Policies & Lesson Content

Riding Academy Policies

Attire: Tall boots with breeches or paddock boots and half chaps. Correctly Adjusted Riding Helmet. No sleeveless shirts. Hair should be tied back and neat under helmet.

Payments and Cancellations:
Payment for all scheduled lessons is due by the 7th of the month.
Rescheduling: A min of 24 hours notice is required to reschedule.
Communicate missed lessons in writing (text or email).
With less than 24 hours notice, the lesson is forfeited.
With notice, a minimum of two make-up options will be offered.
If they do not work, the lesson may be forfeited. Availability is not guaranteed.
Make ups will not carry over beyond 60 days.
Cancellations: To cancel a lesson, send notice in writing (text or email) before the 7th.
If notified before the monthly due date, the amount due will be prorated by deducting the cost of the missed lesson(s). Otherwise you will be offered the opportunity to reschedule (see above).
Rain: Little Creek is fortunate to have a covered ring for all weather riding. We ride rain or shine. If the ring is crowded on rain days, lesson times might be adjusted to make the groups smaller. If the weather is too severe to drive, you may reschedule (see above).

Lessons: Please arrive 20 minutes before your lesson time to groom and tack.  New riders must know trot diagonals, demonstrate correct leg position, and be able to trot ring figures without stirrups before cantering. A rider evaluation is required to join a group lesson.

Scheduling:  Appointments are scheduled weekday afternoons and evenings. Ring space is shared with other instructors and each instructor has posted ring hours. Your scheduled ride time at the Academy changes according to season. Appointments are later in the heat of summer and earlier in short days of winter.

Barn Rules: Riders and their guests must follow all posted barn rules. Everyone on the property must wear closed toed shoes.

Rider Expectations and Responsibilities: Riding and working with horses takes tremendous discipline and dedication. Academy students are expected to practice good horsemanship at all times. Becoming an accomplished rider can take decades. Some lessons will be more challenging than others. Ring conditions, weather conditions, and the mood of both the rider and the horse can all be factors that affect lessons. All riders also need to understand the risks associated with riding. All riders will eventually have a fall. You must decide for yourself if that is a risk you are willing to assume.

The instructor will adjust content and possibly the length of the lessons if conditions require it for the safety and comfort of horse and rider. Not all lessons will be safe for jumping or cantering. Lesson content will be adjusted if some conditions exist such as:

  • Cold Windy days that the affect the energy levels of the horses.

  • Extreme heat making the job of the horse more difficult

  • Crowded rings

  • Footing Issues / Wet Ground

  • Distractions created at feed time.

  • Rider on a new horse or unable to ride the assigned horse.

 

WHAT LEVEL RIDER ARE YOU?

Atlanta Riding Skills Syllabus

Becoming a good rider involves repetition. Everyone progresses at a different rate. There are no short cuts for mastering the material and moving to the next level. Beginner riders and new riders will start in Mounted Games or Private Lessons. Riders interested in a spot in a group over fences class please submit a Skills Assessment Form.

LEVEL 1 – Intro Level Rider Private Lessons Ages 10 and up

Mount/dismount
Correctly adjust tack
Two point at walk and trot
Posting trot
Ring figures
Diagonals
Work without stirrups
Basics of Horse Care
Patterns over poles
Transitions

Level 2 Lessons Ages 12 and up.

Leg Yields
Intro to Canter Work
Canter Leads
Simple Changes
Cross Rails at the Trot
Canter Poles
Counting Strides
Gymnastic Work

LEVEL 3 – Group Over Fences Class. Small group classes of 3-4 people. Submit a Skills Assessment Form to determine placement in a group hunt seat class.

Lead Changes.
Jumps without Stirrup
Lengthen and Shorten Stride at all Gaits
Riding on Contact; Change of Bend
Counter Canter
Shoulder-In
Apply novice skills to a variety of horses
Cantering Courses 2′ to 2’3.

Level 4 – Advanced Rider
Courses 2’6 and up
Flying Changes
Knowledge of Hunter vs Jumper vs Eq Courses
Shoulder in/Haunches-in
Vertical flexion
Counter Canter
Ability to ride a variety of horses
Jump a course without stirrups