When should I arrive for my Community School lesson?
Community School group lessons are one and a half hours; 15 minutes will be spent grooming and tacking (or un-tacking) at the beginning and end of each lesson time. Approximately an hour will be spent riding. If your lesson time is 4:00 please arrive then so you and the others in your class can be ready to go to the ring as a group at about 4:15.
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When should I be at the barn if I have a private or semi-private lesson?
If riders (such as those in the Earn Your Stirrups program) need assistance grooming and tacking, it will be provided as part of the lesson time, otherwise we assume that a rider taking a private or semi-private lesson is capable of readying the horse for the lesson and taking care of it afterwards. If so, please leave yourself enough time to be mounted at the scheduled lesson time. If your lesson is at 4:00, you should be ready to step into the ring at 4:00.
If you need help, arrive at your scheduled lesson time and consider grooming and tacking part of your lesson.
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What should I do if I need to cancel a lesson? What if my scheduled lesson is canceled by MacNair's?
Please call the Main Office 24 hours in advance of an absence in order for a make-up lesson to be available. With less than 24 hours notice, or if you miss more than one lesson, you may purchase a make-up lesson for a $15 re-scheduling fee. If you are a "no-show" you will be billed as if you had taken the lesson. Details about make-up lessons are in your registration packet.
With enough advance notice, we will do our best to accommodate students in year-round school. We can sometimes re-schedule lessons you know will miss (as when a rider will be on vacation.) Let us know as early as possible. If we need to cancel a class we will give as much advance notice as possible and the class will be re-scheduled at an appropriate day and time. However, sometimes storms come up suddenly and our rider's safety is always paramount. If we cancel a lesson due to inclement weather, you will receive a make-up lesson or a ground lesson. We make every effort to meet our class schedules but reserve the right to make class changes as is necessary. |
Is falling off possible?
Well, not exactly. More like inevitable. (All our instructors are Red Cross certified.)
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Why am I not advancing faster?
Each new riding skill is based on preceding skills. Until there is a dependable foundation to build on, the rider cannot safely add more. Some riders quickly become adept at certain techniques and some struggle; the rate of progression is very individualized. Please talk to your instructor. S/he can point out to you the specific areas that need to be reliable before moving on to something new.
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When do I get to show?
MacNair's offers two shows during the year (August 2011 to June 2012) exclusively for our Riding School students. Classes range from those just learning to post to those who can jump a course. You will only be showing with other Riding School students who are at a comparable level.
We do, however, host many other shows here at MacNair's. Please let your instructor know if you'd like to participate in one (or more) of the shows held at Country Acres.
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| What else is going on this year besides lessons?
Well, funny you should ask. This year we will have:
Lunging Clinics
Trail Riding
Hill Work / Riding Out
Ride on Your Own / Leasing Clinic
Horsewise
MacNair's 4-H Club
Pony School Clinics
Video Clinic
Healing Touch with Horses
Track Out Camps
Horse Shows
Hunter Paces
Saddle Up
Dates and more information will follow.
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My child is in Pony School this year. What time should we arrive for the lesson?
Lesson time is a total of 75 minutes. The first 15 minutes of the lesson will be spent grooming and tacking up. Approximately 45 minutes will be spent in the saddle and the last 15 minutes will be for un-tacking and caring for the ponies.
If your lesson time is 4:00 please arrive promptly at 4:00 to be ready to ride at about 4:15. Once the riders are in the ring, the instructor cannot leave them to assist a child who arrived late and still needs to get a pony ready to ride. If you know you will be running late, please talk to your instructor beforehand to make arrangements. |
What happens to lessons if it's raining or snowing?
Lessons continue even if it's raining, thanks to our covered ring. To accommodate everyone's classes, we may stagger the lesson times by approximately 15 minutes. In other words, if it's raining, plan on arriving 15 minutes before your scheduled time, and/or staying 15 minutes later. In case of weather unsafe for riding, we may have up to two ground lessons per year. These will support the established curriculum. For safety's sake we will re-schedule lessons if there is thunder or lightning.
We no longer follow the Wake County School System's inclement weather policy, as there are times when the roads are safe even with snow on the ground. Please check with the office to be sure.
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| What should I wear to lessons?
We require riders to wear an SEI / ASTM approved riding helmet. Footwear should be above the ankle in height, with a 1" square heel (paddock boots are ideal.) We recommend long pants that fit snugly. Please do not wear spaghetti straps or cropped tops and please tuck in your shirt. Dressing neatly gives your instructor a better view of your position.
Please don't wear jewelry as it may snag on equipment and some of the horses consider it tasty.
The rider's hair, if long, should be pulled back into a low ponytail and should not be in front of the helmet's harness. A clear field of vision is very important. Wear white clothes to the barn at your peril.
Dress for the weather. When it's hot, don't forget sunscreen and by all means bring a water bottle (preferably insulated.) When it's cold, dress in layers, cover your ears and think about a pair of winter riding gloves.
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Can family and friends come with to watch my lesson?
Absolutely! We do have a few rules for spectators, though. Those under 16 must be directly supervised by an adult at all times, as animals and equipment on a farm can be dangerous. Running and yelling scares the horses and the staff, so please refrain.
Spectators must remain outside the ring and should remember that a rider must only hear one voice at a time and it should be that of the instructor. If you have questions you may accost the instructor after the lesson is over.
Please - no flash photography.
Even well-behaved, quiet dogs must be leashed at all times and are not allowed in the office.
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Thank you for choosing MacNair's Country Acres as your place to learn riding and horsemanship. Please let us know if we can answer any other questions. Sincerely,
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Since Progress Reports will not be sent this year, we encourage you to get in touch with your instructor to address any concerns you may have.
Instructor email addresses:
Nancy
nancy.demus@macnairscountryacres.com
Mary Pope
marypope.furr@macnairscountryacres.com
Julie
julie.garnett@macnairscountryacres.com
Mattie
mattie.johnson@macnairscountryacres.com
Karen
cirqk17@clearwire.net
Martina
martina.peterson@macnairscountryacres.co
m
Lisa
lisa.pollard@macnairscountryacres.com
Thom
thom.pollard@macnairscountryacres.com
Cam
cam.womble@gmail.com
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