So you are coming to Lachlan for your very first lesson...
Here are the top 10 things to know about riding at our farm:
- Plan ahead! Check your directions (they can be found on our website) or google maps and make sure you know where to go. GPS will not generally pick up our address!
- Understand that we are a working horse farm! When our instructors are not teaching you can find them training horses, cleaning stalls, feeding, blanketing, etc. Because we are a working farm, we cannot always return calls and emails immediately. It is generally at least a day or so. (If you are trying to reach my assistant it can be a hair longer... she does not have coverage at the farm).
- Farm Hours. Our farm does not have set hours (especially for our boarders), but we do have office hours (time that we return calls, emails, etc.). Generally we handle farm business Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Also, the farm number is my personal cell phone, so please try not to call too early or late so that my limited family time is not disrupted.
- We do have a cancellation policy! We have a waiting list for your lesson hour! Unless you own or lease, we expect you be at the farm on time and ready to ride! We only cancel for severe weather, extreme cold (20s or wind chills in the 20s), or if both instructors are ill (which is rare). We generally will not make up a lesson for cancellation less than 24 hours.
- Dress correctly. For the first few lessons jeans or pants and boots or shoes with a 1 inch heel is perfectly acceptable. We have helmets at the farm. No clogs or shorts! In the winter, jackets are fine but no scarves while riding and in the summer, no spaghetti straps.
- When you arrive, an instructor will be with you shortly. Please wait patiently either in the barn or lounge area. Please do not enter the riding arena.
- Read over our rules and policies! These are SO important to all riders. Please look over and make sure that you understand our farm policies.
- Monitor your kids! Lachlan is a family friendly environment (my child was literally raised at the farm since she was 3 days old). Although our horses and trainers are more than used to children, please be respectful of the farm. No running, horse-play (pardon the pun), climbing, yelling, etc. Be respectful our horses' home.
- Understand our expectations! Lachlan is unique in that we do offer lessons for ALL ages and levels and do not require horse ownership or horse showing. We do, however, have high expectations of all riders. From our oldest to our youngest rider, we expect all riders to have good character, discipline, perseverance, and a good attitude. We want all riders to be better riders and better people now and down the road because they rode at Lachlan Farm. We also understand that a 4 year old doesn't have the ability to grasp these concepts whole-heartedly, BUT they can start good habits now. That is what we believe and that is what we teach.
- Be ready to have fun when you jump into something new at Lachlan Farm! Your rider will learn ALL aspects of horsemanship from grooming to tacking to horse care and of course riding!
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