting with Horses

Body Language

Grounds and Facilities ………….……………………………..………………………….… 9

The Driveway & Barnyard

In the Arena

OOF Owned Property ..……………………………………….………………………….…. 11

Horses

Equipment

Lessons …………………………………….……….………………………………….…….. 12

Parental Responsibility

Proper Attire

Preparing Your Mount

The Broom and the Shovel

After Your Lesson

Turning out your Horse

Back Where It Went

The Broom and Shovel Part II

BYOG (Bring Your Own Groom)

Social Media Policy………………………………………………………………………….. 16

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W E L C O M E

Hello and Welcome!

We are thrilled that you have chosen to join us at Old Orchard Farm (often referred to as OOF) to pursue you or your child’s riding dreams!

This is not your average Terms and Condition’s page. There is a lot of important information in here that will pertain to your daily interactions at OOF!

Please read this document in full and sign.

Failure to sign and comply to OOF Terms and Conditions may result in termination of services without refund.

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A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

L E S S O N PA C K A G E S A N D C A N C E L L AT I O N P O L I C Y :

We would like to remind everyone that while we have automated much of our registration and payment process for ease of use, we are still a small family farm business and do not have office staff.  The people who are taking your registrations, scheduling the sessions and teaching the lessons are typically the same people who are mucking out stalls, feeding the horses and maintaining the property everyday or in some cases are volunteers with other full time employment. We will do our best to answer any questions you have and address any concerns, but please have patience.  - OOF

• Lesson packages are sold at a discount and are non-refundable. (If you think you will miss more than 2 lessons in a session, it may be more economical to opt for the pay as you go option)

• If a lesson is cancelled by the instructor a make-up class will be arranged.

• Riders must give at least 24hrs notice of absence

• If you miss a lesson, you may only make it up by joining another regularly scheduled lesson within the package period (it is your responsibility to schedule this with your instructor; do not leave it until the last week of the session). 

• Make up lessons for lessons you have missed are capped at 2 lessons per session.

• We will not provide a separate or private lesson to make up for a lesson that you have missed. If we were here and a horse and the facilities were booked for you for that time, you are expected to attend.

• If a student is regularly absent from his or her class, their spot may be forfeited.

• Use of own horse $5.00 credit per lesson.

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PAY M E N T

Lesson payment is due at the first lesson of each session, unless you sign up to pay as you go.

All riders/ parents must complete a registration package online and sign a release form (separate from this document) before commencing to ride at Old Orchard Farm. The option to pay by credit card is available through the online registration form.

Cheques can be made out to Old Orchard Farm, or e-transfers to linda@oldorchardfarm.ca as well cash are accepted.

Any Cheque returned NSF by your bank will be subject to a $50.00 administration charge

P E R S O N A L P R O P E R T Y

Please do not confuse boarders’ property with the property of Old Orchard Farm Riding School. Do not touch anything in the box lockers or on the front of the stalls. These items belong to the boarders. OOF is not responsible for lost or stolen property. We recommend that you do not leave your possessions unattended.

A midsized Rubbermaid bin is a great way to transport and store your belongings to and from lessons and will help you to keep all your belongings together and in one place while you are getting ready as well as keeping them safe from being mistaken for others’ while you are riding.

Look around before you leave to make sure everything is put away.

Lost and found (bin in each tack room or table in lower viewing area) is emptied monthly. All unclaimed articles become the property of OOF and may be donated, so check regularly!

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S A F E T Y

Horses are big and beautiful animals but they are prey animals and therefore have a strong fight or flight instinct. This can make them dangerous if you are not paying attention and looking out for some key signs that will signal a negative reaction from your horse or pony. Having a healthy sense of respect for potential dangers around horses and following these rules will help to keep you safe.

S A F E T Y E Q U I P M E N T

• All riders must sign a waiver (separate from this document) before interacting with horses at OOF

• Wear sturdy hard-toed shoes or boots that will protect your feet if the horse or pony steps on them. Do not wear sandals, flip-flops, mesh athletic shoes, or any thin shoes in a stable or around horses.

• All riders must wear an ASTM approved helmet while mounted. It is a good idea to wear a helmet while tacking up as well.

• All riders must wear boots or shoes with a 1/2 inch heel while mounted. This prevents the riders foot from slipping too far into the stirrup and getting caught.

• Gloves are recommended to protect hands from possible rope burn in case a horse pulls the roper reins through your hands.

• Riders may choose to purchase a safety vest for riding. Cross country vests are required when taking advantage of our cross country jumps.

�7I N T E R A C T I N G W I T H H O R S E S

• Get the horse's attention before approaching or touching and always approach the horse from the front or shoulder.

• Be calm and quiet. Sudden moves or loud noises can cause a horse to shy (jump sideways) or kick out.

• When tying a horse, use a quick release knot or panic snap so that if your horse gets frightened and pulls it can quickly be freed. The feeling of being constrained can make a scared horse panic to the point of hurting itself or you. Our cross-ties are all equipped with panic snaps and/or a breakaway component.

• Because horses are prey animals, their eyes are located on the sides of their head. This causes a blind spot directly in front and close up to a horses face, always be aware of this when interacting with horses. The safest place to stand is beside your horse's shoulder where you can see each other, or about 10 or more feet away unless you are grooming, tacking up or otherwise interacting with your horse.

• Never stand directly behind a horse. If you are grooming its tail, stand to one side and pull the tail gently towards you.

• When cleaning a horse's hooves or putting on leg bandages, don't squat or kneel. Bend over so that if the horse moves you can get out of the way quickly.

• When grooming or tacking up, tie your horse up. Do not leave a tied horse unattended.

• Never loop lead ropes, lunge lines, or reins around your hands or any other body part. If your horse pulls away, you could be dragged. Do not tie yourself to a horse in any way.

• The safest way to lead a horse is with a halter and lead rope. Don't hook your fingers through the halter straps, rings, or the bit. If the horse pulls away, your fingers could be caught, injuring them or catching your hand so that you are dragged. Never tie a horse by its bit or reins.

• When going through a doorway, make sure the door is wide open so the horse doesn't hit itself or catch tack or blankets on the handle. This can severely startle a horse. If the door is narrow, go through first, make the horse wait, and then have it go through after you as you stand to the side.

�8• When turning out a horse or pony to his paddock, always turn his head back toward the

gate and step through it yourself before slipping the halter off to avoid his heels in case he kicks them up in delight at freedom.

• If you have long hair, tie it back with a braid or secure pony tail. Long hair may become tangled with lead ropes, cross-ties or other equipment. Do not allow your long hair to blow around or fall over your face when riding.

E Q U I N E B O DY L A N G U A G E

• Swishing tail means he’s irritated. If there are no bugs, he could be irritated with you!

• Ears – flat against the head means aggression, pricked forward means he’s focused on something ahead of him, turned back means he’s focused on something behind him, and just “there” means he’s not worried.

• General body position – tense muscles, erect head and neck means he’s unsure of something and on high alert; a lowered head and relaxed body mean he’s comfortable and not expecting any danger; and a cocked leg can either mean he’s resting, or, if other body language suggests tension, he may be taking aim – time to move out of the way.

• Pawing at the ground can indicate impatience, as in the case of a horse eagerly awaiting the carrot you are holding or a horse having been left standing in the cross ties for longer than it likes. It can also indicate stress, as in the case of a horse who is herd bound, meaning it experiences stress when removed for his or her paddock mates.

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G R O U N D S & FA C I L I T I E S

D R I V E WAY & B A R N YA R D

• No smoking in or around the barns, paddocks or shavings piles.

• The speed limit on the driveway is 15km/hr. Slower is better, especially close to the barns as fast moving cars can startle horses and many of the dogs who call OOF home like to greet incoming cars.

• Horse Trailers and large delivery vehicles have the right of way on the driveways.

• Do not drive or park on the grass please, even in summer. Some exceptions during the five annual horse shows.

• Do not write on anything that is OOF property, this includes but is not limited to stalls, walls, picnic tables, windows, wooden sides of the black/white boards, tack, saddle pads etc. Even if you think you are being helpful, please DON’T DO IT.

• No riding in grass rings or on lawns without permission from Linda. Riding on soft, wet ground can cause difficult to fix pock marks which can be a safety concern in the grass ring and unsightly on the lawns.

• Do not leave anything but horses in the fields (i.e. NO buckets, halters, lead ropes...).

• Sweep up before and after you ride. Manure and sweepings go to the manure pile or designated muck bucket or wheelbarrow.

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I N T H E A R E N A

• OOF lessons have priority and right of way in the arena and sand rings. Ask before taking down or moving jumps. Instructors will often have lessons plans based on what is set up.

• Pass left to left – faster horse has outside track when going the same direction.

• When you leave arena, ensure that everything you brought in is taken out.

• Boarders – when riding during a lesson, ride at the level of the lesson (ie. No jumping during a walk/trot beginner lesson).

• Jump cups and pins must be put on the kick boards when not in use.

• Riders must always pick manure before they leave the ring.

• If you absolutely must interrupt a lesson to speak with the coach, be as brief as possible. The riders in the lesson are paying for the coach’s time for that hour. It is awkward for trainers when they have to juggle lessons with outside conversation.

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O O F O W N E D P R O P E R T Y

H O R S E S

Care of the horse is paramount.

• All interaction with OOF owned horses must be approved by Linda, a senior staff member or instructor.

• Any concerns regarding the horses (injury, odd behaviour, missing shoes etc) should be brought to the attention of your instructor or a senior staff member as soon as you notice them

• Feed and blanket changes etc. must be cleared with Linda or a senior staff member.

• The cutting of manes, tails or forelocks is strictly forbidden. If you would like to be more involved with the grooming maintenance of the horse or pony you ride, please speak with Linda or Tess and they can assist and teach you. Do not assume you know what you are doing, as methods and preferences differ between barns.

E Q U I P M E N T

• The tack in the schooling tack room belongs to Linda and is not for general use. It is ONLY to be used on the horse it is assigned to or as directed by Linda or an OOF Coach. Please do not help yourself or switch out your tack for ours.

• Do not adjust any school tack other than to adjust stirrup length. Changing of bits, stirrup leathers or irons, reins etc. is not permitted. If there is an issue in fit, please speak to a staff member.

• If you use OOF tack, please treat it with care and respect.

• Look around before you leave to make sure everything is put away.

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L E S S O N S

In an effort to ensure that everyone is familiar with the riding lesson routine, we have summarized the major points for you. If we’ve missed anything, or more detail is required, please ask us or read through our FAQ page on our website at oldorchardfarm.ca for further information.

PA R E N TA L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y :

Parents are part of our program.  Particularly with (but not limited to) younger/beginner riders. Parents or an accompanying adult are a big part of their experience.   As a general rule if your child is not old enough to be at home alone, a parent/guardian should be with them at the lessons (this is different from camp, where general supervision is part of the cost and program).   Our helpers/coaches will work with you and the rider to teach you how to get the horse/pony inside the barn and tacked up and prepared for the lesson and untacked and turned back outside afterwards), eventually to be done mostly on your own as part of progression in the sport.  Your rider will look forward to showing what they are learning!  Please stay, watch, cheer, and assist your child before and after the lesson along with our team.  If asking someone else to accompany your child let them know what to expect (i.e. being involved). It really is fun for everyone! We have an excellent safety record at Old Orchard Farm - but like any sport injuries can happen from time to time.  That is another reason why it is best for children to have parents or another adult ringside. Speak to your Coach if you have any questions.

�13P R O P E R AT T I R E

• All students must wear an ASTM approved helmet. While OOF does have a supply in the tack room, we encourage riders to purchase their own helmets to ensure proper fit.

• The only acceptable footwear is a boot or shoe with a small 1⁄2” + heel.

• Comfortable clothing is recommended. Layers are best during cooler weather.

As you progress you may wish to invest in additional equipment such as:

• Riding pants (breeches or jodhpurs)

• Full or half chaps (garters to prevent rubs or pinches to the inner calf from the stirrup leathers, and to provide grip)

• Riding gloves (winter or summer depending on season)

• Your own crop and spurs

• Your own set of brushes

• Safety vest

P R E PA R I N G YO U R M O U N T

Part of the riding lesson program includes preparing your horse or pony for your lessons. This means that you should plan to arrive at the farm 30 to 45 minutes before your scheduled lesson. A list will be posted on the bulletin board to indicate the horse / pony you will be riding in your lesson. Most of the school horses have their own labelled tack in the main tack room. You are expected to retrieve your animal from its paddock, groom him, put your tack on him, and be ready on time for the start of your lesson. In the case of new riders, your coach or a helper will assist with this.

�14T H E B R O O M A N D T H E S H OV E L :

You are also expected to leave the barn clean. This means that if your horse should happen to provide a pile of manure (or urine), you are expected to clean it up before you proceed to the arena for your lesson. This is an inevitable part of riding! Manure and sweepings go to the manure pile or provided muck bucket or wheelbarrow. Shavings (provided in black skip) are spread on urine to soak it up and then the soiled shavings are deposited in the manure pile or muck bucket provided.

D U R I N G YO U R L E S S O N :

Your lesson will begin with warm up exercises and walking to help get both you are your horses muscles and joints ready for the tasks at hand. Your instructor will then present a lesson based on the skill level and goals of the riders in the lesson. This will vary from group to group. You as a student are expected to to bring your focus and an open to mind to the lesson.

A F T E R YO U R L E S S O N :

When you finish your lesson, it is your responsibility to return your tack to its proper place so that others can find it easily. Should the tack be soiled, it would be appreciated if you give it a wipe or spend some time, on occasion, properly cleaning the tack. If you are interested in learning how to keep your tack clean and conditioned, please ask and we will show you how. It is important to keep the leather clean and flexible, but there are proper ways of doing so.

T U R N I N G O U T YO U R H O R S E :

The needs of the animal come first. After your horse has been cooled out and brushed down, it is time to return him to the paddock or stall. Did he have a fly mask or blanket on when you brought him in? Make sure it is back on the horse when you put him outside again. Blankets also must be put on correctly, so ask for help if you are unsure of the proper way. Please note that it costs OOF between $40 and $400 to repair or replace a blanket when they are put on incorrectly and may cause injury to the horse. Horses must go into the correct paddocks. Some horses do not get along with others.

B A C K W H E R E I T W E N T :

�15On returning to the stable area or grooming stall that you were using with your horse, you should check that the halter is hung on the hook and the lead rope is replaced. Tack and grooming supplies must be put away properly.

T H E B R O O M A N D S H OV E L PA R T I I :

Did you sweep up your mess? Even if the only reminder that you used the area is the remnants from cleaning the horse’s hooves, you will need to sweep the area. It’s just like home! You have to clean up your mess so that the next rider to use the facilities doesn’t have to do it for you. Take one last look around and make sure you have all your personal belongings before heading for home!

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S O C I A L M E D I A

E T I Q U E T T E A N D C O D E O F C O N D U C T

Now that most of our riders are on social media we have found it necessary to put together an etiquette guideline/code of conduct to help guide our young riders through the murky waters of social media. This guideline addresses what is and is not appropriate to post as it relates to the farm (and in general!) and how we expect our riders to conduct themselves online.

Our reasons for publishing this guideline are twofold: first we want to ensure that all social media interactions between our riders and with riders at other barns are positive; second is that we are a business and it is important that we maintain an appropriate and professional social media image.

1. Exercise the Golden Rule - Be kind to one another! Personal comments about other riders on social media are not appropriate. This is a friendly barn – meanness or criticisms towards others of any kind will not be tolerated.

2. Acting as an Ambassador - If you use the Old Orchard Farm or OOF name or images of our farm in your account, posts or stories you are volunteering yourself as an ambassador of the farm and therefore should act as such online (and in person) with class, dignity and professionalism.

3. Don’t Overstep - Be cautious of overstepping what is appropriate to post. Some things are only to be posted by Linda or approved OOF staff such as posting that a horse is for sale. Ask yourself if Linda would approve of the post before you share. This goes for sharing information about other riders as well – be sure that you are not posting anything you shouldn’t about others.

4. Dubious Claims – Be careful when posting online that you are not posting misinformation. Portraying yourself as an expert in any field will often open you up to criticism by others. It is best not to post about things that you are not absolutely certain

�17about. Be humble and remember that how you portray yourself online can follow you into the future and can reflect poorly on you and the farm.

5. Damaging Opinions – Please do not make negative or damaging statements about OOF horses or ponies on social media. Just because a horse or pony may be difficult on a given day or someone has had a bad ride does not mean that the horse or pony is “bad”. Opinions posted on social media can become fact in the eyes of those who read them. Horses should not be given bad reputations based on a single person’s opinion.

6. Airing Dirty Laundry - We all love a good fail pic and appreciate being able to laugh at our mistakes but please do not constantly post bad pictures/videos/comments on or about OOF horses. This can contribute to an undeserved bad reputation for the horse and for the farm. The same goes if a horse has sustained an injury or illness – the reality of horses is that bad things do sometimes happen - but publishing it on social media is not a good idea, as things can be taken out of context and contribute to a poor image for all involved.

7. Anonymous Question Apps - Mention of Old Orchard Farm or OOF horses or other riders on anonymous question apps such as Sarahah, ASKfm or Realis etc are not appropriate. These sites are designed to give people a platform to make offensive, anonymous comments and are extremely unprofessional. Please do not post on these sites regarding Old Orchard Farm. If there is an issue, please discuss with the owners to come to a resolution.

8. Ownership of Photos – make sure that any photos you post are your own! If they are not, make sure you have permission to post them. Posting photographers’ watermarked proofs that have not been paid for is not advised (or legal) but tagging yourself or friends in these photos is fine.

9. When in Doubt Don’t Post - Remember everything you post online is public and cannot be undone. It doesn't matter whether or not you delete the post or message. If you've published it, it's traceable. When in doubt, leave it out.

Most of what we see posted day to day is lovely. We believe that our riders are kind and helpful people and we love to see people sharing their love for horses and watching their individual journeys towards better horsemanship. But please think before you post. Lasting damage can occur due to the turn of a phrase or one unthinking comment!

�18Keep in mind that some barns do not allow posting of any barn related content without prior approval of each post by the barn owner. We do not want to resort to this, so please think about how your content will reflect on yourself, the farm and your peers before you post!

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You made it to the end, Hurray! Thank you for taking the time to read this document fully. We are certain that having this information up front before you begin will contribute positively to your experience here.

If you are interested in learning more about the farm, our programs and policies please visit our website. The FAQ and Information Resources pages are a great place to start or shoot us an email to info@oldorchardfarm.ca

S I G N AT U R E

I hereby sign that I have read, understand and agree to the terms and conditions listed above:

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If rider is under 18 years of age, I hereby sign that I as parent/guardian of the rider have covered this material with my child and that we both understand and agree to the terms and conditions listed above:

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