Gear your riding in consideration of weak riders, green horses, condition of your horse, and ground conditions. Maintain proper distance between horses (a minimum of 10’ in all directions is recommended). Those jumping have the right of way and must call their fences. Pass left shoulders when moving in opposite directions. When moving in the same direction, let your intention to pass be clearly heard. Do not block the flow of traffic or stand horses in gate or doorways.

All boarders and student riders must wear an ASTM approved helmet with an attached fastened harness to jump ANY horse on Equestrian Center property.

Facial jewelry is limited to non-dangling earrings only. Tongue jewelry is not to be worn when in the barn or on a horse.

Students must receive permission from their instructor to ride a horse not assigned to their class, even those owned by other students.

All horses must be cooled out prior to returning to their stalls with saddle mark removed. Failure to provide proper care after riding may result in loss of riding privileges.

Students are responsible for the complete care of the horse from the time it is taken out of the stall until it is returned. This includes thorough grooming (including picking out feet before and after riding) and refilling the water bucket.

No pregnant women are allowed to ride.

Riding double is not allowed.

You must check cinch/girth tightness on saddles on your horse and make re-adjustments for proper security before mounting, just after mounting and after approximately 10 –15 minutes of riding.

When a lesson is in session in any area, you MUST ask the permission of the instructor before entering that area. Observe the lesson schedule and class schedule posted by the tack room in the main barn. Make every effort not to interrupt instructors once lessons have begun except in case of emergency.

Lungeing must be done so that it does not disturb other horses and/or riders. Do not crack the lunge whip! Lunge in the round pen if your horse is inclined to be especially rowdy.

The use of the trails is a privilege, not a right. Please preserve this for others as well as yourself by obeying the rules and showing courtesy. Before using trails, check with facility manager to be sure trails are open. For your safety, no one should go out alone. Close all gates that you open. FHFEC school horses may NOT go out on trail on FHFEC property without permission of the faculty. An instructor must accompany trail riders on school owned horses. Do not use trails if they are muddy. Hoof prints left in the mud collect water and prevent the trails from drying properly. This leaves the footing rough for the horses. Trails are closed from dusk to dawn.

Lessons/training are available from College faculty and FHFEC staff instructors and trainers only. Please make inquiries at the office. No outside instructors may teach at Forest Hill Farms Equestrian Center unless specifically contracted to teach (part-time instructors, clinicians). No student may charge a lesson fee for help rendered to other students.

A scheduled activity has priority in the use of facilities and horses.

New students may ride in the indoor only unless they have a signed permission slip from their riding instructor.

No student may go out on trail with a school horse unless accompanied by an instructor.

No one is to go on trail alone. Trail riding, only with permission of the facility manager and the instructor, will be for advanced riders.

If any questions or problems arise, see the instructor or manager on duty.

 

Students MUST observe scheduled times for free riding. There is no free riding during riding classes. Recreational riding times are available from the barn manager.

All horses must be cooled out properly, groomed and returned to their stalls.

Check with your riding class instructor no later than Thursday if you want to ride during Friday lab times. Your riding instructor will assign a horse and let the lab instructor know that you have permission to ride it.

The school barn is closed to all on Sundays. The exception is those students showing school horses.

Students are to ride horses permanently assigned to their class unless given permission by their instructor to ride a different horse. This is for your safety.

Certain advanced horses or those with special schooling problems will be assigned by an individual instructor.

Recreational riding on a school owned horse is limited to students who are currently signed up for a riding activities class. Horses must be ridden with appropriate tack. Tack is not to be changed in any way without permission from the instructor or barn manager.

Tack MUST be cleaned and returned to its proper place as soon as possible after the horse is returned to its stall.

The Equine Science Director may approve the privilege of riding school owned horses during college breaks for an additional fee of $10/hour.