Riding Lesson Policies
1. CANCELLATIONS: 24 hour notice of cancellation is required. If a lesson time is reserved and you fail to cancel, you will be charged for the lesson. We understand emergencies occur and we will work with you to reschedule your lesson in those cases. Excused absences must be made up within 30 days by appointment with your instructor. As we compete in the spring, summer and early fall, lessons may have to be rescheduled. Students will not be penalized for lessons rescheduled due to instructor absence.
2. PAYMENT: We accept cash, checks,Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. We also offer bank draft option.
3. TARDINESS: Being late to a lesson is only to the student’s disadvantage. If the student arrives more than 15 minutes late to a lesson, the lesson may be cancelled. If you are running late, please notify instructor via text or call to 423.217.2505.
4. APPAREL: Blue jeans and tennis shoes or any hard-soled boot are fine for your first few lessons. As you progress, you will want to wear Jodhpur riding pants, paddock boots or jodphur boots and riding gloves. Cowboy boots with a chunky heel, open toed or backless shoes and shorts are not permitted.
5. HELMETS: Helmets are required for juvenile and adult student riders. Blue Ridge Riding Academy will provide a helmet if you do not have one of your own. All helmets must be ASTM/SEI approved.
6. WEATHER: We teach rain or shine, day or early evening. In cases of severe weather, the student will be notified of lesson cancellations. Please note: Extreme temperatures, lightening and high winds constitute severe weather.
7. ROUGH PLAY: As a safety is paramount, there should be no running, rough play or screaming around the stable, as this may disrupt the riding lesson and the horses.
8. OBSERVING: During a child’s first few riding lessons, they may be nervous and want their parents nearby. After your child has had several lessons, we encourage you to allow them to grow in independence and confidence by giving them some "private time" with their instructor during their lesson. Parents are welcome to watch.
9. CHILDREN: Supervision of children at Blue Ridge Riding Academy is the responsibility of the parent. The instructor will supervise your child only during a scheduled lesson. If a student is "dropped off" for their lesson, please pick them up promptly when the lesson ends. Siblings should be supervised at all times and should not disturb the riding lesson or the horses.
10. NO SMOKING: Smoking is not permitted in the barn, around shavings or hay.
11. We caution you against petting or feeding the pasture horses as the may bite.
Please remember that Blue Ridge Riding Academy also provides selective boarding and training for our clients. We ask you be mindful that show horses are athletes, and we ask you not feed them or disturb them in anyway. Riding students are given the opportunity to enjoy hands on time with the lesson horses during their lesson time. Please limit your children to petting only the lesson horses. Some show horses can be aggressive and unpredictable, so this rule is for your safety. Thank you.