Get Back To The Basics with BHEC!
Your First Lesson at BHEC will be an INTRODUCTORY LESSON. Equestrians that have prior experience will be evaluated and assessed on their riding ability, and for our new equestrians to the sport, you will be evaluated on your strengths, weaknesses, athletic ability, and more. Once the Introductory Lesson takes place, we can then customize a Lesson Plan for you. New equestrians, please wear a fitted and/or polo shirt (tucked in). Women/girls may wear a legging or stretch pant, men/boys may wear fitted sport pant or cotton khakis. Absolutely NO jeans! Socks that come up past your ankle (no ankle socks), no dangly jewelry and long hair ust be pulled back in a low ponytail. Boot and helmet rentals may be included for the Introductory Lesson (an additional $5 each).
LESSON PROCEDURE
Our guidelines to make your time at BHEC as carefree as possible.
- Please drive slowly (5-mph) up the driveway and around the property at all times.
- When you arrive, go directly to the Lesson Barn (first barn on the left) and check in with staff.
- There is NO SMOKING at any time while on our property.
- Please silence your cell phones. Students, please make sure to leave your phone in the car.
- No running, loud noises or causing a disturbance around the riding arenas, safety is our priority!
- After your lesson, you are expected to untack your horse, unless another student is using your horse in the next lesson. Plan to stay at least 30 minutes after your lesson to care for your horse. Weather conditions may require you to provide additional horse care — such as sponging down, walking a hot horse, blanketing, etc.
- Parents please expect your child to be waiting in front of the barn after their riding lesson for pick-up.
SCHEDULING LESSONS
Please call 352-591-1033 to schedule. When calling, if you do not receive a live BHEC representative, please leave a message and someone will get back to you within the hour. Your call is a priority to us. We are by appointment only and will be happy to find you or your child a time to start and learn about the wonderful world of horses!
HORSEMANSHIP & RIDING POLICY
Horse grooming, tacking and occasional un-mounted lessons are all part of the BHEC horsemanship and riding experience. In some cases your horse may be tacked up from a previous lesson, in the event your horse is not tacked up, we ask that you please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your lesson to groom and tack. Grooming and tacking lessons may be a part of your lesson on occasions. For the novice and beginner equestrian, a hands-on horsemanship lesson will be mandatory when deemed necessary and will take place of one of your regular riding lessons. Young beginner riders should arrive 10-15 minutes early to observe. For safety reasons, young children must wait on the porch until they are called for their lesson. Lesson start time is prompt. Late arrivals will get the remainder of lesson time allotted to them.
ATTIRE
Proper riding attire is REQUIRED! This includes jodhpurs, proper riding boots, approved ASTM/SEI riding helmet, Bobbin Hollow shirt or a non-adorned fitted shirt. Riders should come prepared with shirts tucked in. Gloves are optional, but recommended. Riding apparel can be purchased through various mail-order catalogs. For an additional 10%, supplies can be ordered through our office for your convenience. Helmets, boots and half chaps are available to rent for your initial lessons.
PAYMENT POLICY
Payment is expected prior to the lesson start time. Prepayment is required at the beginning of each month for lesson package subscribers. We accept cash, check, Visa or MasterCard. Services will not be rendered to past due accounts and will result in additional fees and/or loss of time slot.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please remember that your lesson time has been set aside especially for you. Cancellations due to illness are accepted with a physician’s note. A 24-hour notice is required; otherwise last minute cancellations will be charged and strictly enforced. An overwhelming amount of cancellations will result in probation and possibly taken off the schedule and back on the waiting list. We ask that you notify staff in writing of your out of town dates one month or more in advance, verbal authorization will not be accepted, however no-show charges are strictly enforced. All cancellations by Bobbin Hollow Equestrian Center, Inc. will be credited. All other missed lessons and no-shows will be charged. Bad weather lessons will be unmounted and mandatory.
*Sorry, NO refunds, credit only. Refunds will not be given for discontinuation, acts of God, natural disaster, and acts of war or epidemics. Credit will be good on account within the sign-up period or 60 days to date.
PROCEDURES FOR RAINY DAY & BAD WEATHER
Please do not assume that your lesson has been cancelled. In place of your riding lesson, you will have a mandatory hands-on horsemanship class. This is very important to becoming a better horseman and/or horsewoman. North Central Florida is known to have the occasional rainy season or severe winds, in the event that our area is under a severe weather alert, we will not have lessons and Bobbin Hollow will email and/or call you to confirm.
Contact Us to sign up now!