Lesson Policy Change
The past year has presented new challenges for all of us. Here at the barn, our new herd of senior horses are much more expensive to maintain – special feed, more feeding times, more vet care, special shoes, and require medication often. Additionally, costs for these things have increased 2-3 times in the past 12 months. Unfortunately, an increase in lesson rates in necessary. The rate of $50/lesson will increase to $60/lesson.
We will also be transitioning from a discounted monthly lesson pack to a flat tuition rate. The amount of makeups has become impossible for us to complete, and not being used as initially intended. The discounted monthly lesson pack is not something to be redeemed at will, but at a set day and time slot which the instructor agrees to be present to teach. Instructors are allotted a specific amount of lessons from the barn and have a waiting list of riders wanting those set monthly time spaces. The instructors also drive long distances, have childcare expenses, and take hours preparing for and cleaning up after lessons. It’s unfair when a rider doesn’t show up, gives short notice, or regularly asks for makeups to make room for other activities. Requesting regular makeups is asking the instructor to teach outside of their set times, at no additional cost.
The tuition program will take a different approach.
Each month will be the same cost, whether there are 4 or 5 weeks in that month.
This helps offset the price increase to the students,
Reserves a specific block of time with your instructor.
You are buying time, not a lesson to redeem,
Missed time blocks are forfeited, much like any other class.
Some months the instructors will be teaching a “free” lesson - lessons with 5th week.
To balance free lesson, we will close the days with the most makeup lessons:
New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
Instructor’s volunteering 1 makeup lesson session per quarter outside regular lesson blocks .
Please read carefully You will be receiving a form to sign and date that acknowledges all these policies.
1. New non-discounted lesson rate is $60. This rate applies to additional private lessons given outside of a monthly time slot, or an initial evaluation lesson.
2. The monthly tuition rate will be $200/month. This discounts lessons to $50 instead of $60. It saves $40 on a 4-week month (4x$60=$240) and $100 on the 5 week months (5x$60=$300).
3. On months with 5 weeks, the instructors will be giving a “free lesson”. To balance this, we will be closed all major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial and Labor Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. No makeups will be given for these days.
4. The tuition reserves a set weekly time slot, not a pack of lessons to be redeemed as needed.
5. Tuition is due PRIOR to the first lesson. If it is not received, the space will be offered to the waiting list. 30 days of cancellation of a lesson space is required.
6. Each instructor will offer 1 makeup lesson voucher per quarter to be held on one specific day, set by the instructor.
8. If 24 hours’ notice of forfeit of time slot, 1 makeup voucher can be obtained per quarter, after 3 consecutive months of lessons.
9. It is the rider’s responsibility to obtain their voucher, and it should be treated like cash.
10. If the instructor is ill or on vacation another instructor will fill in. if this is impossible, a makeup day will be offered with advance notice.
11. We ride in all weather, this is why we purchased a covered arena. On days of severely inclement weather, we will offer ground lessons consisting of tacking, grooming, and horse care. The lesson will not be cancelled.
12. Please share these policies with all member of the family who transport or fund the student’s tuition. Proper communication among family members is assumed by the instructor, and not an issue for the instructor to handle or address.