​January 2024 

​

Congratulations! If you are receiving this document, you are now a member of the NSS family!

​

Aligning a large and diverse group of people with an understanding of expectations helps to create a low stress and cohesive environment. This document will address some of the most important and common questions/concerns that arise in an environment such as ours. If a specific item is not addressed always attempting to do “The Right Thing” will likely be the correct answer.

Lesson only clients (not owner or lessor):

· Upon contact with NSS head trainer you will be asked several questions to understand your goals/experience to assure that CHS is the best fit for you (or your child). Kelsey will send to you a detailed list on pricing/expectations etc. Below are a few other points:

 

o Jumping: We do not allow lesson students to regularly jump above 2’3 unless the student is leasing one of our horses or owns their own horse. Horses are athletes that are prone to injury as well as regular wear and tear just like us humans. The more often they are jumped, and the higher that they are asked to jumped, means they see the vet more frequently for maintenance (think of it as the equivalent of an athlete receiving cortisone injections). The reason we allow the students who lease to jump above 2’3 is because they are paying extra for said horse and partial or full vet bills. When any of our riders have gotten to the place in their riding when they are ready for jumps that are 2’6+, we do ask for a commitment to a full lease to one of our wonderful horses, or we will help you find a lease horse to bring to NSS. A third option is purchasing your own horse. There is no jumping outside of lessons.

o Cancellations: We hardly ever cancel, unless the weather is unsafe for our students to drive in and ride in. We do have a strict 24 hour cancellation policy. We are a very busy lesson program that wants to teach as many lessons to our passionate students as possible, with out 24 hours notice, it is very challenging to let another CHS student have your spot. The lesson fee you are paying when you cancel without proper notice covers the instructor’s time, the use of the horse, and the use of the arena.

o When you come out to ride there is a board located at the entrance of the barn, that will have your lesson time and the horse or pony you will be riding. Most lesson horses’ equipment will be found in the tack room in the big arena barn. If you do not see a saddle and bridle that is labeled for the horse or pony you are scheduled to ride, please ask for assistance.

o There are lesson horse brushes to use by the wash racks. Ask your trainer to show you what to use and where they are located. You might also see other grooming totes, these are privately owned, so please stick to using the barn provided grooming totes only!

o Wash racks as well as in the barn aisles are great places to tack and untack!

o You are responsible for your horse or pony once you take them from the field (and this means parents too!!) The wash rack needs to be cleaned up before you leave it, this includes horses’ poop, hoof pickings’, and all equipment. (This means you cannot leave poop there to clean up when you are done as someone is going to come and want to use the area). Same goes for when you are finished.

o Do not leave halters attached to the cross ties. This is dangerous. Unclip and hang on the hook.

o Use only barn fly spray bottles during the summer months.

o When it is warm and there are many lessons going on, do not leave your horse in the cross ties for prolonged period of time. Let others have access to the area to tack up or wash their horse.

o Do not feed horses in the wash rack. Take them out to a grassy area, either behind wash racks or by round pen.

o Please return all equipment to the tack room that you found it in when you are done. This includes saddle pads.

For all students (this includes owners, lessors and clients without horses) and boarders:

· 2 lessons a week minimum requirement for lesson students, regardless of holidays, sick days, emergencies, makeups are allowed within same month (speak with Kelsey for more info on this policy if you travel for a longer amount of time during summer) to meet requirement (We believe riding 2x a week helps students progress quicker & consistently, there’s no other exercise that can be done at home to replicate time in the saddle) *For all students who have been “grandfathered” in at once/week, your spot will remain yours until our lesson program has reached capacity, once we are there, your trainer will speak with you about 2 lessons a week.

· If you do not clean up after the horse and yourself, there will be a penalty of no stirrups!

· During lessons, please hack in the arena with the least amount of people, if you must hack at the same time as a lesson that’s taking please, please plan to ride at the beginning of a lesson as to not interfere with jumping.

o Students in lessons get the right of way.

o Courtesy to call inside/outside or go left/left (if this doesn’t make sense to you, please ask your trainer).

· Please lunge in the round pen and if it is unavailable due to rain, please rake your tracks in the indoor when done.

· When hacking only use white poles as ground poles. The painted poles become very easily chipped when used as ground poles.

· No jumping outside of a lesson. Owners may jump cavalettis while hacking.

· Make sure lights/fans are turned off in arena when you are done or if you notice them on and it is apparent they are no longer needed. If you notice barn or tack room lights on unnecessarily, please shut off!

· Make sure water is turned off at the faucet and hose is replaced on the rack.

· No body clipping or mane pulling in the wash racks. Please use cross ties in the barns and dispose of any hair after in the trash.

 

Showing

o CHS trainers attend many of the NTHJC shows, some rated shows, as well as host a handful of schooling shows at the barn.

§ NSS Schooling shows are ad/lib and you will be notified of the dates/costs etc.

§ NTHJC schedule will be posted and you can add your name or tell your trainer you would like to attend.

§ NSS will host a variety of clinics throughout the year, the dates will come out via our monthly newsletter, contact your trainer to sign up. Clinics are a great way to learn from other trainers and judges.

§ Cancellation or backing out of a show with out one week’s notice will result in full charges, IE stall, shavings (if applicable) coaching, stable hand splits, etc. For “A” shows, client will need to let trainer know of a cancellation request 1 month prior as these shows are not as easy to back out of.

Boarders/Lessors:

· Stall board: XL stalls available, 12x18 or standard 12x12

· We only feed alfalfa and timothy hay

· Lessors: Pricing is varied. Speak with your trainer for details.

· In boarder tack room only 1 saaddle pad is allowed on top of your saddle. All other pads must be in trunk, your tack cabinet, or at home.

Owners:

· 2 lessons + 1 TR minimum a week. (does not pertain to retired horses) Lessons and rides are interchangeable so if you are traveling, we WILL sub rides, if you are in town and would prefer an extra lesson, we can do a 3rd lesson instead but must be a flat lesson.

· Feeding/blanketing/fans are included in board

General:

· Lesson students tuition is due at the beginning of each month, see packages below

· All bills need to be paid by the 10th

· Farrier and vet care are scheduled by Kelsey, for owners’ convenience.

· If you bring your dog, they must be on a leash.

Purchasing a horse:

· Please speak with Kelsey or your trainer if you have decided that purchasing a horse is something you want to move forward with. Fees and responsibilities will be discussed and may vary from person to person.

o Horse evaluation is a crucial part of buying a horse. Your safety and that of the trainers whom will likely be working with the new horse is of utmost importance so having expertise in evaluation is key.

General Fees:

· Stall Board XL $950, Standard $875

· Pasture Board $675

Lessons non boarder

$100 private, $85 group

Lessons Boarders

$85 Private (if requested) $60 group

Training rides- Boarders

$60/ea

 

Boarder Packages:

*All packages include use of Bemer blankets & cuffs

1: $1600- Includes standard stall board, 2 lessons + 1 pro ride per week, lessons and rides are interchangeable.

2: $1800- Includes standard stall board, 2 lessons + 2 pro rides per week, lessons and rides are interchangeable.

*If choosing to do lessons & rides a la carte, Privates are $85, groups are $60, rides are $60, and Bemer is $40/session.

 

Lesson Packages- Non Boarder/Leaser:

Package 1: Intro to horses, 4 private lessons, must be taken within 30 days of purchase, make ups allowed within the 30 days. Only available to new clients, one time use only.

Package 2: I love riding- 8 private lessons, $775, must be taken within 30 days. Make ups allowed within the same month, 24 hour cancellation policy to reschedule.

Package 3: I’m Hooked- ONLY available to those who are ready for group lessons- 8 group lessons, $675, must be taken within 30 days, 24 hour cancellation policy to reschedule

Package 4: Live, Breathe, Sleep HORSES- 10 group lessons, perfect for those months with 5 weeks in them OR, if you just want some extra ride time, $825, lessons must be taken within 30 days, 24 hour cancellation policy to reschedule.

*Parents please note that tuition is due year round, there are no exceptions during the summer months when travel might be more common. The tuition being paid regardless of your child being here is because horses do require food, water, and veterinary care every day, year round. The amount of horses NSS is able to provide to our wonderful school program is directly related to the number of students in our program. If you have a spot in our program, your tuition helps cover the school horses’ expenses, trainers, as well as equipment. ***If traveling for a month of more during summer, please talk to Kelsey about how your tuition funds can be applied once you return***

 

New Students: What to purchase!

Helmet

Gloves

Paddock Boots

Half Chaps

Halter & lead rope – Standard horse size will work

Grooming Kit (should include rubber curry, soft brush, hard brush, hoof pick)

Saddle Pad

*Please label all of your personal items in case it gets left behind on accident*