Volunteer Guidelines
Thank you for volunteering your time to the riding center! The following guidelines, when followed, will help make each lesson a success. If there are any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask!
Lesson Scheduling
Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time of your scheduled lesson if you are side-walking (if your lesson is at 10AM, please arrive to the riding center at 9:45AM). If you are leading a horse for a scheduled lesson, please arrive to the riding center at least 30 minutes before the lesson. This ensures that the horse is properly groomed, tacked up, and ready for its rider when they arrive for their lesson. Leaders are expected to groom, tack up, and warm up the horse before the lesson and cool down and untack the horse after the lesson is over.
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend your scheduled lesson please give the volunteer coordinator AT LEAST 24 hours notice by either calling the riding center at 518-898-0742 or emailing V[email protected]. This gives the Volunteer Coordinator enough time to find a replacement for the lesson. If not enough notice is given regarding a volunteer absence, and a replacement cannot be found within the time given, the lesson cannot be held. If it is an emergency and you cannot make a lesson at the last minute, please call the riding center immediately.
Inclement Weather
The riding center is open and lessons are held as often as possible weather permitting. Lessons will not be held if the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) for the safety of all horses and humans. Significant damage can be done to the horse’s lungs if they are to work in bitter cold temperatures. Lessons will also not be held if the temperature is higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), as heat stroke poses a significant risk to the health of both horses and humans. Your lesson instructor will contact you as soon as they can to inform you of a cancellation due to weather. If you have not heard from your instructor and are unsure if we are riding, please feel free to contact the Volunteer Coordinator or the riding center!
