Lesson Programme
We will resume accepting new students as of January 2025!
We offer private lessons for beginner through advanced riders in English riding with our school horses, or English and Western with your own horse.
Minimum age for riding lessons - 10yrs.
We teach Classical Dressage Intro through 2nd Level, Western Dressage Intro through Level 2 (own horses only), equitation, trail and agility obstacles and work over ground poles. We also teach the fundamentals of two-point position, piles of poles, and how to ride a course of piles of poles. We do not teach hunter/jumper/over fences.
Horsemanship, groundwork and other un-mounted lessons are also part of our programme.
All our lessons are horse-human relationship based, with a firm emphasis on safety and on learning to understand horses and their behaviour
We operate our business as a monthly tuition based programme. Lessons will run from the 1st through the 28th of each month and will be based on 4 lessons per month - $300/mo. Any extra days at the end of each month will offer opportunities for rescheduling any missed or cancelled lessons.
Occasional private lessons MAY be available on an 'as needed' basis and are priced at $95 per 50 minute private lesson. Payment must be made in advance, normal cancellation and rescheduling policies will apply.
PLEASE READ OUR POLICIES REGARDING PAYMENTS, LATE PAYMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, LATE CANCELATIONS, AND RESCHEDULING LESSONS
NO CREDITS, NO REFUNDS
Clients pay for their chosen lesson spot, RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THEM, not necessarily for their attendance. If a client is absent, away, vacationing, sick, or unable to attend their exclusive lesson spot FOR ANY REASON, AND THEY LET US KNOW BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LESSON, then they will have the opportunity and responsibility to reschedule that lesson within a reasonable time frame OR, forfeit that lesson fee. Due to the need for consistent business income to cover the expenses of owning, operating and maintaining the facility, the horses, and providing a quality programme with experienced instruction and exceptional lesson horses, we do not credit lessons to subsequent months.
Client cancellations on the day of the lesson will be an immediate forfeit with no option to reschedule. No exceptions. For example, if clients text us with cancellation notice and a timestamp of 12.01 a.m., or later, on the day of their lesson, that lesson fee will be forfeited.
If WE cancel lessons due to weather or other circumstances then we will work with clients to reschedule those lessons.
Payments: Payments must be made by the 3rd of the month. All students will be invoiced using 'Square' with option to pay by credit card online, or by cheque or cash by the 3rd of the month. No refunds on any pre-paid lessons.
Late Payments: Payments not made by the 3rd of the month will incurr a late fee of $50
Cancelling Tuition:We require a 30 day notice from clients who wish to leave our programme
Returned cheques: Subject to a fee of $50, and turned over to collections unless remedied immediately
Late Cancelation: Lessons canceled after midnight on the day of the lesson, unless for an emergency, will be forfeited
No Shows: Students who do not give notice that they will be absent from their lesson will forfeit their lesson fee with no option to re-schedule.
HCEC Cancellations: Certain extreme circumstances may force us to cancel lessons. Lessons cancelled by HCEC will be re-scheduled.
Extenuating Circumstances: We acknowledge that in certain cases extenuating circumstances may warrant an adjustment to our policies and we will consider each case with the utmost fairness and consideration
Lesson Duration: Please allow 50 minutes
Unmounted Lessons: Stable management, grooming, tacking up, horse care, nutrition, training, etc., are an important part of a comprehensive education about horses. Although most lessons will be mounted, *some* lessons will include unmounted topics
Helmets: All students must provide their own correctly fitted helmets certified to current ASTM/SEI standards. Helmets are no longer available to hire due to new insurance regulations and Covid-19 restrictions
Footwear & Gloves: All students must wear stout boots with a heel while present on the facility. Specific riding boots are required! No zippers or buckles or metal embellishments which may come into contact with the saddle are permitted for riding. No students will be permitted to work with horses, or ride, in sandals, tennis shoes, or other inappropriate footwear. Gloves, appropriate for riding and the various weather conditions, are mandatory for both riding and groundwork lessons. Students who are learning to ride English must wear breeches or pants appropriate for English saddles, no jeans permitted.
Minimum Age: 10 yrs
Rider Weight Limit for Lesson Horses: Our maximum rider weight limit is 170lbs
HCEC reserves the right to change prices at any time
Under Colorado Law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities, pursuant to section 13-21-119, Colorado Revised Statutes.
