SILVER GATE FARMS

 

 

TRAINING AND HORSEMANSHIP GUIDE

 

TRAINING PROGRAM

 

Riders who own their own horse or full lease a horse will graduate into a training program.  All programs will be customized to each rider-horse combination to ensure optimum training progress.  Programs are set monthly and are not pro-rated.

 

LESSON ETIQUETTE

 

·        RIDERS MUST BE ON TIME FOR SCHEDULED LESSONS.  NO LATE ARRIVALS.  RIDERS SHOULD ENTER RING TEN MINUTES BEFORE LESSON BEGINS TO WARM UP HORSE

 

·        PLEASE ADJUST TACK, PADS, AND STIRRUPS BEFORE LESSON BEGINS

 

·        TRAINERS SHOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED DURING LESSONS FOR QUESTIONS, BARN MANAGEMENT ISSUES, SCHEDULE CHANGES OR TO VISIT

Trainers can be approached with questions before the lesson begins, at the conclusion of lessons, or by phone

Set up appointments with trainers to discuss issues or concerns.

 

LESSON ATTIRE

• Britches
• Polo or form fitted collared blouse, tucked in with belt
• Boots or paddock boots with half chaps, spurs if appropriate
• Helmet with hair tied in net
• Gloves

Students in training programs are expected to come to their lessons in neat attire, tack and equipment clean and neat, with horses expertly groomed.

 

HORSEMANSHIP

Students are encouraged to ask questions about how to improve each others rides or to clarify explanations.  Students are expected to audit more advanced lessons and show lessons.

 

• Riders may ask questions between student’s turns or during breaks.  Riders may not ask questions when the trainer is schooling another student.
• Students may not visit with friends or parents during lessons
• Please do not block rail during lessons.

 

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THEIR FELLOW RIDERS.  GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND HORSEMANSHIP ARE EXPECTED AT ALL TIMES.

TRAINING LEVELS

GREEN RIDER

• Introduction of new riders to the main arena
• Jump fences 2’
• Introduction to diagonal and lateral aids
• Simple and flying changes
• Uses of the correct and counter bend
• Leg yield exercises and turns on forehand
• Walk, trot, and canter without irons
• Single fences without irons
• Simple figures and figure of eight

NOVICE

• SHOW LEVEL: NOVICE, SHORT/LONG STIRRUP, FUTURE MEDAL
• Refinement of lessons from cross rail
• Introduction to collection and extension of the gaits
• Working on the bit
• Introduction to half-halt
• Serpentine at the canter with simple changes thru walk and trot
• 2’3” courses without irons

FRESHMAN

SHOW LEVEL FRESHMAN, LOW MODIFIED, PRIOR

• 2’6” to 2’9” courses
• Execute turn on the haunches
• Ride shoulder fore and shoulder in
• Ride the horse on the bit
• Introduction to counter canter
• Adding and leaving out strides

CHILDREN’S

• SHOW LEVEL: JUNIOR VARSITY, CHILDREN'S, ADULT
• 2’9” to 3’ courses with and without stirrups
• Execute correct half-halt
• Ride haunches in
• Counter canter serpentine
• Serpentine with flying changes

ADVANCED

• SHOW LEVEL: VARSITY, JUNIORS AND AMATEUR OWNER
• 3’6 Courses with or without stirrups
• ride half pass
• correctly execute all lateral movements
• DEMONSTRATE TRUE COLLECTION AND EXTENSION OF ALL GAITS

STABLE MANAGEMENT

 

BARN HOURS: 7:30AM TO 9PM

 

ALL RIDERS AND GUESTS AT SILVER GATE FARMS INC. MUST SIGN RELEASE    AND FILL OUT A MEDICAL INFORMATION CARD

·        It is Silver Gate Farms policy that in order to ride on SGF property, the rider must be actively involved in our riding academy or training program.  If you own or lease a horse, only you or other family members that have been approved by SGF may ride or handle your horse.

·        Please do not bring guests or visitors and allow them to ride your horse.  This is unsafe and against SGF rules.  If you have a special circumstance and would like approval for a guest rider, please request this in advance in writing documenting the proposed rider’s previous riding experience, as well as the dates you would like them to ride.  If management deems the guest capable of riding safely within the rules, temporary permission may be granted subject to a General Release form signed.  We are committed to providing you and your family with a fun and friendly environment and believe that safety is the underlying foundation to build on, thus we insist on protecting you form unsafe riders.  We deem this rule to be so crucial that any violation will result in immediate expulsion from SGF.

·        All professionals (vet, shoer, dentist, chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, etc.) providing services at SGF, must be pre-approved by management and must sign a general release of liability.

 

CLIENT BEHAVIOR

 

SILVER GATE FARMS HAS A NO TOLERANCE POLICY TOWARD GOSSIP.  EACH PERSON CAN CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOSSIP.

 

·        Be helpful and friendly to one another.  Say hello and offer a smile to everyone, whether you know them or not

·        Be courteous to all members of the SGF community.

·        Good sportsmanship and horsemanship are expected at all times.

·        Respect other people’s property.  You must have permission to borrow anything.  Return it in the condition in which it was given to you.

·        The following behaviors are expressly forbidden:

Foul language by anyone

Formation of cliques that deliberately and actively exclude others

Physical or verbal abuse and bullying of any kind

·        Individuals refusing to abide by Silver Gate Farms’ policies will be asked to leave the premises.

 

 

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Student signature                                                         Parent signature
BARN MANAGEMENT

 

FEEDING PROGRAMS

            Feeding programs will be customized for each horse.  Management recommends each horse receive a combination of hay types to meet major mineral requirements. 

·        The combination of alfalfa and timothy hay balances the horse’s major mineral requirement.

·        A horse’s daily salt intake is a minimum of two ounces.

·        Horses require supplementation of omega three and omega six fatty acids to their diet.

·        Veterinarians now recommend that all competitive horses receive joint support through supplementation.

·        No one is to help themselves to feed or bedding.  If you have a problem please check with management.

 

SUPPLEMENTATION

·        Management will make recommendations for each horse based on history and use.

·        Supplement feeding will be a combination of Smart Paks and additional feedstuffs as required for each individual horse.

 

VETERINARY CARE

• Horses are vaccinated twice yearly.
• Horses are de-wormed by management every other month.
• The equine dentist is scheduled yearly.

 

BLANKETING

• Grooms remove blankets from horses in the morning depending on temperature.
• Grooms blanket horses in the evening at feeding time.
• Clients are responsible to blanket their own horses if blanketing has already been done

 

TURNOUT POLICIES

Horses should never be chased with a whip while in turnout to prevent injury.  Hot horses should be lunged instead.

• Horses are not to be left unattended in the turnouts or on grass pastures
• Maximum 15 minute turnout if others are waiting
• Maximum 15 minute grazing limit.  Horses are not allowed to play in pasture.
• Riders desiring to turnout should ask groom to open up turnout.  Never move another client’s horse from turnout.

 

 

• Changes in feeding schedules, blanketing schedules, turnout and other barn management issues will require 24 hour implementation

SAFETY

• No riding without a helmet.  No exceptions
• Horses are not to be left unattended while they are tied or while loose in the paddocks
• Horses must wear halter and lead at all times when not in stall or in turnouts
• Tie horses in designated areas only.  Never tie by the bit or bridle.
• Students under 12 years of age must be supervised by parent, guardian, or instructor
• Park care in designated areas only
• No gum chewing while riding
• Do not mount or dismount in cross ties
• No one may jump without a trainer
• No riding double
• Do not leave buckets, feed, tack, or brush boxes in barn aisles.

 

Arena Etiquette

·        The arenas will be closed to all riding for twelve to twenty-four hours following a heavy rain. 

·        Do not block rail

·        Do not visit with parents or friends on rail

·        Left shoulder to left shoulder rule.

·        Yield right of way to riders jumping

·        Yield rail to riders trotting or cantering.

 

BARN MANTENANCE

• Please pick up after yourself, your child, and your horse
• Do not leave water bottles in or around arena
• Keep all equipment clean and neat.
• Please label all equipment, tack, blankets with a permanent marker or ID tag
• Please keep you tack room clean and neat
• Report management of needed repairs in tack rooms or stalls
• Please keep your horse shiny and clean.  Do not return horses to stalls with sweat marks.
• Shoeing dates, veterinary schedules, and show schedules are listed on board.
• Questions and concerns regarding the barn, training schedules, or barn management should be addressed to the trainers only
• Switching tack rooms, stalls, corrals or pastures without management approval is not permitted