Rules & Agreements

Policies, Procedures & Liability

Our policies are designed to protect the safety, wellbeing, and experience of every horse, rider, parent, and visitor on the property. All participants are required to read and agree to these terms before their first visit or program participation.

Safety & Equipment Policies

1
ASTM/SEI-certified riding helmets are required at all times while mounted. Riders must provide and wear their own properly fitted helmet.
2
Closed-toe riding boots with a heel of at least 1/2 inch are required. Athletic shoes, sandals, open-toe footwear, and backless footwear are not permitted while riding or handling horses.
3
Long pants are required for all mounted riding activities. Shorts, tank tops, and crop tops, are not permitted while mounted.
4
Hair must be secured away from the face while riding or handling horses. Loose scarves, dangling jewelry, and accessories that may catch on tack, fencing, or equipment are prohibited.
5
Dress code is enforced at all times. Clothing that is unsafe or unsuitable for barn activity, including sandals, shorts, tank tops, crop tops, and other attire that is not appropriate for safe riding or horse handling, is not permitted.
6
Riders under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian on the property during lessons unless Hegewisch Stables has approved a different written arrangement in advance.
7
Minors are not permitted in the barn, aisles, tack areas, or around horses without direct adult supervision unless they are actively participating in a supervised lesson or program directed by Hegewisch Stables staff.
8
No running, shouting, horseplay, or sudden movements around horses. All riders, parents, and visitors must follow staff and instructor directions at all times.
9
Mobile phones must be silenced and put away while mounted or while handling horses in barn aisles, grooming areas, cross-ties, or other active horse spaces.
10
Jumping is prohibited unless the rider is under the direct supervision of Hegewisch Stables’ head trainer or has prior written authorization from Hegewisch Stables.

Booking, Scheduling & Cancellation Policies

1
All bookings and cancellations must be done through the Hegewisch Stables Rider Companion App or by direct communication with one of our instructors.
2
Certain programs, including riding school and training are considered a recurring monthly membership and need to be scheduled at set days and times as assigned by Hegewisch Stables. Each program offers its own maximum number of lessons on a per month basis. Unused lessons do not rollover from month to month.
3
A 48-hour cancellation notice is required for all lessons and pony rides. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice are not eligible for rescheduling.
4
No-shows without prior notice are considered to have received services paid for due to the cost of staff preparation and availability for the booking. Additionally, no-shows may result in temporary suspension or complete loss of booking privileges.
5
When Hegewisch Stables cancels a lesson due to instructor unavailability, horse unavailability, facility conditions, or other operational reasons, the rider will be offered a rescheduled lesson based on Hegewisch Stables schedule availability.
6
All lesson fees are due in full upon acceptance of the booking request or by the applicable billing date for recurring memberships. Hegewisch Stables accepts cash, check, and major credit cards.
7
For checks returned for insufficient funds, Hegewisch Stables will charge a service charge as permitted by California law; currently $25 for the first check and $35 for each subsequent check.
8
Recurring membership fees are due by the 5th of each month, after which time they are subject to a late payment fee of $75 or 10% of the payment amount, whichever is greater.
9
NO REFUNDS NO EXCEPTIONS.

Weather, Horsemanship & Attendance Policies

1
Mounted riding lessons may be canceled, modified, or converted to unmounted instruction in cases of unsafe weather or unsafe riding conditions, including but not limited to thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain, extreme heat, high winds, unsafe footing, or wet arena conditions.
2
When conditions make riding unsafe but it remains safe to be at the barn, Hegewisch Stables may conduct horsemanship instruction in place of a mounted lesson.
3
Horsemanship instruction is an essential part of Hegewisch Stables’ educational program and may include horse handling, grooming, tacking, horse care, safety instruction, barn management, or horse-and-rider communication skills.
4
A horsemanship lesson provided in place of a mounted lesson counts as the rider’s scheduled lesson for that day.
5
If a rider chooses not to attend a horsemanship lesson offered in place of a mounted lesson during unsafe riding conditions, the lesson will be considered provided and used.

Horse Care & Facility Rules

1
Feeding any horse or pony, including treats or supplements, without express permission from Hegewisch Stables staff is prohibited.
2
Horses may be handled only by authorized individuals and only as directed by Hegewisch Stables staff. Unauthorized handling may result in immediate removal from the property and suspension of services.
3
All visiting horses and all horses brought for training, consignment, or temporary boarding must provide current Coggins documentation, health certificate documentation when required, and current vaccination records before arrival.
4
Dogs and other pets are not permitted on the property without prior written approval from management.
5
Smoking, vaping, open flames, and other ignition sources are prohibited anywhere on the property.
6
Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only. Driving beyond those areas requires staff authorization.
7
Hegewisch Stables is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to personal property brought onto the premises.
8
In the event of a medical emergency involving a horse on the property, and if the owner or lessee cannot be reached in time, Hegewisch Stables may obtain veterinary evaluation or emergency treatment that it reasonably believes is necessary for the horse’s immediate welfare. The horse owner or responsible party remains financially responsible for veterinary and related costs.
9
If Hegewisch Stables acts as agent in the sale or lease of a horse, a 12-15% commission is charged.

Program Changes, Withdrawal & Right to Refuse Service

1
A minimum of 30 days’ written notice is required to withdraw from boarding, full training, riding school enrollment, or any other recurring reserved program spot.
2
Charges continue through the 30-day notice period unless Hegewisch Stables agrees otherwise in writing.
3
Early withdrawal from a boarding, training, or recurring program before the end of the applicable notice period may result in forfeiture of prepaid amounts, continued charges during the notice period, or other charges expressly stated in the rider’s signed service agreement.
4
Hegewisch Stables reserves the right to suspend, refuse, or discontinue services for lawful, nondiscriminatory, safety-based, policy-based, horse-welfare-based, or operational reasons, including unsafe behavior, disregard of barn rules, abuse or mistreatment of horses, damage to property, repeated payment issues, or creating a disruptive or hostile environment.

Photography, Medical Authorization & General Terms

1
Photography and video taken during lessons, programs, clinics, camps, and events may be used by Hegewisch Stables for educational, promotional, and marketing purposes unless a written opt-out request is submitted and acknowledged by Hegewisch Stables in advance.
2
By participating in lessons or programs, the rider or the rider’s parent or guardian authorizes Hegewisch Stables to seek emergency medical care for the rider if emergency circumstances exist and a parent, guardian, or emergency contact cannot be reached immediately. The rider or parent or guardian remains financially responsible for medical, ambulance, and related expenses.
3
All disputes arising from services provided by Hegewisch Stables will be governed by the laws of the State of California.

Terms, Conditions & Liability Waiver

1
ASSUMPTION OF RISK: Participation in horseback riding, horse handling, barn activities, and equine programs involves inherent risks, including the risk of serious injury, permanent disability, property damage, or death. Horses are powerful animals and may behave unpredictably despite training, handling, or past performance.
2
Inherent equine risks may include, without limitation, falling; being kicked, bitten, stepped on, pinned, or struck by a horse; equipment or tack malfunction; collisions with horses, riders, fences, rails, or other objects; surface and footing conditions; and the acts, omissions, or decisions of participants or spectators.
3
All riders, participants, and the parents or legal guardians of minor participants must read, understand, and sign Hegewisch Stables’ written Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Agreement before the participant’s first lesson, ride, visit involving horse contact, or program participation.
4
To the fullest extent permitted by California law, participants voluntarily assume the inherent risks of equine and barn activities and agree to release, waive, and discharge claims for ordinary negligence against Hegewisch Stables and its owners, officers, employees, staff, trainers, independent contractors, volunteers, agents, and representatives arising from participation in those activities.
5
Nothing in these policies or in any release is intended to waive or limit liability to the extent such waiver is prohibited by California law, including liability for fraud, willful injury, violation of law, or gross negligence.
6
Participants represent that they are physically and mentally able to safely participate in the activities for which they enroll, or that their parent or legal guardian has disclosed any relevant limitations in advance and obtained written approval from Hegewisch Stables where required.
7
Parents and guardians are responsible for the conduct, supervision, and compliance of minors and guests they bring onto the property.
8
Any person who enters the property or participates in activities does so subject to all posted rules, signed agreements, staff directions, and safety requirements of Hegewisch Stables.

Questions About Our Policies?

If you have questions about our rules, enrollment requirements, scheduling policies, or what applies to your rider before booking, contact us directly and we'll help clarify the next step.

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