2022 Policy Changes
Starting a new nonprofit is no easy feat and at the beginning, we had an extra layer of challenges caused by COVID. At the same time, the past couple of years have also been a learning process and we have discovered that we need to make some important policy changes in how we accept students into our program and what should be expected of them and their parents to participate.
Applications will now be required on a six-month basis starting in January 2022 and again in June. Evaluations of the student will be held at this time. Prior enrollment does not guarantee future enrollment. The application can be found here. Rider handbook can be found here.
Current free lessons will be put on hold until all applications have been received. The application deadline is Saturday, January 29th, 2022. This only applies to students receiving free and reduced lessons and Horse Boy lessons - not Horses4Heroes or Paid Lessons.
Free vs. Discounted
Whether or not a student receives lessons completely for free or at a discounted rate will now be based on several factors rather than simply being on a government assistance program. The total household income, number of family members in the household, and other sports or extracurricular activities that they participate in will now be used as factors to determine whether or not lessons will be free or discounted.
Mandatory Volunteer Time
The parent(s) will now be required to volunteer one hour per month as well as volunteer at the Farm Fall Festival. The Fall Festival is our only major fundraiser of the year that helps to provide the funds required to offer free and discounted lessons. We need an estimated 50 volunteers for that vent alone. A variety of volunteer options will be posted in the barn.
Behavior Issues
We have been dealing with a number of behavior issues from children that will no longer be accepted or worked through. Screaming, yelling, and simply not trying in lessons will result in the lesson being ended and the child returned to their parents. In order to progress, students must respect the instructor and the horse must always come first. Behavior issues create an unsafe environment for everyone involved in the lesson including the horse. We have found that the children who act out and do not do the work, simply do not want to be taking lessons. Repeat offenses will result in removal from the program.
Barn Rules
The barn rules have been amended to allow parents to complete their volunteer time. Parents will be allowed in the barn area with two exceptions:
The parent has participated in our Parent Class so that they can assist their child in grooming and tacking.
The parent is using the time to fulfill their monthly volunteer duties.
Please do not try to teach and assist with lessons. It simply causes confusion on the child’s part when they are told to do something by the instructor and how to do it, only to have the parent also coaching from the sidelines. It is important to allow our instructor to do the teaching. Please continue to watch lessons from the bench outside the arena.
Please do not bring children that are not part of the lesson into the barn. We have had many instances of small children interrupting the instructor and causing distractions. Again, this creates safety issues.
The remaining barn rules in the Rider Handbook still apply.
Clothing for Lessons
We have had a few instances in which we cannot allow a rider on a horse due to unsafe clothing/footwear.
Please do not wear loose, flowing clothes that will get caught on the saddle. Jeans or breeches must be worn. No shorts!
Boots are required or the student cannot use stirrups. No fashion boots. They are not made to protect your foot. If you cannot afford to buy boots, let us know and we can help you. We often have boots donated to the program.
Absolutely no flip flops, crocs, or other flimsy footwear is allowed in the barn or around the horses - even if you are volunteering.
Dress for the weather! It is better to be overdressed and take off layers than not have enough layers.
Payment Policy
Lessons are scheduled on a semester basis. We prefer that the full session is paid in advance, but will split it into monthly fees. We have structured pricing in this manner to allow us to have a dependable income as a nonprofit. If you prefer to pay weekly, please discuss with Valerie and she will make the final decision. If you pay by check or cash, please leave it in the box in the barn. We prefer online payment via PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, or Vagaro.
Cancellation Policy
We have had way too many last-minute cancellations over the past few months. Please do not wait until your lesson time starts to cancel. If you are canceling because of illness, please alert Valerie ASAP.
No Call/No Shows on free lessons will get one chance. Additional no-shows will result in removal from the program. An excessive number of cancellations will also result in the removal from the program.
We still have to pay our instructor for her time if you do not show up. Discounted and paid lesson students will forfeit that lesson if they do not follow the cancellation policy and will be charged. We do not have the funding to pay for last-minute cancellations and no-shows.
Weather Policy
With the new concrete in the barn, we are working on maintaining lessons regardless of the weather. Excessive heat and excessive cold (below freezing temperatures) will result in lesson cancellations.
Indoor horsemanship lessons will be substituted for poor weather days.
Lessons that are canceled by Lake Fork Stables will be rescheduled at a later date. We are reserving time from each session for make-up lessons. Cancellations will be canceled in Vagaro as well as on Facebook and the LFS Family Group.
Our Facebook Groups
If you are on Facebook, we highly recommend you like our page (Lake Fork Stables) and also join our Facebook groups.
LFS Family Group is for all parents or adult students taking lessons.
Lake Fork Stables Pony Club Group is for the family of participating Pony Club members. If you would like to join Pony Club, please contact Valerie for membership information.