Spring Newsletter

In This Issue Availability Welcome new & returning students! Pony Pals & NSHP members Riding Programs 04-01-2011 08:59:00 AM A big shout out to our newest Pony Pal members:  Marie-Claire and Kaitlin!  Remember their names because one day you'll  be watching them in the Olympics! New NSHP members:  Sadie, Brynn & KC!  Glad to have you ladies and looking forward to teaching you so many exciting things! Loretta  the natural horseman clear communication/visible results ...» More on helmets.... 04-01-2011 08:56:00 AM I own the video, Every Time, Every Ride. If you'd like to arrange a time to watch, please let me know.Amplify'd from www.discoverhorses.com By:  MyHorse.com Everyone has an excuse for not wearing a helmet when they ride: "I'm not going to jump; I'm just going for a trail ride; my horse is perfectly safe; I'm only going to let my horse stretch his legs for a few minutes; I'm not going to do anything dangerous." Now think back to the last time you came off your horse. Were you jumping a high fence on a stra nge horse after an hour of hard work? Probably not. You were more likely doing an activity you do every day with your horse and the unexpected occurred, something you never could have anticipated. That's why it's a good idea to wear a helmet every time you climb on a horse. You never know when and how an accident will occur. We work with our horses to minimize spooking, runaways and other dangerous situations. But we can't anticipate everything. And if we're challenging ourselves and our horses athletically, eventually we're likely to attempt something that will cause a fall. Fortunately, helmet manufacturers have been working to design better and safer helmets. So if you wear one and do fall, you're much more likely to avoid a head injury than ever before. That's important because, according to the American Medical Equine Association/Safe Riders Foundation, head injuries account for 20% of all equestrian injuries and 60% of fatalities occur from head injuries. The danger to your head in a fall isn't just the possibility of cracking your skull or sustaining a gash if your horse's hoof hits your head. A lot of head injuries are actually injuries to the brain. When you are moving and your head meets a solid object (usually the ground), your brain doesn't immediately stop its motion. It continues forward, often hitting the opposite side of your skull from where the impact occurred. Many of today's helmets conform to ASTM/SEI safety standards, meaning they have passed tests by the Safety Equipment Institute based on standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. These tests are designed to emulate impacts that can occur in a fall from a horse. The helmets meeting these thresholds have an outside shell built to resist impact coupled with cushioning material inside the helmet to protect your skull and brain. These helmets also have sturdy straps bolted into the helmet so that once you secure the strap under your chin, they are unlikely to come off. It is important to wear the harness strap properly latched every time. If your helmet goes flying off your head before you hit the ground, it won't do you any good. Proper fit will also allow the helmet to do its job. Not only do you need to find the correct size, everyone's head has a different shape. The brand of helmet that fits your friend's head may not be right for you. The helmet should sit comfortably on your head, and when you hold your head still and rock the helmet, your scalp should move with it.  Quick Links Greetings! Work on the new arena began today.  I am very excited to be able to offer this additional riding space.  Sundance was returned to his owner today.  He just didn't work out here and he'll be much happier with lots of grass to graze upon.   Apollo is doing great and seems to be understanding his new job. He has a superb canter and we are all enjoying him immensely!  He is a terrific asset to the program. Sincerely, Loretta Arey 20/20 Horsemanship Availability Fri. 4/8 @ 10am Sat., 4/9 @ 9:30am Sun. 4/10 @ 1:30pm Wed. 4/13 @3pm Please schedule these ASAP as spaces are filling quickly! Welcome to new students! And welcome BACK to others! Welcome back to: Mary Erica KC Anna Clay Shayna New students: Jensa Avery Alexandra Doug Jennifer Pony Pals & Naturally Safe Horsemanship Program Updates Congratulations to new Pony Pals members Marie Claire and Kaitlin! These little ones are on their way to excelling in equestrian activities. A big shout out to new NSHP members Sadie, Brynn & KC.   They'll be going on trail rides, going to a show at Turner Farm  and attending special classes for NSHP members.   Housekeeping Review Please review the Policies and Procedures.  Some previously unenforced policies are now being enforced.  It is your job to know the policies and barn rules.  I have hard copies, and you can find them on my blog and website also. Policies and Procedures ·        Payment is due at the time of the lesson or in advance. ·        There is a $30 fee for returned checks. ·        There is a $5 late fee applied weekly to unpaid lessons. ·        Lessons must be canceled within 48 hours of the lesson. ·        Lessons canceled by students in less than 48 hours are subject to regular fees.  I will do my best in filling the opening, however if it cannot be filled you are responsible for payment. ·        If you do not show up for a scheduled lesson the full price of the lesson is due. ·        Lessons are held unless the calendar shows it has been canceled.  DO NOT assume lessons are not on, for any reason.  ALWAYS check the calendar.  Please do not email asking about your lesson for that day.  CHECK THE CALENDAR. ·        Refunds for prepaid lessons are NOT given. ·        When at Frying Pan, you must check in with the office and pay their fee directly to them for use of the indoor arena. ·        If you are 15 or more minutes late for your lesson you will have a ground work lesson. ·        A 12 week session must be completed within 15 weeks.  Makeup classes for each level are available weekly. ·        Please provide written notice of extended absences. ·        If you email me on a Sat. or Sun. I will NOT see it until Monday. ·        Students may not cancel lessons because of weather.  I will make that decision.  MOST of the time I have different weather here.  In the case of snow, of course I take into consideration where you are coming from. ·        I have a waiting list for weekend lessons.  PLEASE cancel within 48 hours of your time so I can fill the opening. If I cannot fill it, you WILL be charged. If you are late to class, your session still ends at its original end time.  For example: your lesson begins at 4pm. You arrive at 4:10 and are ready to begin at 4:15pm.  Your lesson STILL ends at 5pm.  I have less than 12 minutes time between lessons on weekends.  With 9 students on Saturdays AND Sundays it is not fair to the others to push everything back because of tardiness.  I realize there is traffic, etc...but please do your best to leave in time for the expected DC area traffic jams. Please understand that as my business has grown, so has my list of policies, procedures and barn rules.  Things are much different when dealing with 40+ students and families each week as opposed to a handful of them.  In order for things to run smoothly and to give my students the best learning experience I require everyone to follow these procedures.   Thank you for your patience and understanding. Long Time Customers I would just like to take a moment and thank some of my customers, who I can gratefully call friends, that have been here since the beginning. The Taylors.  The Taylors contacted me from their home in NY in preparation for their move to VA.  My life has truly been blessed from knowing them and working with their daughter, Brynn. Michelle Moss.  Michelle actually rode Stryker in that short window of time between his purchase and his injury.  She got married and is now buying her first home.  I enjoy her immensely and it is very rewarding watching her evolve into a confident horsewoman. The Larges.  AnnMarie is the official student, however I feel I have gotten to know them all.  Her dad is patiently awaiting Stryker's full recovery so he can ride him.  Her mom was a former student at the infamous Jane Dillard's school of equitation in Vienna. Recognizing Hard Work Alyssa.  Alyssa has not been here quite as long as the students mentioned before, however I do need to recognize her.  She came to be interested in Astro and decided to help me with his training.  One day each week she diligently did ground work with him.  She CHOSE not to ride, but to work with him on what he needed.  Over the last 8 months he has gone from a pony that jumped when a brush touched a hind leg, to being back under saddle.  Alyssa has learned that there is a balance in training and that timing is very important. Especially in knowing when to stop. Last week he did so well we took him in the front.  After hand walking around both directions she rode him and even trotted.  They walked, then trotted over a pole. Just yesterday they did so well together that they worked up to trotting over a pole a few inches off of the ground.  He landed and cantered a few (uneventful) strides and the next time he even jumped rather than trotted over the pole.  The smile on Alyssa's face must have been a mile wide, she could've lit the entire planet.  In her words, "Hard work and patience really do pay off."  Did I mention this girl is 10?  What a wonderful up and coming horsewoman.  This is why I do what I do.

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results