Welcome To The Barn Family!

What Is Your Experience With Horses?

Beginner:

 I have never ridden a horse before.
 I have recently begun riding.
 I have not had many riding lessons or it has been a long time since I've ridden.
 I have only ridden well-broke lesson and/or trail horses.
 I may need assistance to properly tack up a horse.
 I can walk/trot but I am not yet comfortable in faster gaits.
 I do not know how to properly exercise a horse on my own.
 I need education on proper horse safety, care and maintenance.

ADVANCED BEGINNER
 I can walk/trot/canter on a well-schooled horse.
 I can properly tack up a horse.
 I can safely exercise a horse on my own.
 I take regular riding lessons and/or I'm still working to increase my knowledge/ability.
 I currently ride on a regular basis.

INTERMEDIATE
 In addition to all of the above, I can walk/trot/canter with confidence and balance.
 I have some groundwork skills and I can properly lunge, round-pen and exercise a horse.
 I am comfortable with loading and trailering a horse.
 I have ridden a variety of horses.
 I have a solid understanding of horse care and maintenance.
 I currently own or have recently owned a horse.

ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE
 In addition to all of the above, I have the training ability to help a horse gain confidence on the ground and in the saddle.
 I have experience and knowledge in training horses in my chosen riding discipline.
 I am comfortable dealing with a horse that will require much more training or one that can be somewhat difficult.

ADVANCED
 In addition to all of the above, I have participated in events such as shows, jumping, dressage, barrel racing etc. and could teach others.
 I have given or currently give riding lessons.
 I have fluid movements and an independent seat and hands when riding.
 I am a professional horse trainer or have been a professional horse trainer.
 I have full confidence when working/riding/training a wide variety of horses.

OA Lesson Policies & Outline

Our lesson program has been designed for riders of all ages and ability levels. In order to maintain safety as our primary concern, all riders must read and fill out all forms contained in this packet which provides essential information designed to make your experience as fulfilling and safe as possible. Please ask Trisha, if you have any questions regarding these forms or our lesson program.

1. Lesson Policies

• Riders must be at least 3 years old (unless participating in Barn Babies Class)
• The weight limit for riders is 225 pounds
• Proper attire must be worn for the lesson or the lesson cannot be conducted and payment will still be due. 
• Proper attire includes jeans or breeches, boots with a smooth sole with a little heel, and an ASTM approved riding helmet (no bike helmets). 
• Gloves are optional. 
• No muck boots during the riding portion of the lesson.
• No crop tops/ or excessively baggy clothes
• Payments of service will be expected to be made at the time of the service and shall be made in the form of cash, Venmo, or money order payable to Open Arms Equestrian Center. 
  • *If payment of service is made AFTER scheduled appointment a late fee of $5/day will be charged until payment is made.
  • 24 hours’ notice is required if you are unable to attend your lesson. This is a courtesy to ensure that proper notice is given to volunteers and staff and so that your spot may be filled with another rider.
  • If you do not give 24 hours’ notice, you will be held responsible for paying for your scheduled lesson/ service.
  • Lessons canceled with 24 hours’ notice or by the instructor will be rescheduled. 
  • During inclement weather, please contact your instructor. 
  • Refunds will not be given once the lesson has started and without 24 hours’ notice prior to the start time of the scheduled lesson.
  • Lessons include: grooming, tacking, lunging as needed, riding, untacking, and putting the horse away.
    • A lesson may consist of showmanship, groundwork- including  line-driving/lunging, trail riding, and arena riding.
    • If a student arrives late or takes excessive time grooming/ tacking up that will shorten the riding portion of the lesson.
    • Tenative lesson example for 1 hour:
      15 minutes- Grooming/Tacking up
      30-40 minutes- Riding
      10-15 minutes- Un-tacking/Grooming
  • 2. Lesson Program Fees
    • 1 Hour Private Lesson $75
    • Half Hour Private Lesson $45

If payment of service is made AFTER scheduled appointment a late fee of $5/day will be charged until payment is made.

3.  Written Disclosure

All riders and guests must be given a written disclosure. Please read entirely and know where our warning and visitor responsibilities signs are posted throughout the facility. SEE ATTACHED WRITTEN DISCLOSURE.

4. Facility Rules & Policies
Participants, parents, and guests are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all facility rules and regulations and following them at all times. SEE ATTACHED FACILITY RULES.

5. Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnification Agreement

EVERYONE entering the facility needs to sign a release form. This includes, but is not limited to family members and guests. PLEASE READ AND SIGN THE ATTACHED RELEASE FORM (OR CONTACT STABLE FOR FORM). 

 Media Release
PLEASE READ AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PHOTO RELEASE FORM.
Registration Form
PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED REGISTRATION FORM ENTIRELY.
Helmet Release
PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED FORM ENTIRELY.

OA Written Disclosure

BEFORE STARTING YOUR ACTIVITY AT OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE POSTED WARNING TO VISITORS AND VISITOR RESPONSIBILITIES SIGNS TO LEARN ABOUT:

The risks inherent to participating in equine activities; and your responsibilities when participating in the activities at OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER.
THE WARNING TO VISITORS SIGN IS POSTED ON the wall in barn isle, next to the tack room and sign in table, and in the outdoor arena. This sign identifies the inherent risk(s) of the equine activities in which you will be participating – activities that may expose you to the risk of personal injury, death or damage to your property.
If you do not understand the information contained in the Warning to Visitors or Visitor Responsibilities signs or have any questions about their content, please ask an Open Arms Equestrian Center representative for help before you begin your equine activity.
If you are accompanied by individuals who need help in understanding the inherent risks of participating in the equine activities or the responsibilities of a visitor at Open Arms Equestrian Center, please explain, or ask a Open Arms Equestrian Center’s representative to explain the risks and responsibilities to those people so that they understand them.
IF YOU (OR THOSE YOU ARE WITH) ARE UNPREPARED OR UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE RISKS DISCLOSED OR THE RESPONSIBILITIES IMPOSED ON A VISITOR TO OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, PLEASE ADVISE THE ATTENDANT.

OA Facility Rules and Policies

The well-being of our horses and customers is extremely important to us here at Open Arms Equestrian Center. It is essential to establish rules to keep people happy and safe and to allow the barn to operate smoothly. We ask that each person become familiar with our policies and procedures to help maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone. These rules will be strictly enforced at all times.

GENERAL RULES

• No smoking inside any buildings or anywhere on the Open Arms Equestrian Center premise.
• No alcoholic beverages or drinking of such beverages inside any buildings.
• Absolutely no handling of horses, whether on the ground or riding, under the influence of any illegal substance or alcohol.
• ALL persons entering the property must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk,and Indemnification Agreement. Agreements can be found on our website and next to the sign- in book as well as by asking an Open Arms Equestrian Center employee.
• Guests are always welcome. Please be sure all guests sign a Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnification Agreement. 
• Guests should never enter a stall or handle a horse without prior permission.
• Ensure that guests are not disturbing or discourteous to other clients and their guests.
• The speed limit on all driveways and parking lots of Open Arms Equestrian Center is 10 MPH.
• NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO GO NEAR THE POND
• Please do not bring your pets without prior approval. If approved by Trisha, all dogs must be kept on a leash. Dog owners are responsible for any and all damages or injury caused by their dog.
• Our facility hours are 9:00am to 6:00pm. To aid with security, please notify the Barn Manager if you need to be at the facility before or after hours.
• Do not feed horses ANYTHING unless you are the owner of the horse. We are strongly against hand feeding at any time; this only encourages biting and mouthy behavior.
• HORSES ARE PERMITTED ONLY IN THE BARN AISLES, THE ARENAS, TACK BAYS, AND WASH BAYS, TURN-OUTS, ROUND PEN.
• PLEASE PICK ALL MANURE FROM BARN AREAS AND SWEEP TACK AND WASH RACK AREAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU’RE DONE. 
• Scoop poop before you leave the area!
• Remove all training equipment including jumps, cones, poles, and barrels from the arena after you’re done riding and store in the designated areas. 
• Please pick your horse’s feet before the start of your lesson.
• Return all stable supplies to their appropriate place. This includes putting all tack and equipment in the correct place, cleaning up manure and hair in all areas besides the arena, and sweeping your area before you leave. We appreciate you helping to keep the facility clean!
• RESPECT ALL animals, staff, clients, parents, guests, and their property. Disrespect will not be tolerated. Leave bad attitudes at home!
• Turn off all lights before leaving and be sure all gates and stall doors are closed and latched securely. To help us save on costs, please do not turn lights on in an area until you need them and turn off immediately after use if you are the last to leave the area.
• Nothing should be left on the floor in the isle or wash rack area. Halters and leads must be hung NEATLY without the lead rope touching the floor. Blankets should be folded neatly and hung on the blanket bar or preferably in a stall bag on the front of the stall. Please keep the number of blankets on the front of the stall to a minimum.
• We encourage everyone to label all tack, equipment, and supplies that will be stored on the property. We are not responsible for the theft, loss, damage or disappearance of any tack or equipment or other property stored at the facility, as the same is stored at the owner’s risk.
• Monthly storage of equipment is available for a monthly fee of $25-$100.
• ALL incidents that occur, resulting in injury or not, must be reported to the Barn Manager and an Incident Report Form will be filled out.
• If you see a horse in difficulty please inform staff immediately. Do NOT try to assist the horse without permission from the owner or an Open Arms Equestrian Center employee.
• All tack in the tack room must be hung neatly and correctly. If you do not hang your bridles correctly you will be asked to keep them in your locker. Nothing should be touching the floor.
• We understand accidents happen; if you break something or you see something is broken, please notify the Barn Manager immediately.
• Do not use or borrow any items without the owner’s permission including, but not limited to, tack, blankets, brushes, sprays, and supplements. If you have permission to borrow something from someone, and it breaks, please take responsibility and fix or replace the item.
• Always lead your horse with a properly fitted halter and lead rope.
• Never go into a horse’s stall without permission from the Barn Manager.
• Do not leave doors or windows open during the cold months unless specified by the Barn Manager.
• All young children ages 12 & under must be supervised by an adult at all times and must be prohibited from disrupting the horses in the arena and possibly spooking a horse.
• No running, jumping, yelling, screaming, fence climbing, or performing any other actions that could cause horses to spook, both while inside the facility or when around horses anywhere on the property.
• Inappropriate footwear such as open-toed shoes are NOT to be worn in the barn isle, arenas, or wash rack areas or near a horse at any time. Guests who do not have proper footwear are not permitted near any horses at any time and should remain in the viewing areas only. Riders must wear a boot with a distinguishable heel. No muck boots or sneakers while riding.
• We highly recommend that all lockers remain locked, as we cannot guarantee your property from any damage or theft.
• No food/treats are to be stored in any lockers.
• Please check the dry erase and bulletin boards in the barn regularly.
  • Important information and announcements will be posted in these areas as well as on our Facebook page and on our website.
    All important numbers including staff and emergency personnel are posted on the board in the barn.
    PLEASE LET STAFF KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE. Communication among customers and staff is crucial to a well-run facility. We will do our best to resolve any issues that may arise. Gossiping and speaking to other clients about your concerns will absolutely not be tolerated and is considered a disrespectful act to the stable and can result in immediate termination of a boarding contract or lessons. If you have a problem with another client, please talk to them directly or to the Barn Manager in a mature, professional manner to try and resolve the issue. Concerns may be left in the suggestion box as well.
• Safety is our priority, if you have any questions or concerns about our policies and procedures that affect the safety of others or the horses, notify the Barn Manager immediately.

OA RIDING RULES

• We mandate that every rider follow the New York State Helmet Law. NYS law states that all riders less than the age of 18 must wear a securely fastened ASTM/SEI certified helmet while mounted. It is recommended that riders 18 years of age and older wear a helmet.
• When lessons are in progress, please remember that the INSTRUCTORS ARE IN CHARGE OF SAFETY. Boarders and clients are expected to set a good example and implement safe handling and riding practices. Instructors have the right to ask boarders to stop a handling procedure or practice ride if they feel that the rider is being unsafe or setting a bad example for students. Please do not question any authoritative request in a negative manner especially in front of other clients. Boarders and clients can request a full explanation of the situation, and we will work with instructors and clients to ensure that all issues are explained and resolved in a respectful manner.
• Lesson fees are due at time of service. If payment is not received a $5/day fee will be charged until completion of payment.
• RIDING ALONE POLICY: For your safety, if you are riding alone, we request that you inform staff or a family member or friend when you arrive and your intended riding time, and again when you leave. This can be communicated via text message or phone call. We encourage riders to not ride alone as it is not a safe practice. If you must, please keep your cell phone in your pocket and use extra precaution.
• No horses should be ridden or led on the lawn without permission from the Barn Manager.
• Horses are only permitted on the walkways and any sand areas. 
  When entering the arena from the barn, please open the door a few inches, announce yourself loud and clear, then finish opening the door and slowly enter the arena.

Enjoy your time at Open Arms Equestrian Center!

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and fully understand all of the facility rules.

Open Arms Equestrian Center

Photo, Video, & Quote Release Form

 

Please Mark with Y (Yes) N (NO). I hearby authorize the release of the photographs/video/quotes of

 

 

I hereby enter into this agreement in consideration of my ability and permission to ride OR use any Horse owned by OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER,Trisha Planells, whose address is 75 Eastern Parkway, Germantown NY, 12526. 

 IMPORTANT NOTICE

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT YOU ARE GIVING UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES IN CASE OF INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, ARISING OUT OF YOUR RIDING OR USE OF THE OWNER’S HORSE AND/OR PARTICIPATION IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES AT OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, INCLUDING INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE ARISING OUT OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF YOU OR OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER and/or TRISHA PLANELLS.

READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING IT.

YOUR SIGNATURE INDICATES YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT TO ITS TERMS.

By signing this form, I hereby acknowledge on behalf of myself that I have familiarized myself with the activities that I will be allowed to participate in, and that I do hereby acknowledge and agree that I will participate in these activities without restriction or limitation. I recognize the inherent risks involved in riding and working with horses, including but not limited to:

Bites, kicks, abrasions or contusions from horses.
Being thrown or bucked off by horses.
Scratches or other injury from stalls or enclosures.
Scratches or other injury from grooming tools and other equine equipment and tack.
Allergic reactions to animals, hay, or other allergens.
Tripping in holes or on materials or equipment.
Slipping, falling, or otherwise being injured in the barn, in stalls, or on the  grounds, which can be slippery, muddy, wet, or contain or present other hazards.

 

 

I hereby specifically forever waive and release OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells and its principals and agents from any liability for injury arising out of the inherent risks from riding, working or participating in a stable environment and/or with horses, as well as from the active negligence of OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells, and its principals and agents.

By signing this agreement I hereby acknowledge that although there may be supervision by Trisha Planells during my time spent at OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, there will not be a nurse on the premises and OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER/ Trisha Planells and its principals and agents bear no responsibility for my health or medical care.

I agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells and its principals and agents from and against any loss, liability, damage, attorneys' fees, or costs that they may incur arising out of or in any way connected with either my presence or participation at OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, or any acts or omissions of OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells, and/or principals or agents.

By signing this Agreement, and by initialing the paragraph below, I hereby acknowledge my complete understanding, agreement and consent to my presence and/or participation in the activities at OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, without restriction, without liability to OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells, its principals or agents, and with full knowledge and understanding of the disclosures, waivers, and releases herein. (Initial)

If I am present at and participate in the activities of OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, I do so at my own risk, and I hereby acknowledge and agree that OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Trisha Planells and/or any of its principals and agents shall bear no responsibility or risk associated with injuries that could arise from my presence or participation at OPEN ARMS EQUESTRIAN

OA Helmet Release Waiver

It is statistically clear that there are certain inherent dangers associated with horseback riding and being around horses. Those dangers include the risk of suffering serious head injury or death should the rider fall or be thrown from a horse. It is, therefore, the policy of Open Arms Equestrian Center, Trisha Planells, farm owners; Chickie Burka and Paul Edel, and/or any of its principals and agents, that safety riding helmets will be worn at all times when riders are mounted on a horse.

Please indicate below, your preference and signature.