The Riding School at Kismet Farms

These policies and procedures must be followed by all of our riders, regardless of age or rider level.

Lesson Policies and Procedures

• Students must check in with a staff member at the designated grooming area prior to the start of their lesson. Please come ready to ride with appropriate clothing (see dress code policy for details).
• A parent/guardian must sign their name on the whiteboard posted on the door of the tack room, next to the name of the rider, as a means of “checking in” the rider prior to lesson start time. This parent/guardian is to remain on premise and be present for the entirety of the time that the under age rider is on Kismet Farms property.  This parent/guardian will be the responsible party for the rider in case of an emergency.
• Instruction begins at the lesson start time. Students are responsible for arriving with enough time to groom and tack up their horse as well as leaving enough time after the lesson to cool out and untack their horse.
• The start of each lesson is dependent on each student’s timely arrival. Lessons will end at the designated time.
• Students are expected to exercise safety at all times in the barn and while riding.  Students that are deemed to be unsafe by an instructor and are unable to comply with instructions to correct this will be asked to end their lesson immediately. No refunds or makeups will be provided.

Enforced Dress Code

The following requirements are in place for the safety and comfort of riders. Students who do not come in attire that meets the dress code will not be allowed to ride.  A make-up lesson will not be provided.

1. Boots or sturdy shoes with a smooth, hard sole and small heel (less than 1”). No tennis shoes or sandals. Paddock boots (with half chaps) or tall boots are recommended. 
2. Long pants that cover the ankle. No shorts, dresses, or skirts. Breeches or jodhpurs are strongly recommended.
3. T-shirt or long sleeve shirt that comes down past the top of the rider’s pants. No crop-tops or tank tops.
4. Regulation Riding Helmet (ASTM/SEI certified).
5. Clothing should be slim fitting, overly baggy/loose items of clothing are not permitted.  Jackets or sweatshirts must be zipped or buttoned. Clothing should be free from holes/ rips/tears. Tops should be tucked into pants.
6. No large/dangling/loose jewelry.
7. Hair must be tied back away from the face in a way that does not interfere with helmet fit. 
8. Safety Vests are required for jumping and recommended for all lessons.

Environmental Factors

Lesson formats may, on rare occasions, be altered due to environmental factors such as high winds, smoke, extreme heat, or storms, as well as illnesses or discomfort of horses. In these circumstances, lessons will be modified at the discretion of the instructor.

Water Bottles Not Allowed in the Arenas

For the safety of our horses and riders, and to minimize disruption during lessons, we cannot have water bottles placed on fence posts of the arena nor anyone handing water bottles to riders while they are mounted.

If a water break is required, please let your instructor know.  Level-dependent, either a groom will come meet the rider in the arena to walk them to the cross ties so that they may dismount and get water, or the rider may be allowed to dismount in the arena to hand walk back to the cross ties and get water.

Pricing and Payment Policies and Fees & Cancelation Policy

• All sales are final.  
• We do not offer refunds or make-ups for missed lessons or changes to lesson We do not offer refunds or make-ups for missed lessons.  Considerable time goes into planning lessons with instructors and reserving horses for riders, therefore it is the responsibility of the rider to attend lessons and to be on time
• Session registrations after the due-by date will incur a $50 late registration fee.  This fee is applicable to package payments made after the due-by date
• Changes to package purchase, included but not limited to cancellations made after the registration due-by date are subject to a $50 admin fee
• Package purchases are non refundable after the start of the associated session
• A la carte lessons are non-refundable
• A la carte lessons do not have a make-up option if they are missed
• Lesson purchases (including lesson packages and a la carte lessons) are not transferable between family members