Prospective/Current Starlight Horse Farm clients:
Thank you for your interest in Starlight Horse Farm!
This is a long, straight forward email and provides a breakdown of our rules and conditions, our policies, what we teach, and what the pricing covers. Please read thoroughly as this is an overview of our program with our expectations and beliefs concerning horsemanship and riding. Lessons are only sold in packages. Each package is $300 for 6 private 55-minute lessons. Everyone here learns riding AND horsemanship. Above all- we value horsemanship, work ethic, and knowledge. The following items discuss what parents need to know about riding and our program before their child joins the program:
1. Anyone who regularly rides a horse will eventually fall off and/or get bucked off.
We do EVERYTHING possible to prevent accidents, but horses can act out without reason. We use the safest horses and do regular maintenance on them to keep them up-to-par but sometimes a child loses their balance, a horse bucks, or could go too fast and they fall off the horse due to loss of balance.
Under Maine law- Starlight Horse Farm, myself, or my employees cannot be held liable or be sued for any injuries or death. Riders and guests must all sign a liability release waiver. We have signs out in front of both barns with Maine equine Law.
Usually, horse accidents happen when a child is not listening and gives conflicting cues or cues that cause the horse pain, but other times horses can act out without any reason that we can determine. The risk for injury is always present.
If any the previous statements make you uncomfortable, scared, hesitant, or if you know your child will struggle to listen and/or follow directions, we advise that you reconsider joining our riding program.
2. If a horse gets a bad attitude during a lesson- for example if the child is frustrated and it fuels that feeling into the horse- or if a horse is just having a bad day- we end the riding portion of the lesson for safety and will work on “groundwork” such as lunging, or liberty. Again, this is not very often, but it does happen and will still count as a lesson as we teach all aspects of horsemanship- not just riding.
3. If a child gets frustrated and hits or kicks in a manner that attempts to harm the horse out of anger- the lesson is ended immediately, and the lesson is still charged. If a child hits a horse out of anger a second time- they are immediately dismissed from the riding program without a refund. If you think your child might have an issue with anger- please speak with them before you begin the program to determine if you think they will strike out at a horse if they feel frustrated or angry. Kicking a horse to make it trot/lope/etc., is fine when instructed to do so, but a student kicking in a frustrated or angry manner will not be tolerated.
4. Lessons begin and end on time- we do not start early if you arrive early, and we do not go over the lesson time unless there an extenuating circumstance that pulls me away (example: a horse gets loose and I must help catch it, we will start late and end at an adjusted time to compensate). If you arrive early and have been approve to groom/tack before your lesson time starts- you may do so. HOWEVER, you must have prior approval to start tacking up early. Once approved, you can begin 10 minutes before the start of your lesson- no sooner.
5. Late policy/Cancelation Policy- in the event a lesson student is more than 10 minutes late- we don’t saddle, we ride bareback. If a student is more than 15 minutes late- we will only groom and learn from the ground that day. If a student is over 20 minutes late, we will reschedule. These lessons are still charged.
6. Weather-related cancelations are going to happen, and in Maine, it will come in droves that seem to be never ending and are understandably annoying. Please know I hate canceling, and I miss seeing each family/child each week- but these are 1,000lbs. animals that I refuse to work in dangerous or unfavorable weather and/or in heat/freezing conditions because I do not want that to be a factor in a child getting hurt. I respect my lesson horses and refuse to work them in unfavorable conditions. Spring= high winds/rainstorms cancelations, summer= heat-related cancelations, fall= high winds/storm cancelations, and winter= ice/freezing temperature cancelations. If the Hancock County schools cancel programs, then I cancel lessons as this is an insurance policy regulation, along with any other times I feel are needed.
7. If a lesson is missed or canceled within 24 hours of the start time the lesson is still charged. If I must cancel lessons- lessons are NOT charged.
8. There will be times I have to cancel lessons for personal/family reasons. I hate it, I truly do, but I am a mother, animal owner, and housekeeper in the summer. There will be days that I have to cancel- sometimes even last minute. Please be understanding. We have a busy schedule, and often have competitions that my vaulting students are in, an emergency,and/or for doctor appointments- I will always put my family first and will cancel lessons when needed because My family will always come first.
9. Most times your child will be with the same instructor; however, if I/another instructor must cancel we will try to have a substitute fill in, if/when possible. I own the horse farm, and can’t always be your kids instructor, but I try my best.
10. Bareback is part of the curriculum. Bareback helps with balance, movement, and connection with the horse. Some students love it. Some students don’t. But it is a part of the program. All students will learn to at least walk and dismount bareback. Students that want to trot or lope will be allowed to progress to those levels over time. Bareback helps students learn essential skills so walking is required at various times for various reasons/skills.
11. All students progress at different stages. What one child does or accomplishes in a set time frame has no bearing on another child’s abilities. Each child will learn differently. If a child continually says no, cries, or asks to get off or refuses to mount due to nerves we abide by their requests. We will attempt to calm a nervous child and continue but if they refuse to mount or demand to dismount, we will not force the child to mount/continue riding. We are not allowed to force a child into an unwanted action per our insurance policy and if a child is adamant about not doing something- it would be incredibly irresponsible for me to force the horse to do it with an unwilling child mounted- thus creating a very dangerous situation. Nerves are normal and we are well-equipped to deal with nervous children.
12. Parents are not allowed to coach from the sidelines. We are the professionals and parents will not talk over the instructor. Parents can sit in the viewing room of the lobby when possible or a few feet from the indoor arena gate if the lobby is full. When the student rides outside the parents cannot stand directly on the rail. At no time should a parent/friend/sibling interact with the horse (pet/talk/feed) if it stops on the rail/gate during a lesson. When horses see people at the gate it distracts the horse and the student. We highly encourage parents to watch from the viewing area or the picnic table so that their student can ride uninterrupted. Horses become gate sour when there is too much activity at the gates/rail.
13. Students must know their left and right hand/leg/side AND directions such as move to the left/right in relation to objects (i.e., walk to the left of the barrel or go to the left side of the horse or the fix the stirrup on the right side of the saddle) and understand at least 2-3 step directions before joining our program as this is for their safety and for adequate progress. Please ensure your child knows left/right and can follow 2-3 step directions before enrolling them in the riding program. Parents- if you choose to enroll before these milestones are met- please take note that these skills will be taught- through riding- but can take a longer time to progress since steering a horse is a left/right process and that’s a fundamental skill.
I cannot stress knowing left/right and other directional skills enough. I also must stress the importance of students needing to listen and pay attention. Most of the time when a student falls off a horse it is because they were not listening to their instructor. Most of the time when a student is bucked off a horse is because they were giving the horse conflicting cues (i.e., using the wrong rein because they do not know their left/right).
14. Students will learn how to groom and saddle. I teach and assist, but I don’t do it for them. I encourage students to learn and work swiftly and use their time wisely, but I will not completely saddle for them. I teach and assist (helping lift, position) along with the student until they can do so on their own. Parents will not saddle or groom for a child. That is the student’s job to be done with my assistant and instruction at the beginning of their lesson- until they can do so on their own. Grooming, saddling, riding, and untacking and groom down are part of the 30-minute lesson. The quicker they learn to groom and saddle the more time they get working with their mount for the lesson. However, students found to be skipping grooming- such as cleaning hooves- will be warned once- but will be dismissed from the program if they are caught to be skipping grooming a second time. I do not tolerate my horses’ well-being being compromised.
15. There is absolutely no drama at this barn. If there is an issue with something- it needs to be addressed immediately and directly with me. Anyone found to be talking behind my back, causing drama on social media, or whose children bully someone else (on-site or off-site) will immediately be dismissed without a refund. We have a zero-tolerance policy for drama and bullying. This includes onsite and offsite- both electronically and in-person. This is the only warning provided.
Any incidents of clients bullying or causing drama will immediately be dismissed without refund. Not only is this my business- but it is also our home, and we will not sacrifice our peace and sanity for any reason whatsoever. Do not bring drama or bullying into my business or into the lives of my family. I will protect my family at all costs and if any of my programs are subjected to drama or bullying by your child or family, you will immediately be dismissed from Starlight Horse Farm, without refund.
16. Policies/Rules:
Full coverage/ past the ankles pants are always required. Leggings are fine.
Closed toe shoes are always required. No one will work with horses or ride in any form of open-toed shoes. Shoes must have a heel, so the stirrup doesn’t slide up or down their foot.
After the first lesson package, boots are required. Students coming to lessons without boots on after the first lesson package will only be able to walk while riding on the horse.
Helmets will NOT be provided during the first 6 lessons so students are required to buy their own. Helmets must be purchased at an actual tack retailer, and bicycle helmets are NOT allowed. DO NOT buy your helmets second hand, once a fall, impact, or drop has occurred to the helmet, the integrity is compromised, and you cannot know if someone has cracked the helmet you are buying. WE ARE NOT liable for any personal injuries occured with YOUR students helmet.
My clients’ boarded horses are always off limits to petting and feeding.
Never feed a horse unless given permission. We never feed treats before or during a lesson and certain lesson horses can’t get them due to age or diet restrictions.
Never enter a stall unless you have been given permission.
Never stick your hand in the stall front gaps- horses can and will bite.
There is no running or loud behavior in either of the barns.
NEVER enter any pasture, paddock, or stall without permission.
This is a business and I expect it to be treated as such. Monitor your children and their behavior.
The Farmhouse if OFF limits to students.
Beginning in 2023 Starlight Horse Farm will no longer haul lesson horses to events/shows or to another facility due to the soaring insurance coverage costs and the aging of our horses and the need to shelter them from the burden of showing as they age which makes the cost to ensure them and the liability of showing them so costly, and to keep our equipment available to us. Lesson students currently showing will still be allowed to show on approved lesson horses until December 2022 or until such time that horse health and/or the safety of the rider/horse is in question due to horse behavior at shows AND if the show is convenient for me/horses to attend. It should be noted that a horse’s lesson/barn temperament and their show temperament can be entirely different, and it is my job to make a call based on the safety of the horse/rider and the healthy of the horse. If showing horses is your goal, we can speak about buying and boarding a horse of your own at Starlight Horse Farm so you can bring your own horse to the events/shows. Please let me know if you are interested in buying/boarding.
Pricing and what will be taught:
The most commonly asked question about lesson pricing is what is included in that pricing.
The simple answer is the cost is $300 for 6, 55-minute private lessons on one of my lesson horses in one of my arenas where your child will learn riding and horsemanship skills from a Starlight Horse Farm instructor that includes, but aren’t limited to: grooming, tacking, mounting/dismounting; walk, trot, lope, backing; lunging, bareback riding at the walk, trotting over trot poles, conditioning and stretching routines, leg pressure, seat, and two-point, liberty, cleaning tack, parts of commonly used equipment, animal behavior etc.
BUT that’s only the beginning of what students are getting.
They get the experience that it takes to be able to properly select a horse safe enough for lessons- the skills and process which they will learn about as they ride and learn that each horse has its own temperament, as well as how to ride each horse as they progress.
They get the years of time trainers spent putting mileage on the lesson horses so they know how to do their jobs- skills which will then be passed on to the student through our knowledge.
They get the tack that I spent hours searching for at the right price and the right fit so that each horse and child are comfortable and safe. This includes the saddle, bridle, reins, bit, saddle pad, and cinch- which they will learn by name and how they all function and how to care for them properly.
They get the halter and lead rope, hoof pick, curry comb, brushes, shampoo, hoses, and buckets and the knowledge of how to use these tools to properly groom/bathe the lesson horses to keep them healthy which will in turn teach students why horse health is so important.
They get the hay, grain, grass, seed, water, troughs, fly spray, dewormer, vet bills, farrier bills, supplements, shavings, stall mats, fencing, electricity, insurance, clippers, rain sheets, winter blankets, towels, brooms, porta-potty bill, feed bins, scoops, muck rakes, manure spreaders, arena drag, arena sand, clay, gravel, washer/dryer, grooming boxes, insulation, saddle racks, horse trailer, tires, and truck- all things which will teach students there is much more to just riding a horse. They will gain knowledge and a deeper understanding of what it takes to keep these horses healthy, well-cared for, and fit.
They get the Coggins, vaccines, dental, chiropractor, osteopath, injections, farrier, and medical supplies needed to care and maintain a healthy lesson horse which will teach them about equine science.
They get the time and labor that goes into cleaning and feeding horses which will teach them about the efforts and science that go into keeping a horse healthy which might inspire them to study equine science or nutrition.
They get to put wear and tear on my farm, my horses, and the footing in the arenas and the fields which will teach them to care for the things they enjoy doing and show them what hard work produces.
They get to have fun, gain knowledge, and acquire a unique skill set.
They get a life-long love for the equestrian world.
They get to learn that hard work is rewarding and what it takes for success. It will instill the value of good work ethic, self-value, and compassion for all creatures.
This program will teach them what horsemanship is all about and why this way of life is so challenging, yet so rewarding. This program will instill a love for education about the equine species in your child- all while learning safe riding skills and horsemanship. You won’t regret choosing this program.
I enumerate these costs and expenditures because I feel that it is important for families to know what it takes and costs for me to keep lesson horses fit and the barn open- but also want each family to know that I care for horse health, rider safety, quality over quantity, and having a safe and enjoyable environment for your child to learn in!
If you would like to book, please let me know. We offer 4 single lessons a month for those who do not want a package or who are visting, and do not go over that limit. There is too much to teach in a single lesson, we are NOT a pony ride, circus ride, or fairground. As a unique program in the area, we stay full. We have 25 regular lesson spots Monday through Thursday and 5 floating spots. The 5 floating spots I schedule around the birthday parties we host here, our vaulting schedule, and our personal schedules. Having such a tight schedule means we strive for 2 lessons a month for floaters- more if it’s possible. Set weekly scheduled lessons open for various reasons and we strive to move floater students to a weekly rotation as soon as possible. All students with a current package will take at least two lessons a month unless there is an extenuating circumstance on our side or the family’s side or you would like to book weekly lessons. Packages expire after 6 months. At the 6th lesson, the next package payment is due if you wish to continue lessons. My square website is https://starlight-horse-farm.square. Packages are required to be paid upfront before scheduling begins. $300 / 6, 55 minute sessions is for youth ages 10-18 (We do not accept under age 10 students! NO EXCEPTIONS!), and over 18= $360 @ $60/55 minutes. Please schedule all your lessons on Square, after you book your initial lesson package I will make an additional service that will be named after your child so you can book the next 5 lessons, i.e. Sally-5 Lessons, or Ben-5 Lessons.After those lessons are done, you will need to book an additional package.
Please print this entire 7-page packet and initial next to items 1-18 and sign the waiver on page 7. THEN go over this packet with your child- being sure to touch on the points of intentional harm and intended abuse of a horse, bareback, timeliness, grooming/tacking responsibilities, falling, left/right, paying attention and potential animal related injury or death.
The waiver is for all people who will be on the property- child, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc., and will need to be updated if someone new comes. Waivers are kept in a binder on the front table. Failure to update your family’s waiver if a new guest comes will result in termination from the program as this violates our insurance policy for completed liability waivers. We ask that you limit guests to smaller parties of 5. Bring this packet with you to your first lesson. Your child will not be able to begin lessons unless this packet is initialed by items 1-16 and the waiver is signed.