Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC
Current Policies - 2026
General Policies:
(As of June 16th, 2026 for all new/incoming clients)
(By July 16th, 2026 or earlier for all current clients)
Permanent Lessons (Private and Semi-Private):
Permanent Lessons are for those who wish to learn in a consistent weekly (same day/time each week) lesson spot. This lesson spot is intended for a client to keep indefinitely regardless of changes to their payment plan/method or any conflicts in the rider’s personal/work schedule. A single client may claim more than one permanent lesson spot with the understanding that they will be held accountable for paying for all their claimed lesson spots.
All Permanent Lessons are offered in the form of a monthly lesson package, where the client takes a Permanent Lesson Spot in the schedule for a set day/time each week and commits to attending the entire month. Riders will be held accountable to pay for their lesson spot for that entire month even if the rider cancels/re-schedules a lesson. Clients in a Permanent Lesson Spot are automatically renewed every month to continue in the lesson program unless they give a written ‘Prior Notice of Withdrawal’ to Coach Maddie. Payment plans for Permanent Lesson riders of any age/level include:
For semi-private lessons (a lesson time shared between two clients/students on different horses) students are expected to be relatively self-sufficient in both horse care and basic riding techniques at a walk (or better) and should have mastered their ‘Basic Horsemanship’ skills. In the event that one client cancels from a semi-private lesson (temporarily or permanently) the remaining client has the option to do a half-hour private lesson (at no additional cost to the client) or to upgrade their lesson to an hour-long private lesson (and to therefore pay the price difference between their current lesson rate and the going-rate for an hour private lesson).
In the event that the instructor deems it unsafe and/or unproductive for two semi-private lesson clients to share the same lesson time (temporarily or permanently) the instructor has the right to immediately split the lesson into two half-hour privates (one per client) to better meet the safety and learning needs of each client. The instructor always retains the right to allow or not allow a semi-private lesson structure to exist, and can default to the half-hour private lesson structure at any time without fault.
Floater Lessons:
A lesson option for those who can take lessons occasionally, but cannot commit to a permanent spot. These lessons can be scheduled into available open lesson spots (subject to instructor/horse availability) by contacting Coach Maddie ahead of time to arrange. This is also a good option for Permanent students who wish to pick up occasional ‘extra’ lessons when the schedule permits it. A floater lesson must be paid for in full at the time of scheduling – no exceptions.
All Floater lessons have a 30-day expiration from the time-of-purchase (and as such Floater lessons may not be scheduled more than 30 days in advance). There are no refunds for a client-cancelled floater lesson.
Scheduling and One-Time Purchases:
All scheduling for any sessions, activities, or events must be done directly through Coach Maddie and must be done in writing (via email and/or text). Scheduling (and payment) of lessons and/or any one-time sessions must be done at least 24-hours in advance (or more). There will be absolutely no ‘same-day’ scheduling permitted.
If you are unsure of the exact date and time you scheduled an upcoming session, please reach out to Coach Maddie with questions or for confirmation! However, do not expect to be sent reminders of upcoming appointments, and be sure any/all cancellations are done in writing and confirmed. Do not assume a session is cancelled due to a specific holiday/event/weather condition. Failure to appear at your scheduled session (for any reason) without prior written notice will be treated as a No Show and the full cost of the session will be owed.
Any one-time sessions (such as camps, special activities, events, etc.) must be paid for in full (or deposit paid, if applicable) at the time of scheduling to reserve a spot – no exceptions.
In-Barn Lessons and Virtual Lessons:
Any lesson that does not occur in the arena with a horse (in the saddle or on the ground) is considered an “In-Barn” lesson. These lessons can be scheduled independently to advance horsemanship skills, or can occur during a scheduled riding lesson at the discretion of the rider and/or instructor. Lessons that occur In-Barn are not eligible for replacement, re-scheduling, or any refunds. Many of the skills we will be training for will require dedicated In-Barn practice and learning and cannot be skipped. Per our Skill Charts, the advancement of arena riding skills will be partially limited by a student’s ability to perform appropriate non-riding practical skills and theory work. If you have questions about our curriculum or Skill Charts, please talk to Coach Maddie or look at the Skill Charts in our Tack Room.
On days where riding is not an option or travel is especially difficult, we can also do Virtual lessons over Zoom. These virtual lessons would last the same duration as the student’s regular lesson and would be focused on equine theory work, and may include going through powerpoints, watching Masterclass videos, and/or using a virtual whiteboard for learning. Virtual lessons are available to Regular Riders (age 7 & up) and those in Welcome Lessons, and follows all of our normal rules and policies for lessons.
Payment:
Payment methods for any session a client wishes to sign up for may be paid for via the following options:
For any scheduled sessions that are not paid for on time, there will be a Late Fee of $5 for every day that the payment is late. . Any client that has missing payments and/or late fees on their account will not be permitted to participate in or schedule any further sessions of any kind until the outstanding balance is paid in full (which is also true for clients paying in cash!). Any client that has an overdue payment of more than six (6) days will have the outstanding balance automatically charged to the credit card saved on the client’s file. Clients who have multiple late or missing payments may be denied service and removed from the schedule completely with no option to return.
Punctuality and Session Time:
Any clients who are running late to a scheduled session will be permitted to use whatever time is remaining in their originally-scheduled session to learn. The time of the session will not be extended past its original end time just because you are running late (regardless of the reason). Students who arrive extremely late to a riding lesson are not guaranteed to practice any riding in the lesson if there is not an appropriate amount of time for it – horsemanship and care of the horse will always be the priority in every lesson and is not able to be skipped. Any horse care or horsemanship which is done poorly, for any session, will likely result in the start of the session being used to address and correct those things before any riding will occur.
Session times at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC are flexible at the discretion of the instructor – it is common for one session to be wrapping up at the same time as another one is beginning, and there may be some overlap between sessions. Clients should be aware that working with/around horses is more about finding ‘good moments’ of positive progress (for horse and/or rider) and is less about exactly following the time on the clock. While we strive to ensure every student gets the chance to learn and utilize their lesson time, we more importantly want to ensure that students and horses have access to a safe environment, that horse care needs are being discussed and met, and that students have a solid understanding of what we are doing and why we do it.
At Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC we do our best to ensure everyone’s needs are met, and this may lead to lessons starting and/or ending later than planned. If a client has a strict/busy schedule on the day of the session and needs to finish and/or leave by a certain time, please inform the instructor beforehand and/or at the start of the lesson so that we can plan accordingly. We will do our best to be fair to all of our students and ensure they get the opportunity to work with their horse, whether it is in our originally-scheduled session or some other way! If you have issues or concerns in regards to session timing or content, please contact Coach Maddie to discuss.
Clients should further understand that any session may be terminated early/at any time at the instructor’s discretion without rebate if, in instructor’s opinion, participant is ill, not sufficiently responsive to instruction/directions, activity has become dangerous or considerably detrimental to horse or participant’s mental/physical health and safety, or if participant is in violation of any other rules or policies in relation to the program or activity involved.
Weather:
All sessions (lessons, summer camps, events, etc.) are held rain or shine. During inconvenient* weather, the rider may choose to do the scheduled in-arena lesson or do an In-Barn lesson instead, or else would otherwise follow the Cancellation Policy that pertains to the time of the intended cancel. In extreme temperatures, the instructor may elect to limit/prohibit any riding or working of horses in the arena and reserves the right to run scheduled lessons In-Barn or Virtually at that time. During hazardous* weather (as determined by instructor), all sessions during that time will be relegated to In-Barn and/or Virtual lessons only, or may be offered to re-schedule and would otherwise be considered an Instructor Cancel which carries no charge to the client.
Weather that client deems too hazardous to travel in to reach the barn falls under the rules of a regular/late cancel (depending upon time of cancel). Please remember the weather in your home/work location may not be the weather we are experiencing at the barn, and we cannot account for the weather that occurs everywhere.
Cancellations/Re-Scheduling:
When a client is unable to attend a session for any reason, the client always has the option to cancel (via email or text to Coach Maddie). Some cancellations may be eligible for re-scheduling*, but all cancelled sessions must still be paid in full by the original due date regardless of when/if that lesson actually occurs. One of the following cancellation policies will apply (to be determined by the Instructor) and will be marked on the client’s file. There are absolutely no refunds for any client cancellations or failed re-scheduling.
If a Permanent client is expected to have an extended leave of absence from their lessons for any reason (travel, injury, schedule conflicts due to seasonal sports, etc.) and does not want to lose their Permanent Lesson Spot, the client may elect to place a “Hold” on their lesson spot. In the duration of a “Hold”, the client is still responsible for paying for the reserved lesson spot as if they were in attendance. Eligibility to place a “Hold” on a lesson spot is at the complete discretion of the instructor, and can be refused or denied at any time. A “Hold” is the only time a client is permitted to re-schedule multiple ‘Cancel Ahead’ lessons. For all instances except serious injury, it is understood that:
a.) the client must notify the instructor of the intended “Hold” at least 30 days in advance of their intended start date and must disclose expected time of return, if known
b.) re-scheduled lessons due to a ‘Hold’ are dependent upon instructor/horse availability, and may not all include riding
c.) the number of lessons permitted to be re-scheduled for after the client’s leave of absence cannot exceed the number of lessons that were re-scheduled for before the leave of absence.
For any “Hold” that is due to serious injury, lessons that are re-scheduled may total up to half of all missed lessons and may occur after the client’s return from their leave of absence. Please note that missed lessons due to Injury will not replace the cost of further/continued lessons.
Terminating a Permanent Lesson Spot:
A client may only leave a Permanent Lesson Spot by giving a written ‘Prior Notice of Withdrawal’ at least 30 days before their intended departure from the program to Coach Maddie via email or text message. Any rider who leaves the program without giving a written 30 days notice will be charged a Termination Fee equal to the full cost of a monthly lesson package for the lesson type (Tiny Tot / Regular Rider). In all other instances, riders in a Permanent Lesson Spot will be automatically renewed/charged for their most-recently chosen lesson package option when their previous package expires. There are absolutely no refunds from any lesson packages.
Professional Courtesy & Kindness:
All clients (which includes students, parents/guardians, and families) and guests involved with Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC (whether at the barn property or away at a show/event/activity) will operate under a standard that demonstrates professional courtesy and kindness to all equines and humans involved (whether in the program or not). In this program, NO drama, hate speech, discourtesy, unkindness, hostility, or abuse will be tolerated from any client or guest AT ANY TIME, regardless of who or what it is directed at.
Discovery of any of the afore-mentioned poor behavior occurring in the barn, over text/social media, or at any related/associated events or activities will result in a one-time warning between instructor and client (and client’s parent/guardian in the case of a minor). If behavior continues after a one-time warning is given, the client in question will be removed from all programs immediately with no option to return and no refunds. There are absolutely no exceptions or allowances for this kind of behavior. Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is a professional and welcoming environment that is meant to be a safe space to all, and those who cannot behave according to our standards will be asked to leave.
Standard of Care and Consideration:
All clients will be asked to uphold the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC reasonable standards of equine and facility care, as well as consideration for other clients and guests. We want our horses, facility, and programs to run as smoothly as possible in a well-maintained, organized, and healthy environment for all equines and humans involved. This includes (but is not limited to):
All clients and guests must agree to abide by all instructor rules and regulations in regards to safe practices, equipment, and attire. All clients and guests must agree to follow all instruction given to the best of one’s ability at all times to maintain a safe, working equine-and-human-inclusive environment. Those too young/impaired to follow all instructions given must be under the care of an adult who will take full responsibility for all actions and instructions given. INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE REPEATEDLY IGNORED, OR ANYONE WHO CONTINUALLY PUTS THE SAFETY OF ANY HUMAN/EQUINE AT RISK, WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED FROM THE SESSION AND/OR PROPERTY.
Parent/Guardian Attendance for Minors:
Parents/guardians of any minors in our program are more than welcome to come to the barn and observe/stay for the duration of any programs that a minor is attending (with the singular exception of Summer Camps). Parents/guardians of young children (under 7 years of age) are required to stay on the barn property for the entirety of the time that a young child is present at the barn. Whether it is more beneficial to have the parent/guardian nearby to assist and/or help regulate a young child, or whether it is more beneficial to have the parent/guardian at a distance to better allow the child to focus on the instructor and lesson, is firstly at the discretion of the instructor, and then at the personal preference of the parent/guardian involved. Parents/guardians of young children should be able to be found easily when on the property in case any issues arise and should be ready to step in and assist if necessary.
Parents/guardians of children age 7 and above may be given the option of ‘dropping off’ their child at the barn for the duration of a lesson/session, on the condition that the child is skilled, knowledgeable, and reasonable enough to make safe decisions for themselves, make safe and kind choices around other students and their horses when unsupervised, and is not seen as a danger to themselves or others nor disruptive to lessons/sessions with other students that is currently happening. Those who can be safe, self-sufficient, and supportive are more than welcome to spend time at the barn without parents/guardians present (‘dropping off’ a child/minor at the barn MUST be cleared with Coach Maddie directly, in writing, beforehand). This offer is ONLY for current students in the lesson program or working student program and does not apply to guests, friends, play-dates, or any other outsiders who are not currently part of the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC barn/program.
Coach Maddie reserved the right to deny a child/minor to be ‘dropped off’ at any time, for any reason. Coach Maddie also has the right to revoke the decision to allow a child to be at the barn without parental/guardian supervision if there is any report or suspicion of the child in question making poor choices, being unsafe or disruptive, or causing other clients/students to feel expressly uncomfortable at the barn. Being at the barn without a parent is a privilege for a child/minor and should be treated as such.
Any child or minor who is going to be ‘dropped off’ at the barn must be Signed-In AND Signed-Out on paper directly between Coach Maddie and the parent/guardian in question. Students may not just be dropped off and picked up in the parking lot without finding and checking with Coach Maddie first. This is done to ensure that everyone is aware of when unsupervised minors are on the property, to make sure there is a written account of when minors are and are not present, to ensure that minors are not leaving the property with an unspecified chaperone or unknown party for their safety and well-being, and to ensure that there is an opportunity for clear communication between Coach Maddie and the parent/guardian about plans and expectations at drop-off and about what occurred while at the barn during pick-up. Any minor/child who is not Singed-In or Signed-Out properly will have their parents/guardians contacted immediately to rectify the issue. Inability to contact parents/guardians about a minor being picked up at the barn coupled with the inability to locate said minor will result in Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC immediately calling 911 to report a missing child.
If minors are going to be at the barn when Coach Maddie is not present on the property (for any reason) then a parent/guardian/responsible and attentive adult MUST stay on the barn property with the minor(s) in question the entire time, no exceptions. This is for the safety and well-being of the children. Any parents/guardians who do drop their child/minor off at the barn without having Coach Maddie and/or a responsible and attentive adult present at the time will be notified to come back immediately to collect their child/minor and given one warning about our policy. If there is ever a second offense of dropping off a child unsupervised and unscheduled, the client in question will be immediately dismissed from the program with no refund and child protective services may be contacted at that time.
Contact & Communication:
All official and consistent contact between a client and Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is done through either text message or email with Coach Maddie (except for emergencies and time sensitive situations where phone calls are a necessity). All clients will provide a valid email address for news and updates from Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC, as well as for all invoicing purposes. All clients will also provide a valid, working phone number for direct contact via text messages or emergency/time sensitive phone calls.
All scheduling, cancellations, and re-scheduling/replacement lesson scheduling are to be made and/or confirmed in writing between Coach Maddie and the clients involved via email or text message. Any attempted cancellations given/not given at any time without written notice will be counted as a No Show and client will owe the full cost of the session involved. Scheduling or cancelling sessions when in-person (without anything being immediately recorded or submitted in writing) does not guarantee that the correct sessions will/will not occur – on some days the barn may be very busy and hectic, and scheduling plans/concerns that are not written down may be easily forgotten. Please help us to keep the schedule accurate and current with written notices!
In Case of Emergency:
In cases of an emergency, please observe the standards for acceptable and reasonable behavior around equines and at a learning facility. Do not shout or scream, do not run into the arena/barn/area where horse is located, do not make any other such big/loud noise or movement that may startle a horse and put a student or horse in more danger than they currently are. If you are not an equine professional, then please be still and wait quietly while student/horse is assessed for injury and next logical steps can be deduced by the instructor. Some situations involving horses can be very delicate, and allowing the instructor the room and time to solve an emergency situation could be the difference between a small injury to a horse/student and a very large injury. In these instances, carefully follow all directions given by the instructor without hesitations.
In the event that no serious injury is determined to have occurred, instructor will discuss the events that led up to the accident/emergency with the student to better understand what happened and help prevent it from happening in the future, and the lesson/activity shall likely continue. In the event of a noted serious injury, lesson/activity may end and parent/guardian/emergency contact may be contacted by Coach Maddie. For any emergency situations that instructor believes to be critical/life-threatening to any client/student/guest, Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC reserves the right to contact 911 for immediate emergency medical care without repercussion or expenses incurred toward either Coach Maddie or Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC. We want all of our students and guests to be healthy and well to the best of our ability, and in an emergency we will not hesitate to call for help or emergency medical services to best ensure student/guest health and well-being is preserved.
For any known injuries sustained and/or emergency situations which occur while at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC an Incident Report must be filled out and signed by both Coach Maddie and the students/guests directly involved (or the parents/guardians of any minors directly involved). If a situation involving a minor occurs when parents/guardians are not present, the related Incident Report must be viewed and signed by all parties before the next scheduled session for said minor occurs.
Media and Documentation:
All clients/students agree to allow Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC to document, photograph, video, and in any other way record any and all sessions, lessons, classes, and interactions/occurrences at the barn or any related events/activities, or which involve the client/student and instructor/horses/activities associated with Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC. All clients/students also give their permission and consent for Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC to use said acquired media and data in any and all social media posts, advertisements, promotional material, official records/evidence, and/or teaching material.
Guests:
Any guests who come to any event/activity/associated facility of Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC will be considered to be under the responsibility of the client/student who brought or invited the guest, and shall follow all barn rules/procedures/general policies while present. A guest being unaware of the barn rues/policies is not an adequate excuse for breaking those rules/policies! Informing an incoming guest about the appropriate rules and policies of the barn is the responsibility of the client/student who invited said guest! Any rules/policies broken by guest will directly affect the responsible client, any damages/injuries caused by guest will be recovered from the responsible client, and Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC has the right to, at any time for any reason, ask guest(s) to leave the property or associated session/activity/event.
Smoking/Tobacco/Alcohol/Assorted Substances:
There is absolutely NO smoking or vaping of any kind permitted in the barn or on the property – persons wishing to partake in these actions must step off of the property entirely. No person under the influence/effect of alcohol or any recreational drugs will be permitted in barn or near horses/students at any time. Any rider who displays lack of reasoning skills, lack of reasonable coordination/balance, or shows any other sign or symptom that may be related to alcohol/drug use that is affecting their ability to be safe and reasonable when on/around horses will be immediately removed from barn premises.
Prescription drug use as recommended/required by a doctor is permitted on premises, unless client/guest is displaying an inability to be around or work with horses in what is deemed a safe and reasonable manner. Client/guest and instructor may discuss requirements for safety and concerns about the wellbeing of both equines and humans, and if a reasonable solution to keep all involved safe cannot be found then the client/guest in question may be asked to leave the program.
Changes to Policies/Rules:
Any and all policies, rules, and regulations at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC are subject to change without needing to disclose a cause for said change. Clients will be given at least 30 days’ written notice if policies will be changing. Any change/adjustment to policies by Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC may require a new Welcome Packet/contract to be filled out, or may become a signed Addendum to the existing contract.
Dispute Resolution:
Should conflict or disagreement in regards to our policies or a particular situation arise between Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC and a client, both parties agree to negotiate in good faith and use reasonable efforts to try and settle the dispute. If either party wishes, they can choose to bring in a mediator (a neutral third party) to try and assist in settling the conflict in a way that is viewed as fair and reasonable to both parties. Any new agreement that results from mediation would then need to be written out and signed by all parties involved and carried out with the same dedication and intent as our general policies (for example, any student-specific rules or policies that differ from our general policies should be written and signed by all involved in order to be enforceable by any/all). Any further breach of the new agreement, by either party, is grounds for early termination of the business relationship and follows the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC rules of Early Termination.
Proper Attire for Equine Activities/Riding Lessons:
All clients must be prepared for lessons/equestrian activities with proper attire and safety gear, and failure to bring and wear said attire can and will result in limiting activities to a safer level/degree (such as riding on a leadline only, or no riding / handling of a horse at all) or cancellation of that participant’s lesson/equestrian activity with no refund. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to wearing proper attire and safety gear when working with horses. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather as all riding/equestrian activities are outside, rain or shine!
All riders of all ages must have their own certified riding helmet to bring/use in lessons and will not be permitted to consistently borrow any Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC certified helmets. Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC sometimes has helmets that can be borrowed for a single session (for new students, or those who suddenly damage/outgrow their helmet) but access to one of our helmets is NOT a guarantee. Please plan ahead and have your own helmet fitted and ready to go! If you are having trouble with a current helmet or with obtaining a new helmet, talk to Coach Maddie for help and suggestions.
All those who wish to handle/lead a horse or stand within stepping distance of a horse (without a physical barrier to separate human from horse) must wear closed-toe shoes that fit well.
All those who wish to ride a horse at any speed (even a halt) for any length of time (even a few seconds or for a photograph) must wear:
All riding lesson clients must have and wear correct and appropriate personal riding gear (including their own helmet) within a reasonable amount of time after beginning lessons. Instructor will discuss acquiring proper riding attire with the client and why it is important. If after repeated discussion with the client there is no improvement on proper personal gear, a written notice will be sent to the client of what gear is required and what limitations will be placed on their sessions until proper personal gear is attained.
Medical Coverage for Equine Activities/Riding Lessons:
All students and guests to Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC must be covered under current personal medical insurance and all injuries, medical costs, and emergency transportation costs of students/guests fall on the students/guests and their parents/guardians (when applicable).
Riding Lesson/Equine Activity Content:
The instructor will be teaching/guiding students in equine handling, care, management, and techniques (when riding and on the ground) using natural horsemanship principles. The initial lessons/activities and portions of subsequent lessons/activities will be on the ground and/or in the barn and may include working with more than one particular/favorite horse. WORKING WITH/AROUND HORSES INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST RIDING, AND THE INSTRUCTOR MAY DEDICATE TIME IN LESSONS/ACTIVITES TO IMPROVING UPON THE SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STUDENT IN SUBJECTS SUCH AS PROPER EQUINE CARE, LEADING/HANDLING, AND GROUND TECHNIQUES. The focus of all programs at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is horsemanship, meaning the overall care, welfare, and understanding of the horse and how horses think/move/interact with the world. Not every lesson will include riding!
Severability:
Should any provision or policy in this agreement be held invalid or illegal, such invalidity or illegality shall not invalidate this whole of this agreement; rather the agreement shall be construed as if it did not contain the invalid or illegal part, and the rights and obligations of the parties be construed and enforced accordingly.
Definitions:
Floater Lessons: Scheduling one-off lessons when there is extra availability in the lesson schedule, without the requirement of holding a Permanent Lesson Spot. Can be arranged by contacting Coach Maddie ahead of time.
Hazardous Weather: Lightning strikes within 10 miles of farm, extreme temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or below 10 degrees Fahrenheit that risk equine overall health, heavy rain/snow/ice/intense winds that makes a lesson activity and/or driving in the general location of the barn dangerous.
Inconvenient Weather: Temperature that is hotter/colder than comfortable, light rain, light-moderate wind, light snow, etc. Non-dangerous weather conditions that may be less-than-enjoyable to ride in.
Permanent Lessons: Holding an exclusive, paid spot in the lesson schedule for the same day/time every week on an ongoing basis where any changes to the day, time, horse, or students included
Prior Notice of Withdrawal: Giving written notice to Coach Maddie of client’s plans to exit the lesson program and forfeit their Permanent Lesson Spot. Prior Notice must be given at least 30 days in advance of intended departure date, or else will carry a Termination Fee equal to the full cost of a monthly lesson package for the lesson type (Tiny Tot / Regular Rider).
Regular Rider: A lesson student (age 7 & up) who has moved beyond ‘Welcome Lessons’ and is in our full program. A Regular Rider arrives 30-45 minutes before their lesson begins to catch, groom, and tack up their horse – they also stay 15-30 minutes after their lesson ends to cool-out their horse and clean up. These students are independent in basic skills of horse handling and horse care.
Re-scheduling: Moving a cancelled lesson to a different day/time than originally scheduled and/or is different from a rider’s Permanent Lesson Spot. Re-scheduled lessons are not automatically eligible to be “rolled over” into the next week’s available slot on the same day/time.
Skills: A wide range of knowledge and abilities that a student can consistently demonstrate which causes the student to be more capable of safely working with horses in an educated and confident fashion. Many of the Skills that make a capable horseman/horsewoman are acquired in the barn or on the ground with a horse rather than in the saddle. Students will be required to master certain skills in order to safely advance through the lesson levels.
Tiny Tot: A lesson student (age 6 & under) who is in guided lessons and monitored consistently by an instructor in matters of horse handling/leading, horse care, tacking up, riding, cool-down, and clean up. Tiny Tots do not come early before their lesson nor stay late after the lesson. These students are considered too young to be fully independent or unsupervised safely.
(As of June 16th, 2026 for all new/incoming clients)
(By July 16th, 2026 or earlier for all current clients)
Permanent Lessons (Private and Semi-Private):
Permanent Lessons are for those who wish to learn in a consistent weekly (same day/time each week) lesson spot. This lesson spot is intended for a client to keep indefinitely regardless of changes to their payment plan/method or any conflicts in the rider’s personal/work schedule. A single client may claim more than one permanent lesson spot with the understanding that they will be held accountable for paying for all their claimed lesson spots.
All Permanent Lessons are offered in the form of a monthly lesson package, where the client takes a Permanent Lesson Spot in the schedule for a set day/time each week and commits to attending the entire month. Riders will be held accountable to pay for their lesson spot for that entire month even if the rider cancels/re-schedules a lesson. Clients in a Permanent Lesson Spot are automatically renewed every month to continue in the lesson program unless they give a written ‘Prior Notice of Withdrawal’ to Coach Maddie. Payment plans for Permanent Lesson riders of any age/level include:
- Pay-As-You-Go Plan: Paying for each individual lesson as taken each week. Lesson fees to be automatically charged to a client’s credit card at the start of the day in which a scheduled lesson occurs – payment cannot be made via invoice on this plan.
- Paid-In-Full Plan: Paying for a full month of lessons (limited to 4 lessons per month), with payment given by or before the 1st of that month. Can be done via invoice or automatic charge to a client’s credit card.
For semi-private lessons (a lesson time shared between two clients/students on different horses) students are expected to be relatively self-sufficient in both horse care and basic riding techniques at a walk (or better) and should have mastered their ‘Basic Horsemanship’ skills. In the event that one client cancels from a semi-private lesson (temporarily or permanently) the remaining client has the option to do a half-hour private lesson (at no additional cost to the client) or to upgrade their lesson to an hour-long private lesson (and to therefore pay the price difference between their current lesson rate and the going-rate for an hour private lesson).
In the event that the instructor deems it unsafe and/or unproductive for two semi-private lesson clients to share the same lesson time (temporarily or permanently) the instructor has the right to immediately split the lesson into two half-hour privates (one per client) to better meet the safety and learning needs of each client. The instructor always retains the right to allow or not allow a semi-private lesson structure to exist, and can default to the half-hour private lesson structure at any time without fault.
Floater Lessons:
A lesson option for those who can take lessons occasionally, but cannot commit to a permanent spot. These lessons can be scheduled into available open lesson spots (subject to instructor/horse availability) by contacting Coach Maddie ahead of time to arrange. This is also a good option for Permanent students who wish to pick up occasional ‘extra’ lessons when the schedule permits it. A floater lesson must be paid for in full at the time of scheduling – no exceptions.
All Floater lessons have a 30-day expiration from the time-of-purchase (and as such Floater lessons may not be scheduled more than 30 days in advance). There are no refunds for a client-cancelled floater lesson.
Scheduling and One-Time Purchases:
All scheduling for any sessions, activities, or events must be done directly through Coach Maddie and must be done in writing (via email and/or text). Scheduling (and payment) of lessons and/or any one-time sessions must be done at least 24-hours in advance (or more). There will be absolutely no ‘same-day’ scheduling permitted.
If you are unsure of the exact date and time you scheduled an upcoming session, please reach out to Coach Maddie with questions or for confirmation! However, do not expect to be sent reminders of upcoming appointments, and be sure any/all cancellations are done in writing and confirmed. Do not assume a session is cancelled due to a specific holiday/event/weather condition. Failure to appear at your scheduled session (for any reason) without prior written notice will be treated as a No Show and the full cost of the session will be owed.
Any one-time sessions (such as camps, special activities, events, etc.) must be paid for in full (or deposit paid, if applicable) at the time of scheduling to reserve a spot – no exceptions.
In-Barn Lessons and Virtual Lessons:
Any lesson that does not occur in the arena with a horse (in the saddle or on the ground) is considered an “In-Barn” lesson. These lessons can be scheduled independently to advance horsemanship skills, or can occur during a scheduled riding lesson at the discretion of the rider and/or instructor. Lessons that occur In-Barn are not eligible for replacement, re-scheduling, or any refunds. Many of the skills we will be training for will require dedicated In-Barn practice and learning and cannot be skipped. Per our Skill Charts, the advancement of arena riding skills will be partially limited by a student’s ability to perform appropriate non-riding practical skills and theory work. If you have questions about our curriculum or Skill Charts, please talk to Coach Maddie or look at the Skill Charts in our Tack Room.
On days where riding is not an option or travel is especially difficult, we can also do Virtual lessons over Zoom. These virtual lessons would last the same duration as the student’s regular lesson and would be focused on equine theory work, and may include going through powerpoints, watching Masterclass videos, and/or using a virtual whiteboard for learning. Virtual lessons are available to Regular Riders (age 7 & up) and those in Welcome Lessons, and follows all of our normal rules and policies for lessons.
Payment:
Payment methods for any session a client wishes to sign up for may be paid for via the following options:
- Quickbooks GoPayment – Registering a client’s credit card on file in-person with Coach Maddie for automatic charges/renewals and any additional purchases.
- Quickbooks Invoice - Sent to the client via email to be paid online.
- Cash – In a clearly marked envelope with the client/student name upon it, cash may be deposited into the locked Payment Box in the barn’s Feed Room OR handed DIRECTLY to Coach Maddie. Do not just leave cash laying around the barn somewhere! Please note that cash deposits must be made on time and are subject to all the same rules and regulations as our online payments are!
For any scheduled sessions that are not paid for on time, there will be a Late Fee of $5 for every day that the payment is late. . Any client that has missing payments and/or late fees on their account will not be permitted to participate in or schedule any further sessions of any kind until the outstanding balance is paid in full (which is also true for clients paying in cash!). Any client that has an overdue payment of more than six (6) days will have the outstanding balance automatically charged to the credit card saved on the client’s file. Clients who have multiple late or missing payments may be denied service and removed from the schedule completely with no option to return.
Punctuality and Session Time:
Any clients who are running late to a scheduled session will be permitted to use whatever time is remaining in their originally-scheduled session to learn. The time of the session will not be extended past its original end time just because you are running late (regardless of the reason). Students who arrive extremely late to a riding lesson are not guaranteed to practice any riding in the lesson if there is not an appropriate amount of time for it – horsemanship and care of the horse will always be the priority in every lesson and is not able to be skipped. Any horse care or horsemanship which is done poorly, for any session, will likely result in the start of the session being used to address and correct those things before any riding will occur.
Session times at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC are flexible at the discretion of the instructor – it is common for one session to be wrapping up at the same time as another one is beginning, and there may be some overlap between sessions. Clients should be aware that working with/around horses is more about finding ‘good moments’ of positive progress (for horse and/or rider) and is less about exactly following the time on the clock. While we strive to ensure every student gets the chance to learn and utilize their lesson time, we more importantly want to ensure that students and horses have access to a safe environment, that horse care needs are being discussed and met, and that students have a solid understanding of what we are doing and why we do it.
At Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC we do our best to ensure everyone’s needs are met, and this may lead to lessons starting and/or ending later than planned. If a client has a strict/busy schedule on the day of the session and needs to finish and/or leave by a certain time, please inform the instructor beforehand and/or at the start of the lesson so that we can plan accordingly. We will do our best to be fair to all of our students and ensure they get the opportunity to work with their horse, whether it is in our originally-scheduled session or some other way! If you have issues or concerns in regards to session timing or content, please contact Coach Maddie to discuss.
Clients should further understand that any session may be terminated early/at any time at the instructor’s discretion without rebate if, in instructor’s opinion, participant is ill, not sufficiently responsive to instruction/directions, activity has become dangerous or considerably detrimental to horse or participant’s mental/physical health and safety, or if participant is in violation of any other rules or policies in relation to the program or activity involved.
Weather:
All sessions (lessons, summer camps, events, etc.) are held rain or shine. During inconvenient* weather, the rider may choose to do the scheduled in-arena lesson or do an In-Barn lesson instead, or else would otherwise follow the Cancellation Policy that pertains to the time of the intended cancel. In extreme temperatures, the instructor may elect to limit/prohibit any riding or working of horses in the arena and reserves the right to run scheduled lessons In-Barn or Virtually at that time. During hazardous* weather (as determined by instructor), all sessions during that time will be relegated to In-Barn and/or Virtual lessons only, or may be offered to re-schedule and would otherwise be considered an Instructor Cancel which carries no charge to the client.
Weather that client deems too hazardous to travel in to reach the barn falls under the rules of a regular/late cancel (depending upon time of cancel). Please remember the weather in your home/work location may not be the weather we are experiencing at the barn, and we cannot account for the weather that occurs everywhere.
Cancellations/Re-Scheduling:
When a client is unable to attend a session for any reason, the client always has the option to cancel (via email or text to Coach Maddie). Some cancellations may be eligible for re-scheduling*, but all cancelled sessions must still be paid in full by the original due date regardless of when/if that lesson actually occurs. One of the following cancellation policies will apply (to be determined by the Instructor) and will be marked on the client’s file. There are absolutely no refunds for any client cancellations or failed re-scheduling.
- Cancel Ahead: When a client cancels a session 24-hours (or more) in advance. To be counted as a cancel ahead, the client must give advance notice in writing (via text or email to Coach Maddie). Lessons that are cancelled ahead are usually eligible for re-scheduling (subject to instructor/horse availability) as long as it also follows the re-scheduling rules for the particular lesson type (see above).
- Sick/Injury Cancel: When a client cancels a session with a notice given in writing (via text or email to Coach Maddie) clearly stating that client is sick/injured/unwell. Lessons that are cancelled for sickness/injury are eligible for re-scheduling for within the following 60 days (subject to instructor/horse availability). We want you to be well so you can enjoy your experience (and we don’t want to spread any sickness at the barn)!
- Late Cancel: When a client cancels a session less than 24-hours in advance with a notice given in writing (via text or email to Coach Maddie). Late Cancellations are not eligible for re-scheduling.
- No Show: When a client fails to appear at a scheduled session and did not give any written notice of cancellation. Client owes the full cost of the session and is not eligible for re-scheduling. Multiple No Shows may result in client being dismissed from the program.
- Instructor Cancellation: When the instructor cancels the lesson for any reason. The client and the instructor must make an honest attempt to re-schedule the cancelled lesson for within the current/following month. In instances where re-scheduling is not possible, a credit will be applied to the client’s account for future payments. There are absolutely no refunds for instructor cancellations.
- An eligible session can be re-scheduled a maximum of one time (i.e. a re-scheduled session cannot be re-scheduled again). In the case of multiple re-schedules for a client, priority will be given to any Instructor Cancellations first, then will proceed in order from oldest cancellation to the most recent (if still within eligible time frame for re-scheduling).
- Sessions that are cancelled by a client may only be “Un-Cancelled” if the lesson spot is still available (i.e. has not been temporarily filled by another student) and/or at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor has the final say in whether “Un-Cancelling” is permitted and may elect to say no, for any reason, and is not required to justify said reason to the client.
- Any client who has what the instructor deems to be an excessive amount of cancellations and/or No Shows may be dismissed from the program without any refund/credit and may be banned from future sessions (at instructor’s discretion).
If a Permanent client is expected to have an extended leave of absence from their lessons for any reason (travel, injury, schedule conflicts due to seasonal sports, etc.) and does not want to lose their Permanent Lesson Spot, the client may elect to place a “Hold” on their lesson spot. In the duration of a “Hold”, the client is still responsible for paying for the reserved lesson spot as if they were in attendance. Eligibility to place a “Hold” on a lesson spot is at the complete discretion of the instructor, and can be refused or denied at any time. A “Hold” is the only time a client is permitted to re-schedule multiple ‘Cancel Ahead’ lessons. For all instances except serious injury, it is understood that:
a.) the client must notify the instructor of the intended “Hold” at least 30 days in advance of their intended start date and must disclose expected time of return, if known
b.) re-scheduled lessons due to a ‘Hold’ are dependent upon instructor/horse availability, and may not all include riding
c.) the number of lessons permitted to be re-scheduled for after the client’s leave of absence cannot exceed the number of lessons that were re-scheduled for before the leave of absence.
For any “Hold” that is due to serious injury, lessons that are re-scheduled may total up to half of all missed lessons and may occur after the client’s return from their leave of absence. Please note that missed lessons due to Injury will not replace the cost of further/continued lessons.
Terminating a Permanent Lesson Spot:
A client may only leave a Permanent Lesson Spot by giving a written ‘Prior Notice of Withdrawal’ at least 30 days before their intended departure from the program to Coach Maddie via email or text message. Any rider who leaves the program without giving a written 30 days notice will be charged a Termination Fee equal to the full cost of a monthly lesson package for the lesson type (Tiny Tot / Regular Rider). In all other instances, riders in a Permanent Lesson Spot will be automatically renewed/charged for their most-recently chosen lesson package option when their previous package expires. There are absolutely no refunds from any lesson packages.
Professional Courtesy & Kindness:
All clients (which includes students, parents/guardians, and families) and guests involved with Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC (whether at the barn property or away at a show/event/activity) will operate under a standard that demonstrates professional courtesy and kindness to all equines and humans involved (whether in the program or not). In this program, NO drama, hate speech, discourtesy, unkindness, hostility, or abuse will be tolerated from any client or guest AT ANY TIME, regardless of who or what it is directed at.
Discovery of any of the afore-mentioned poor behavior occurring in the barn, over text/social media, or at any related/associated events or activities will result in a one-time warning between instructor and client (and client’s parent/guardian in the case of a minor). If behavior continues after a one-time warning is given, the client in question will be removed from all programs immediately with no option to return and no refunds. There are absolutely no exceptions or allowances for this kind of behavior. Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is a professional and welcoming environment that is meant to be a safe space to all, and those who cannot behave according to our standards will be asked to leave.
Standard of Care and Consideration:
All clients will be asked to uphold the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC reasonable standards of equine and facility care, as well as consideration for other clients and guests. We want our horses, facility, and programs to run as smoothly as possible in a well-maintained, organized, and healthy environment for all equines and humans involved. This includes (but is not limited to):
- Picking up and disposing of any manure that the horse the client is working with deposits in the barn aisleway, wash rack, riding arena, and/or walkways/grazing areas on the property in a timely manner (i.e., right away unless handling/riding of horse, at which manure should be removed at earliest availability).
- Shutting and latching all gates and doors that were previously shut and latched when moving through a paddock/field/arena/entryway, whether client is with or without a horse, in order to prevent other horses from entering/exiting said areas and to maintain set systems (such as designated pathways, paddocks, or maintaining internal temperature/cleanliness).
- Returning all tack, equipment, tools, medications, objects, etc. to their original proper location in their proper condition (such as returning bridles to their proper rack with a clean bit, or returning horse treatment bottles to the correct shelves with lids screwed firmly shut). This includes returning grooming stations to the quality and cleanliness that they were when clients arrived (putting up cross ties/saddle racks, sweeping up hair and dirt from grooming the horse – stations being left wet from a horse being cooled-down is acceptable).
- Exercising care and caution when handling any tack/equipment, whether attached to a horse or not. In particular, any leather equipment is not to make contact with the ground, intentional or otherwise (ex: no dragging leather reins on the floor or dropping of leather saddles will be tolerated at any time).
- All tack and equipment will experience normal wear and tear as a part of regular use (to be managed or replaced as necessary by Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC), but any severe damages, destruction, or vandalizing of tack and equipment caused specifically by client negligence or direct action will result in the client in question being billed for the cost required to properly repair or replace the tack and equipment involved (at equal quality to that which was lost and no more). Failure of client involved to pay the cost of repair or replacement may lead to dismissal from any and all sessions or programs, as well as legal action being taken. Please treat our equipment with the care and respect you would treat your own!
- Ensuring the horse they are working with receives proper quality of care and grooming before and after all riding/handling sessions, including proper care and store of all tack and equipment used. Failure to properly care for equine and/or tack will result in the following sessions being adjusted to include supervised time and/or guidance in these tasks until they are up to the barn’s standards.
All clients and guests must agree to abide by all instructor rules and regulations in regards to safe practices, equipment, and attire. All clients and guests must agree to follow all instruction given to the best of one’s ability at all times to maintain a safe, working equine-and-human-inclusive environment. Those too young/impaired to follow all instructions given must be under the care of an adult who will take full responsibility for all actions and instructions given. INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE REPEATEDLY IGNORED, OR ANYONE WHO CONTINUALLY PUTS THE SAFETY OF ANY HUMAN/EQUINE AT RISK, WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED FROM THE SESSION AND/OR PROPERTY.
Parent/Guardian Attendance for Minors:
Parents/guardians of any minors in our program are more than welcome to come to the barn and observe/stay for the duration of any programs that a minor is attending (with the singular exception of Summer Camps). Parents/guardians of young children (under 7 years of age) are required to stay on the barn property for the entirety of the time that a young child is present at the barn. Whether it is more beneficial to have the parent/guardian nearby to assist and/or help regulate a young child, or whether it is more beneficial to have the parent/guardian at a distance to better allow the child to focus on the instructor and lesson, is firstly at the discretion of the instructor, and then at the personal preference of the parent/guardian involved. Parents/guardians of young children should be able to be found easily when on the property in case any issues arise and should be ready to step in and assist if necessary.
Parents/guardians of children age 7 and above may be given the option of ‘dropping off’ their child at the barn for the duration of a lesson/session, on the condition that the child is skilled, knowledgeable, and reasonable enough to make safe decisions for themselves, make safe and kind choices around other students and their horses when unsupervised, and is not seen as a danger to themselves or others nor disruptive to lessons/sessions with other students that is currently happening. Those who can be safe, self-sufficient, and supportive are more than welcome to spend time at the barn without parents/guardians present (‘dropping off’ a child/minor at the barn MUST be cleared with Coach Maddie directly, in writing, beforehand). This offer is ONLY for current students in the lesson program or working student program and does not apply to guests, friends, play-dates, or any other outsiders who are not currently part of the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC barn/program.
Coach Maddie reserved the right to deny a child/minor to be ‘dropped off’ at any time, for any reason. Coach Maddie also has the right to revoke the decision to allow a child to be at the barn without parental/guardian supervision if there is any report or suspicion of the child in question making poor choices, being unsafe or disruptive, or causing other clients/students to feel expressly uncomfortable at the barn. Being at the barn without a parent is a privilege for a child/minor and should be treated as such.
Any child or minor who is going to be ‘dropped off’ at the barn must be Signed-In AND Signed-Out on paper directly between Coach Maddie and the parent/guardian in question. Students may not just be dropped off and picked up in the parking lot without finding and checking with Coach Maddie first. This is done to ensure that everyone is aware of when unsupervised minors are on the property, to make sure there is a written account of when minors are and are not present, to ensure that minors are not leaving the property with an unspecified chaperone or unknown party for their safety and well-being, and to ensure that there is an opportunity for clear communication between Coach Maddie and the parent/guardian about plans and expectations at drop-off and about what occurred while at the barn during pick-up. Any minor/child who is not Singed-In or Signed-Out properly will have their parents/guardians contacted immediately to rectify the issue. Inability to contact parents/guardians about a minor being picked up at the barn coupled with the inability to locate said minor will result in Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC immediately calling 911 to report a missing child.
If minors are going to be at the barn when Coach Maddie is not present on the property (for any reason) then a parent/guardian/responsible and attentive adult MUST stay on the barn property with the minor(s) in question the entire time, no exceptions. This is for the safety and well-being of the children. Any parents/guardians who do drop their child/minor off at the barn without having Coach Maddie and/or a responsible and attentive adult present at the time will be notified to come back immediately to collect their child/minor and given one warning about our policy. If there is ever a second offense of dropping off a child unsupervised and unscheduled, the client in question will be immediately dismissed from the program with no refund and child protective services may be contacted at that time.
Contact & Communication:
All official and consistent contact between a client and Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is done through either text message or email with Coach Maddie (except for emergencies and time sensitive situations where phone calls are a necessity). All clients will provide a valid email address for news and updates from Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC, as well as for all invoicing purposes. All clients will also provide a valid, working phone number for direct contact via text messages or emergency/time sensitive phone calls.
All scheduling, cancellations, and re-scheduling/replacement lesson scheduling are to be made and/or confirmed in writing between Coach Maddie and the clients involved via email or text message. Any attempted cancellations given/not given at any time without written notice will be counted as a No Show and client will owe the full cost of the session involved. Scheduling or cancelling sessions when in-person (without anything being immediately recorded or submitted in writing) does not guarantee that the correct sessions will/will not occur – on some days the barn may be very busy and hectic, and scheduling plans/concerns that are not written down may be easily forgotten. Please help us to keep the schedule accurate and current with written notices!
In Case of Emergency:
In cases of an emergency, please observe the standards for acceptable and reasonable behavior around equines and at a learning facility. Do not shout or scream, do not run into the arena/barn/area where horse is located, do not make any other such big/loud noise or movement that may startle a horse and put a student or horse in more danger than they currently are. If you are not an equine professional, then please be still and wait quietly while student/horse is assessed for injury and next logical steps can be deduced by the instructor. Some situations involving horses can be very delicate, and allowing the instructor the room and time to solve an emergency situation could be the difference between a small injury to a horse/student and a very large injury. In these instances, carefully follow all directions given by the instructor without hesitations.
In the event that no serious injury is determined to have occurred, instructor will discuss the events that led up to the accident/emergency with the student to better understand what happened and help prevent it from happening in the future, and the lesson/activity shall likely continue. In the event of a noted serious injury, lesson/activity may end and parent/guardian/emergency contact may be contacted by Coach Maddie. For any emergency situations that instructor believes to be critical/life-threatening to any client/student/guest, Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC reserves the right to contact 911 for immediate emergency medical care without repercussion or expenses incurred toward either Coach Maddie or Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC. We want all of our students and guests to be healthy and well to the best of our ability, and in an emergency we will not hesitate to call for help or emergency medical services to best ensure student/guest health and well-being is preserved.
For any known injuries sustained and/or emergency situations which occur while at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC an Incident Report must be filled out and signed by both Coach Maddie and the students/guests directly involved (or the parents/guardians of any minors directly involved). If a situation involving a minor occurs when parents/guardians are not present, the related Incident Report must be viewed and signed by all parties before the next scheduled session for said minor occurs.
Media and Documentation:
All clients/students agree to allow Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC to document, photograph, video, and in any other way record any and all sessions, lessons, classes, and interactions/occurrences at the barn or any related events/activities, or which involve the client/student and instructor/horses/activities associated with Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC. All clients/students also give their permission and consent for Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC to use said acquired media and data in any and all social media posts, advertisements, promotional material, official records/evidence, and/or teaching material.
Guests:
Any guests who come to any event/activity/associated facility of Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC will be considered to be under the responsibility of the client/student who brought or invited the guest, and shall follow all barn rules/procedures/general policies while present. A guest being unaware of the barn rues/policies is not an adequate excuse for breaking those rules/policies! Informing an incoming guest about the appropriate rules and policies of the barn is the responsibility of the client/student who invited said guest! Any rules/policies broken by guest will directly affect the responsible client, any damages/injuries caused by guest will be recovered from the responsible client, and Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC has the right to, at any time for any reason, ask guest(s) to leave the property or associated session/activity/event.
Smoking/Tobacco/Alcohol/Assorted Substances:
There is absolutely NO smoking or vaping of any kind permitted in the barn or on the property – persons wishing to partake in these actions must step off of the property entirely. No person under the influence/effect of alcohol or any recreational drugs will be permitted in barn or near horses/students at any time. Any rider who displays lack of reasoning skills, lack of reasonable coordination/balance, or shows any other sign or symptom that may be related to alcohol/drug use that is affecting their ability to be safe and reasonable when on/around horses will be immediately removed from barn premises.
Prescription drug use as recommended/required by a doctor is permitted on premises, unless client/guest is displaying an inability to be around or work with horses in what is deemed a safe and reasonable manner. Client/guest and instructor may discuss requirements for safety and concerns about the wellbeing of both equines and humans, and if a reasonable solution to keep all involved safe cannot be found then the client/guest in question may be asked to leave the program.
Changes to Policies/Rules:
Any and all policies, rules, and regulations at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC are subject to change without needing to disclose a cause for said change. Clients will be given at least 30 days’ written notice if policies will be changing. Any change/adjustment to policies by Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC may require a new Welcome Packet/contract to be filled out, or may become a signed Addendum to the existing contract.
Dispute Resolution:
Should conflict or disagreement in regards to our policies or a particular situation arise between Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC and a client, both parties agree to negotiate in good faith and use reasonable efforts to try and settle the dispute. If either party wishes, they can choose to bring in a mediator (a neutral third party) to try and assist in settling the conflict in a way that is viewed as fair and reasonable to both parties. Any new agreement that results from mediation would then need to be written out and signed by all parties involved and carried out with the same dedication and intent as our general policies (for example, any student-specific rules or policies that differ from our general policies should be written and signed by all involved in order to be enforceable by any/all). Any further breach of the new agreement, by either party, is grounds for early termination of the business relationship and follows the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC rules of Early Termination.
Proper Attire for Equine Activities/Riding Lessons:
All clients must be prepared for lessons/equestrian activities with proper attire and safety gear, and failure to bring and wear said attire can and will result in limiting activities to a safer level/degree (such as riding on a leadline only, or no riding / handling of a horse at all) or cancellation of that participant’s lesson/equestrian activity with no refund. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to wearing proper attire and safety gear when working with horses. Please remember to dress appropriately for the weather as all riding/equestrian activities are outside, rain or shine!
All riders of all ages must have their own certified riding helmet to bring/use in lessons and will not be permitted to consistently borrow any Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC certified helmets. Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC sometimes has helmets that can be borrowed for a single session (for new students, or those who suddenly damage/outgrow their helmet) but access to one of our helmets is NOT a guarantee. Please plan ahead and have your own helmet fitted and ready to go! If you are having trouble with a current helmet or with obtaining a new helmet, talk to Coach Maddie for help and suggestions.
All those who wish to handle/lead a horse or stand within stepping distance of a horse (without a physical barrier to separate human from horse) must wear closed-toe shoes that fit well.
All those who wish to ride a horse at any speed (even a halt) for any length of time (even a few seconds or for a photograph) must wear:
- A well-fitting riding helmet that meets current ASTM/SEI riding helmet standards, which includes replacing said helmet after significant falls, damage, dropping of helmet on concrete/hard surfaces, or after five years of ownership. Bicycle helmets are NOT acceptable!
- A well-fitting riding helmet that meets current ASTM/SEI riding helmet standards, which includes replacing said helmet after significant falls, damage, dropping of helmet on concrete/hard surfaces, or after five years of ownership. Bicycle helmets are NOT acceptable!
- Correctly fitting closed-toe shoes - no tread on the sole is permitted, and no steel toes. All Permanent riders age 7 & older must wear their own proper riding boots with smooth soles and wide heel about a 1” high (such as paddock boots, cowboy boots, or tall boots) when participating in riding.
- Long pants of any kind that fit well, with a strong preference for riding breeches/jodhpurs. Jeans/dress pants/leggings are acceptable as long as the material is flexible enough to allow a proper and comfortable riding position. Participants wearing clothing that fits loose or exposes the legs may not be permitted to participate in equestrian activities/riding at the increased risk of injury to the participant. Riders should refrain from wearing clothing with jewels/metal/bedazzle on the seat as this can damage saddles/riding equipment and may lead to riders not being permitted to ride in that lesson.
- Appropriately-fitting tops of any kind that cover the entire torso and the shoulders – no crop tops or tank tops are permitted. Please dress appropriately for the weather as all of our facilities are outside. Tops/jackets should be of appropriate size/length to suit the participant – wearing tops that are excessively large/long has a risk of getting caught on the saddle/horse’s equipment when handling and riding and may lead to injury.
- Half-chaps and riding gloves are highly recommended but not currently required for riding lessons.
- Protective body gear, such as impact-absorbing body protectors, airbag vests, specialized boots/body armor, and safety stirrups are also not currently required but are most certainly welcome and accepted at our facility! Please check with Coach Maddie before utilizing any new/uncommon safety gear to ensure proper fit, use, and to ensure the horse(s) involved can safely work with your protective gear (ex: not all horses are familiar with the airbag vests, and may need to be introduced to the concept through training methods first!)
All riding lesson clients must have and wear correct and appropriate personal riding gear (including their own helmet) within a reasonable amount of time after beginning lessons. Instructor will discuss acquiring proper riding attire with the client and why it is important. If after repeated discussion with the client there is no improvement on proper personal gear, a written notice will be sent to the client of what gear is required and what limitations will be placed on their sessions until proper personal gear is attained.
Medical Coverage for Equine Activities/Riding Lessons:
All students and guests to Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC must be covered under current personal medical insurance and all injuries, medical costs, and emergency transportation costs of students/guests fall on the students/guests and their parents/guardians (when applicable).
Riding Lesson/Equine Activity Content:
The instructor will be teaching/guiding students in equine handling, care, management, and techniques (when riding and on the ground) using natural horsemanship principles. The initial lessons/activities and portions of subsequent lessons/activities will be on the ground and/or in the barn and may include working with more than one particular/favorite horse. WORKING WITH/AROUND HORSES INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST RIDING, AND THE INSTRUCTOR MAY DEDICATE TIME IN LESSONS/ACTIVITES TO IMPROVING UPON THE SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STUDENT IN SUBJECTS SUCH AS PROPER EQUINE CARE, LEADING/HANDLING, AND GROUND TECHNIQUES. The focus of all programs at Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC is horsemanship, meaning the overall care, welfare, and understanding of the horse and how horses think/move/interact with the world. Not every lesson will include riding!
Severability:
Should any provision or policy in this agreement be held invalid or illegal, such invalidity or illegality shall not invalidate this whole of this agreement; rather the agreement shall be construed as if it did not contain the invalid or illegal part, and the rights and obligations of the parties be construed and enforced accordingly.
Definitions:
Floater Lessons: Scheduling one-off lessons when there is extra availability in the lesson schedule, without the requirement of holding a Permanent Lesson Spot. Can be arranged by contacting Coach Maddie ahead of time.
Hazardous Weather: Lightning strikes within 10 miles of farm, extreme temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or below 10 degrees Fahrenheit that risk equine overall health, heavy rain/snow/ice/intense winds that makes a lesson activity and/or driving in the general location of the barn dangerous.
Inconvenient Weather: Temperature that is hotter/colder than comfortable, light rain, light-moderate wind, light snow, etc. Non-dangerous weather conditions that may be less-than-enjoyable to ride in.
Permanent Lessons: Holding an exclusive, paid spot in the lesson schedule for the same day/time every week on an ongoing basis where any changes to the day, time, horse, or students included
Prior Notice of Withdrawal: Giving written notice to Coach Maddie of client’s plans to exit the lesson program and forfeit their Permanent Lesson Spot. Prior Notice must be given at least 30 days in advance of intended departure date, or else will carry a Termination Fee equal to the full cost of a monthly lesson package for the lesson type (Tiny Tot / Regular Rider).
Regular Rider: A lesson student (age 7 & up) who has moved beyond ‘Welcome Lessons’ and is in our full program. A Regular Rider arrives 30-45 minutes before their lesson begins to catch, groom, and tack up their horse – they also stay 15-30 minutes after their lesson ends to cool-out their horse and clean up. These students are independent in basic skills of horse handling and horse care.
Re-scheduling: Moving a cancelled lesson to a different day/time than originally scheduled and/or is different from a rider’s Permanent Lesson Spot. Re-scheduled lessons are not automatically eligible to be “rolled over” into the next week’s available slot on the same day/time.
Skills: A wide range of knowledge and abilities that a student can consistently demonstrate which causes the student to be more capable of safely working with horses in an educated and confident fashion. Many of the Skills that make a capable horseman/horsewoman are acquired in the barn or on the ground with a horse rather than in the saddle. Students will be required to master certain skills in order to safely advance through the lesson levels.
Tiny Tot: A lesson student (age 6 & under) who is in guided lessons and monitored consistently by an instructor in matters of horse handling/leading, horse care, tacking up, riding, cool-down, and clean up. Tiny Tots do not come early before their lesson nor stay late after the lesson. These students are considered too young to be fully independent or unsupervised safely.