RIDING LESSONS

1-2 Riders - 1 Hour

Non-Package pay per lesson

1-3 Riders of similar skill level - 1 Hour

A one-on-one lesson or group lesson once per week. 

Typically 4 lessons person month coming once weekly.

A one-on-one lesson or group lesson twice per week. 

Typically 8 lessons person month coming twice weekly.

Intermediate to advanced riders only - 1 Hour

A one-on-one lesson or group lesson once per week. 

Typically 4 lessons person month coming once weekly.

A one-on-one lesson or group lesson twice per week. 

Typically 4 lessons person month coming twice weekly.

Parent/Siblings (2 max) (introductory lesson only) - 1 Hour

A one-on-one clinic with one of our clinicians 

or a group clinic (fee is per horse).     - 1.5 Hours

Current coggins and vaccines required to trailer in.

OWS provides instruction in both Western and English riding.  Our philosophy is if a rider learns the basics and fundamentals of riding, the equipment between their butt and the horse shouldn't matter.  We allow riders to decide their discipline and proceed accordingly.   

Jeans, Leggins and Breeches are acceptable riding attire. Sports bras are advised for ladies and a decent shirt either short sleeved or long.  Shorts and sweat pants are NOT proper riding attire and riders showing up in either will not be permitted to ride.  This is for the safety of the rider. 

Boots with a heel and/or paddock boots are acceptable footwear for riding.  Flip flops, crocs and sandals are NOT permitted in the barn or around horses and riders showing up in flop flops, crocs or sandals will not be permitted to ride.  Tennis shoes are not advised but manageable until the rider can acquire the proper footwear. 

Old Wire Stables provides students with helmets however, students are permitted to purchase their own helmet and bring it.  We do ask that any personally owned helmet is SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) approved.  Riding vests are also permitted but at the owner's expense.

Lessons are 1-hour in duration from the scheduled start time.  As riders gain experience in grooming and tacking their horse timely, saddle time increases.  

Depending on your experience level and at the discretion of your assigned instructor, a first lesson starts with meeting your assigned horse, learning to groom, pick up and clean the hooves, discussing the parts and psychology of horses and beginning with a bareback mounted lesson.  Instructors will guide students in the placement of a bareback pad and discuss safety procedures, mounting the horse and understanding pressure and release.  New students will be put through a series exercises to determine confidence, assertiveness, balance and ability to listen and comprehend.  All new students to OWS are required to undergo this evaluation process. 

Yes, however those not wishing to purchase a riding package are subject to availability.  Those who purchase a riding package are provided set day(s) and time(s) each week.

Instructors focus on teaching our students to be well rounded and knowledgeable in all aspects of horse care, maintenance and equitation. From the start of each lesson, students will groom their mount, discuss the parts of the horse, learn the tack and learn to properly tack up their mount. Students will learn how to safely pick up their horse's hooves for cleaning and health check.

Instructors provide basic riding instruction in both English and Western disciplines.  Students can choose to be versatile and learn both disciplines if they like. We provide both Western and English tack.

Old Wire Stables carefully chooses its school master horses.  We provide horses with good temperament and dispositions for the tasks at hand.  However, horses are large breed flight (prey) animals and are subject to environmental factors.  Instructors take special care to inform students of how to read and gauge their assigned horse for each lesson. Also, check out our "meet the horses" link. 

Horses assigned to students each lesson is at the sole discretion of their instructor.  Students may ride the same horse multiple times, then be placed with another to gauge progress or regression.  With the various amounts of horses and varying temperaments, instructors at times will place riders with horses that may provide the rider with a challenge.  This is to gauge the riders ability to show what they have learned and how they can manage different horses.  Instructors will not set students up for failure but rather assist in their growth. 

The frequency of riding lessons is based on how quickly students want to advance and grow as well as based upon availability.  Old Wire Stables instructors recommend a frequency of once or twice weekly however, upon availability students can schedule additional lessons.  

Every student must first learn the basics of horsemanship and equitation before starting a specific discipline, e.g. barrel racing or jumping.  A below average barrel racing horse can reach speeds of 27+ mph with a top barrel racing horse reaching speeds of 50+ mph.  Those wishing to become competitive in barrel racing or jumping, must first master being able to properly and safely sit a walk, trot, canter (lope) and gallop before attempting a sport whereas a horse goes from zero to 30+ mph, swiftly halts, pivots and rockets forward to its' next obstacle or jumping of stationary objects.  Either are no easy feat and not for the faint of heart.  Mistakes can seriously injure and/or kill a rider if not properly trained.  Old Wire Stables instructors take special care when guiding students into a discipline.  Only once riders show a certain level of proficiency will they be permitted to enter into specialty disciplines and training at Old Wire Stables.  There is also a different fee schedule for specialty disciplines.

Old Wire Stables instructors take special care to insure every rider and horse operates in a safe manner. However, you have chosen a sport which engages a large breed flight (prey) animal with a mind of its own and are subject to inherent risk laws associated with such a sport.  With that said, instructors at Old Wire Stables are First Aid, CPR and AED trained and certified.  Emergency protocols are in place should an accident occur up to and including basic first aid, to calling for emergency services (ambulance).  Under the Inherent Risk laws of the State of Florida, each rider, parent or guardian accepts the risk and liability associated with equine sport activities.  Old Wire Stables is not responsible for injuries incurred while riding.  However, instructors will make every reasonable effort to ensure a safe riding environment and provide all due first aid care at our training level should the need arise and call for emergency professionals when necessary or requested.

Yes, parents are permitted to be present during lessons to observe.

No, parents are not permitted to assist instructors with lesson instructions.  We respect a parents perspective, knowledge and understanding of horsemanship. However, there is a reason you brought your future equestrian to Old Wire Stables for instructions.  We have a process we use to identify strengths and weaknesses and how to build upon each.  

Parents are not permitted to drop off children under the age of 12 and leave the property without the express permission of the owner or barn manager. 

Parents are welcome to watch lessons from the sidelines or wait in their vehicle or inside the barn. Note: Often times there is a lot of horse traffic in and out of the barn, so be mindful and respectful of trainers, boarders, students and other personnel coming and going within the barn. 

Parents are welcome to bring out their other children however, they are not to be left unattended.  Old Wire Stables is a working farm with potentially dangerous farm equipment and other animals on the property.  All client children and guests must sign a waiver provided by the barn and be closely supervised by whomever brought them on the property. This is for the safety of all guests, personnel and animals on the property.

Yes, however lessons are prepaid and non-refundable.  Keep in mind instructors spend their time preparing lesson plans as well as their commute here as this is their paying job.  

ABSENCES AND RESCHEDULING:

· In the event of inclement weather, such as heavy rainfall and lightening, the lesson can be rescheduled at the instructor’s discretion to the nearest available date and time, subject to availability. Students are welcome to still attend their scheduled time and have an unmounted lesson. 

· In the event there are no open dates/time slots for the rescheduling of an inclement weather event, the lesson time will be credited to the following month’s lesson payment plan.

· In the event of an emergency or sickness, please call to cancel the riding lesson as soon as parent/student is aware they will not be able to attend the lesson. Doing so prevents the riding instructor from wasting time and resources. Payment is forfeit. 

· In the event a student needs to reschedule a lesson due to illness, injury or emergency, it is at the discretion of the riding instructor and their availability. Instructors can make an attempt to reschedule a lesson but understand if the riding program is full, there may not be available slots to make up a lesson and the student forfeits payment. 

· Rescheduling is subject to availability of the riding instructor and at their discretion. In the event there are no available dates/times to reschedule, the student forfeits their lesson time and payment.

· Students or parents/guardians are asked to call to cancel a lesson at least 24 hours in advance. Payment is forfeit regardless of cancellation or no show. 

· Do not send an email, text or Facebook message to cancel a lesson. We cannot guarantee we will receive your message prior to the lesson. Student forfeits their lesson time and payment.

· Lessons are scheduled out monthly and paid in full and up front. No refunds or transferring of lesson fees is permitted.

· Lesson fees are non-refundable. Students pay for their day(s)/time(s) so it is theirs to use or forfeit.