Virtual Lesson Tonight @ 5:00pm!

Hey Raynham Riders,

I hope can attend our virtual lesson tonight at 5:00pm!  We've been busy filming all week and are excited to test out our new format!

 https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rd-6upzouH9VexPA_hTX2-yCSvpZ_F8at

Nikki

YORK REGION IN GREY ZONE - FACILITY CLOSED

Hey Raynham Riders,

As I’m sure you’ve heard, York Region is moving into the grey zone as of tomorrow. Unfortunately, this means that our facility is shut down, other than for our boarders, until January 11th.

Looking on the bright side, at least the 28-day lockdown falls over the planned two-week closure for the winter break. Fortunately, this means we’re only missing one week of classes this session, so we will be offering a virtual stable management lesson in lieu of the last class. We will run a LIVE session via Zoom on Friday, Dec 18th @ 5:00pm with stable management topics presented by our coaching team, Ask the Coach (anything you’ve been wanting to know?), or Nikki and Lindsay could do some riding demos if you’re interested! Comment on the Topics facebook post by Tuesday with what you’d like to see! If you are interested in participating in lieu of your final lesson this session, you can register here. If you can’t attend live, we’ll record the session for later viewing too! For the January session, we will just adjust the session fee based on when we are permitted to resume classes. I am still working on the schedule for January and will have it posted as soon as possible.

Please let us know if you have any questions! Thank you for your continued support during these challenging times.

Nikki & the Raynham Team

Blanketing Tips

 Hey Raynham Riders,

Since it appears winter has arrived and is here to stay, most of our horses have winter blankets on. Here are some important things to know:

• If your horse is very sweaty, they need to be cooled out by hand walking them with a cooler on before their blanket is put on. Coolers are available in the tack up area.
• Blankets are sized and straps are adjusted specifically for each horse. Please ensure you are putting the correct blanket on by checking the name tag on the front of the blanket. If you are unsure, please ask a staff member.
• It is very important that blankets are put on/taken off correctly, for both the safety of the horses and riders and to prevent damage to the blankets. Below are the steps.

As always, if you are ever unsure, please ask one of our friendly staff! Thank you for your help keeping our horses safe, warm, and blankets in good repair,

Your Raynham Team


HOW TO REMOVE A BLANKET:

1. Unclip leg straps at the back of the blanket
2. Undo the belly straps
3. Undo the chest clips/buckles
4. Fold the back 1/3 of the blanket forward to ensure the leg straps are not tangled around their hind legs
5. Fold the front 1/3 forward and then slide the blanket off the horse towards you. Please hang up neatly while you are riding (on the horses' stall door, on the blanket rack in the big barn, or on the grooming stall partition, once the tack up area is complete).

HOW TO PUT ON A BLANKET:

1. Ensure you have the front of the blanket orientated toward the front of the horse and slowly drape the blanket of the horses' back.
2. Do up the chest buckets, ensuring you put the strap back through the buckle (not just the pin) so it is secure. If the blanket has chest clips, please attach them with the opening of the clip towards the horse's chest, so they do not get caught on anything.
3. Do up the belly straps (they cross), and ensure they are laying flat, not twisted
4. Attach the leg straps by passing the strap around the hind leg and attaching at the back of the blanket on the same side. When doing up the second strap, also loop it through the first strap to make the blanket more secure.
5. If any of the straps are missing or the blanket is damaged, please check with staff - it may not be safe for the horse to wear.

Here are some photos:


Chest buckles need to be done up correctly - please 

put the strap through the buckle AND the keeper.

Snaps should be clipped with the opening towards the horse.

Belly straps should be done up diagonally, and 

ensure that they are not twisted.

Tuesday, December 1st - LESSONS CANCELLED

 Hey Raynham Riders,

While the main roads are fine right now, the snow is expected to continue throughout the evening, so we have decided to cancel classes to ensure everyone stays safe.

During the winter session, we build an inclement weather cancellation into the session but as we are still in the fall session, we ask that riders try to book a make-up class.  If you are unable to fit in a time by the end of the session, we will deduct the missed class from your next session's fees.  Please use the booking code SNOWDAY in the online scheduler to rebook.

There are a few time slots open tomorrow as well as this weekend!  Please let me know if you need a hand rebooking.

Nikki

Tuesday, December 1st - Keeping an Eye on the Weather!

Hey Raynham Riders!

School buses were not canceled in York Region today, which is one of the things we use to determine if we should cancel classes.  Currently, the road conditions are poor, so I have canceled my morning daytime lessons.  We will keep an eye on the weather and the roads and post by 1pm if classes will be running this evening.

If you have to go out this morning, be careful and stay safe out there!

Nikki

Grooming Kits

 Hey Everyone!

In case you didn't read through the email blast we sent out yesterday, we are asking that all riders have their own grooming kits. We are currently disinfecting brushes but they are starting to freeze, and in an attempt to be extra cautious, we feel it would be safest for all participants to have their own equipment. I have received a few emails asking what needs to be in a grooming kit. Here is a good article explaining the various types of brushes.

All brush kits MUST have:

• a hoof pick (to clean out the horses' hooves)
• a curry comb (to loosen dirt and shedding hair)
• a hard/dandy brush (to sweep away loosened dirt & hair)

It is also nice to have:

• a comb or brush for the horses' mane (tails should NOT be combed without detangler)
• a soft/body brush (to remove remaining dust and polish the coat)

We will have the curry comb/hard brush combo and a hoof pick available for sale for $10.00, please let us know if you would like to order a set.

If you would like to pick out your own brushes, the

Nobleton Feedmill

is only 5 minutes from the barn and they have a good selection! They are located at 12 Old King Rd, Nobleton, ON L0G 1N0.

You can also order or pick up from local tack shops, including www.greenhawk.com, www.bakerssaddlery.com, www.bahrsaddlery.com, https://www.pleasantridge.ca, www.horseandhound.ca

Covid-19 Restrictions Update

Hey Raynham Riders,

As I am sure everyone has heard, as of tomorrow, York Region will be in the Red Zone for Covid-19 restrictions. Thankfully, we were very careful when scheduling our fall classes so we do not have to cancel any classes. We will be strictly enforcing the rules to comply with public health guidelines, details were sent out via our latest email blast. If you do not receive our emails blast, you can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/ce2AP-/

Below are the guidelines that affect recreational sports facilities and how we will be adhering to them:

• All sports and recreational programs in other facilities (arenas and multiplexes) limited to 10 people per room indoors and 25 outdoors
• Riders are only permitted to enter the tack-up area 30 min prior to the start of their lesson and must leave 30 min after their lesson time to ensure we do not have too many people in the tack up area at once.
• Riders finishing their lesson are asked to wait in the arena until the next lesson enters, again to prevent crowding in the tack up area
• As it has started to get too dark in the evenings to use the outdoor grooming stalls, we will be using cross ties in the drive shed to keep riders spread out.
• Also, just a reminder that as always, only boarders and staff are permitted in the big barn. Please do not enter, even to just pass through.
• Name and contact information must be collected from all patrons and attendance for team sports is required; records must be maintained for at least one month AND
• Require appointments for entry; one reservation for teams
• All lessons are by appointment only, so we are already following these guidelines.
• No spectators are permitted, but each person under the age of 18 years who is participating in activities in the facility may be accompanied by one parent or guardian
• This was already a rule for indoor lessons and will be strictly enforced. Parents/guardians are not permitted in the tack up area but can watch lessons from the bleachers in the big area or seating area for the small arena, spread apart 3m and must wear masks.
• Screening of patrons, including spectators, is required (e.g. questionnaire)
• All riders, staff, and volunteers are required to submit this self-screening form before each visit to the barn. It will be emailed and sent via text 24 hours before your appointment.
• Face coverings are required, except when exercising
• This was already a rule, thank you to everyone for your continued compliance.

In addition, all riders MUST now have their own grooming tools (please label with rider name). We will continue to provide brushes for the next two weeks to give riders times to order/purchase their own. We will also have the combo curry comb/hard brushes & hoof picks available for purchase at the barn.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  As always, we are constantly working to make Raynham the BEST place to ride!

Nikki & the Raynham Team!

Session One Payment Past Due & Session Two Lesson Scheduling!

Hey Raynham Riders, 

Time is flying by; we are also already more than halfway through the fall lesson session! If you paid in installments, the second payment was due October 26th. If you have not yet sent payment, e-transfer is our preferred method or you can bring a cheque to your next lesson.  Please let us know if you need your invoice resent.  Thank you!

SESSION TWO LESSON SCHEDULING

All riders are assumed to be continuing classes throughout the school year in their current time slot unless you let us know you need to make a change.   The winter session is 10 weeks long, January 2nd – Friday, March 12th but we only bill for 9 weeks in case of an inclement weather cancellation (lessons will be canceled in the event of freezing rain, heavy snow, or extreme cold - below - 12c before the wind chill).  For full details, see our Riding School Policies.
 
To more easily track everyone’s responses, we are asking EVERYONE to please submit the Session Two Lesson Form to either confirm you can continue with your current time or to let us know if you need to change times or discontinue classes.  If you are currently on the WAITING LIST, please also submit this form to confirm you are still interested in classes.  Please submit by Monday, Nov 30th.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Nikki

Winter Riding Tips!

Hey Raynham Riders,

We have been very spoiled this month so far with summer-like temperatures and outdoor riding!  It looks like we are going to return to more seasonal temps this week so here are my tips for dressing for cold-weather riding.  We are also very excited that our tack up area renovation is now complete and is HEATED to keep riders warm while tacking/untacking this winter :)

• Dress in layers and make sure your base layers are moisture-wicking. Thermal long underwear designed for skiing is ideal! Once you are riding you will warm up quickly, so be sure your top layers have zippers so they can easily be removed when mounted.
• Head, hands, and feet lose body heat quickly. Wear winter boots with ski socks, warm gloves or mittens, and a hat when tacking up. Snow pants or sweatpants over your breeches are a good idea for chilly days. You can remove the extra layers and switch to riding boots and gloves right before you get on.
• When riding, a headband can fit under a helmet or a cozy helmet cover is also a great option. 
• Winter riding boots (some options include: Greenhawk or Pleasant Ridge) and gloves are awesome for staying comfortable during the winter months.  
• If you can’t purchase riding-specific gear, your regular winter boots may be fine. They need to have a ½” – 1 ½“ heel, not too chunky treads and the foot needs to be narrow enough to fit into the stirrup. Ask your instructor to check if you are unsure. 
• For those really cold days, hot packs (www.littlehottieswarmers.com, sold at Costco, Marks Work Warehouse, Canadian Tire, and many other places!) in gloves and boots are a great way to stay warm

Horseback riding is a year-round sport, but we do live in Canada so please remember to dress appropriately so you can enjoy riding throughout the winter! 

See you in the barn!

Nikki  

Riding School Update

Below is our latest email blast!  If you do not receive our email blasts, you can subscribe here.

Hey Raynham Riders!

We are just over a month into the fall session and everyone is getting into a good grove!  Below are a few updates and reminders as we start to head into cooler weather.

As always, we are constantly working to make Raynham the BEST place to ride!  If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let us know!

Nikki & the Raynham Team

INDOOR LESSON VIEWING As the weather gets cooler and the days shorter, lessons are starting to run indoors more frequently.  As long as restrictions do not increase, we can permit ONE spectator for minors (or those that need a drive) on the bleachers of the big arena or in the loft for the small arena.  Spectators MUST wear a mask and please ensure you stay spread apart.  Spectators are still not permitted in the tack up area, barns or tack rooms.  Thank you for your cooperation.

HALLOWEEN AT THE BARN! October 17th - 31st We have made the difficult decision to cancel our Halloween Schooling show but we don't want our riders to miss out on all the fun!  Instead of one day, we're going to have TWO WEEKS of Halloween celebrations! Riders are encouraged to wear their costume to the barn for our always-impressive Halloween costume contest!  We will post pics of riders (and horses) in their costumes on our Facebook & Instagram pages and have a vote for the winner!  We will play games in lessons for prizes and candy!   There are no lessons on Sat. Oct 31st.  This date was not included in the session so no make-ups required.

Raynham Rider Responsibilities Riders need at least 30 min before AND after their lesson to properly care for their horse. Good horsemanship is a crucial part of learning to ride. There is tack up help to assist beginner riders. Thoroughly groom your horse before tacking up, to check for injury and to prevent rubs Pick hooves before and after you ride (checking for rocks, thrush, etc.) Sweep your grooming stall before & after you ride to leave it clean for the next rider. Please store personal items in the lockers when riding to prevent items from getting lost & keep the tack-up area tidy. Properly cool out and groom/bathe horse after your lesson. Thoroughly clean your horses' tack and put it away properly after every ride. Please leave all areas tidy. If you move/use something, put it back where you found it.  POOP & SCOOP – if your horse poops anywhere on the property (aisle, driveway, paths, grooming stall, riding ring outside of a lesson, etc.) you must clean it up. Check with tack up help to see if the horse requires any first aid, feed or medication In the winter, ensure you put the horses’ blanket on correctly, to prevent damage to the blanket and injury to the horse. Be polite and respectful to fellow riders, staff, and volunteers. Always prioritize the horses’ health and welfare before personal goals and aspirations Follow all of the barn rules, below.

Raynham Stables Barn Rules All riders must wear a correctly fitted ASTM approved helmet and boots with a small heel. All riders must sign a release waiver before riding. Only riders are allowed in the barns and tack-up area.  If the rider is under 8 years old, a parent may stay with them (no siblings allowed).  Spectators may watch from the bleachers or wait at the picnic tables outside. Only riders are permitted in the paddocks.  All riders under the age of 12 MUST wear a helmet and be accompanied by a staff member when entering a paddock.   Only boarders and staff are permitted in the boarder (big) barn. No open toe shoes (sandals, crocs, canvas shoes, etc.) permitted in the barns or near horses. No running or screaming allowed on the property.  Horses are prey animals and can be frightened by loud noises or sudden movement. Do not feed anything to the horses without permission from staff. Friendly dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash and kept away from the horses. The yard around the house is private property.  Please stay off this area. Please drive SLOWLY on the driveway as there are many children and animals on the property.  When arriving, if there is someone already on the hill approaching the road, please WAIT at the top of the driveway as there is not enough room to pass on the hill. Absolutely NO SMOKING allowed on the property.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey Raynham Riders!

Just a reminder that we are CLOSED this Sunday, October 11th for Thanksgiving. This date was NOT included in your session fees so no make-up lesson is required. Classes will run as usual on Saturday and Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Nikki

Updated Fall Lesson Schedule

Hey Raynham Riders!

The updated fall schedule has been sent out via email blast. If you do not receive our email blasts, please subscribe here. We did have to make quite a few modifications to the schedule, and there are sadly still more riders on the waiting list than I would like. I truly wish we could fit everyone in. here are still a few potential openings, I'm just waiting to hear back from some riders and then I will reach out to those on the waiting list.

Please also be sure to take the time to read through the important info, including our riding school policies and Covid-19 protocols.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at the barn next week!

Nikki & the Raynham Team

https://mailchi.mp/c3c06e705a1d/updated-lesson-schedule

TENTATIVE Fall Lesson Schedule

Hey Raynham Riders,

The fall lesson schedule has been sent out by email blast!  If you do not receive our email blasts, you can view the details here.  

We look forward to seeing everyone back in the barn!

Nikki & the Raynham Team

PLEASE READ - Fall Lesson Scheduling Update

 Hey Raynham Riders,

 

Just a reminder that the Fall Lesson Availability forms were due yesterday!  Also, to clarify, the fall lesson session begins on Tuesday, Sept 8^th, there was a typo on the website.  I have just started to go through the registration forms and I am concerned the form was unclear.  We are asking students to provide ALL of their availability.  If you have a preferred time, please make note of it in the comments box at the bottom of the form.  Creating a schedule from scratch based on availability is extremely difficult, but as long as riders provide enough availability, we can create a schedule that has cohesive groups for the riders and balanced workloads for the horses.  

 

Unless riders give us more availability, it looks like we will most likely have a waiting list this fall, especially for peak weeknight and weekend lesson times.  If you have already submitted your availability form, you are welcome to resubmit with more availability to help ensure we can fit you in. 

 

 NOTES:

-       High demand lessons times, 4- 8pm on weeknights and 9:30am – 2:30pm on weekends, will primarily be group lessons (unless you are in the competition program).

-       Priority for scheduling goes to pre-existing riding school students and those riding year-round.

-       We cannot guarantee instructor requests.  If you have a strong preference, please be sure to give plenty of availability.

-       We have had quite a bit of interest in continuing with a program similar to Summer Saddle Up during the school year.   This program will be suitable for new riders up to strong beginner riders.  If you are interested, the details are below.

 

I will attempt to have a tentative schedule posted on the blog by early next week so that we have a few days to make revisions if needed.

 

Please let me know if you have any other questions,

 

Nikki

 

NEW Rider School Curriculum

We have used report cards for our summer camp for many years and have wanted to include them in our regular lesson program but realized they were insufficient in their current form. 

 

We are excited to announce that we will be implementing a new riding school curriculum that will enable riders to better gauge their progress and create targeted goals for their riding.  We have taken the outline from the Equestrian Canada rider levels, and have broken them down further into additional levels to allow riders to create more attainable goals.  We will also be offering EC rider level testing periodically throughout the year for any riders that are interested.

 

Saddle Up Program

·      The program will run 1x/week for the full session

·      Riders will be here for 2 hours total and participate in a horsemanship lesson and a group riding lesson, in addition to supervised time tacking up and untacking before and after the riding lesson.

·      We will have additional staff/volunteers assisting to safely accommodate beginners in a group lesson.

·      This program is for non-riders (no formal experience), up to a strong beginner (walk/trot, up to 20 lessons previously)

·      All of our lessons are progressive, with the lesson plans tailored to the level of each rider.  Should riders choose to continue year-round, the class can continue as a regular group lesson for the remainder of the school year.

·      Depending on interest and rider availability, we will likely run this program on Saturday & Sunday afternoons and one or two evenings during the week.

·      The cost will be $65.00 per class, $975.00 for weekdays (15 classes), $910 for weekends (14 classes)

2020/2021 Lesson Registration

Hey Raynham Riders!

I apologize for the delay in getting the 2020/2021 lesson registration posted, it's been a challenging year! The 2020/2021 lesson registration form is now available, the link is below. Please remember that the form gathers rider availability, and using this information we have to create a schedule that works for all our riders, horses, and instructors. Plus, we have the added complication this year of scheduling to ensure we can maintain physical distancing once the weather forces us indoors, so please try to provide as many options as possible!

Please submit the form, below, by Wednesday, August 26th. We will have a schedule posted by Wednesday, September 2nd.

Please let us know if you have any questions! We look forward to seeing you all back at the barn!

Nikki, Lindsay & Caryn

www.raynhamstables.com/ridinglesson.html

It's HOT - Plan for today!

Hey Raynham Riders!

It's VERY hot out again today, so we are going to modify lessons to ensure our riders and horses do not over-heat.  Riders have the option of:

1. A shortened lesson with light work (focusing on exercises in the walk) 
2. Go on a hack around the property and through the water jump
3. Unmounted stable management lesson - what would you like to learn?  How to put together a bridle, how to wrap, how to take temperature, pulse, respiration? 

We can also do a combo - shortened lesson with a hack, shortened lesson and then a stable management lesson, or a hack and stable management lesson.  We have the new misting fans running to help keep us cool too!

Nikki

Reminder - No Lessons This Week!

Hey Raynham Riders,

Just a reminder that we are closed this week to give our schoolies a week off before the busy summer months.  

If you have not yet registered for summer lessons, please do so ASAP as spots are filling fast - http://www.raynhamstables.com/summer-lesson-scheduling.html.  Lessons resume on Monday, July 6th. 

See you next week!

Nikki

NORTH COUNTRY FUNDRAISER

Hello Raynham Riders! I'm sure that everyone is excited to be back at the barn...well more good news, the North Country Meats fundraiser is back!

While it may seem that all is returning to normal, there still is more to go, and some catching up left. With that being said all the funds raised will go towards Raynham's schoolies! Yes that right, you can fill your freezers with great products and help your favorite horses :)

The fundraiser will start today and end July 4 (all orders and payments MUST be in by the 4th). The pick-up date will be Thursday, July 9 at 7:30pm (proper covid protocol to be given closer to pick-up date).

Please email me: robin.johnson@rogers.com for a copy of the product guide and sellers forms.  
All orders emailed to me please and all payments e-transfer to Raynham Stables: info@raynhamstables.com

https://www.northcountrymeatandseafood.com

Summer Lesson Scheduling & Saddle Up Program

Hey Raynham Riders,

 

I apologize for the delay in getting the online scheduler open for summer bookings, all the changes with COVID-19 this year have been very challenging!  As in previous years, all summer lessons are scheduled as pay-as-you-go lessons through our online scheduler to accommodate clients' busy summer schedules.  Registration for our September 2020 -June 2021 lesson program will open on August 1st.

Unfortunately, we did have to cancel camp this summer but we are excited about our alternate program, "Summer Saddle Up"!  There are still spaces available, and this program is open to new and current students, from non-rider up to strong advanced beginner (canter in a group, courses up to 2’).  If there is sufficient interest, we are also able to offer a rider level prep course on Tuesdays & Thursdays in conjunction with our Summer Saddle Up program for Novice level riders.  If you are interested, please send us an email!  If you are an Intermediate or Advanced rider, you are still welcome to work toward your rider levels.  We will be doing 2-hour seminars over the summer (dates TBA) to work on the stable management material and you will work on the riding requirements in your regular lessons.  Dates for testing will be scheduled at the end of the summer.

 

Here is the link to all our summer programs, please read the instruction CAREFULLY before booking. All riders need to review our Covid-19 protocols before coming to the barn and submit our new electronic rider contact and waiver form.   If you have questions, our office hours are Mondays & Friday 1 – 3pm and Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 am – 11 am.  Due to a very high volume of inquiries, please allow 3 business days for replies to emails.

 

We look forward to seeing everyone (from a safe distance) at the barn this summer!

 

Nikki & The Raynham Team

Summer Camp Update

Hey Raynham Riders,

We received the provincial guidelines for day camps last week, and unfortunately due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to offer our regular summer camp program this year. The restrictions outlined by the province specifically list "no activities with animals", but even if that were not the case, the many restrictions would drastically limit what activities and program options we would be able to run and take away the FUN of camp. Fortunately, regular riding lessons are permitted and we still want our campers to be able to get out to the barn and connect with their favourite horses this summer. We are excited to be able to offer an alternate program that will achieve this while still ensuring the safety of our campers and staff.

Our "Summer Saddle Up" program will still run in four, two-week blocks. Riders will attend run two days a week (either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs, based on the rider level). The program will run from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm and will include a riding lesson and a horsemanship lesson within the 2 1/2 hour time slot. We will offer various topics based on the rider's level, such as parts of the horse and tack, bandaging, basic first aid, etc. and we will be limiting the number of riders per group to follow provincial regulations.

We will be opening time slots first to those that had already registered for camp, and then will open the remaining time slot to anyone that is interested! Check back on Monday, June 15th for registration.

As always, we continue to offer lessons as well throughout the summer. Details for booking will be available shortly.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Nikki

Please Read - Covid 19 Policies

Hey Raynham Riders!

It was a great first week back to lessons and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces back at the barn. There has been some confusion regarding our Covid-19 procedures. We ask that all riders please review the policies below before coming to the barn.  All riders must have a mask in case they need to tack up indoors or staff needs to get closer than 2m to assist you.

We are just finalizing the details for our summer programs now, details will be sent out shortly!

Nikki

Raynham Stables COVID-19 Policies:

The safety of our clients and staff members remains our number one priority.  Due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Raynham Stables is taking extra precautions, including a self-declaration of health and enhanced sanitation/disinfection procedures in accordance with Equestrian Canada and the Province of Ontario’s recommendations.

Do NOT come to the barn if you or anyone in your household:

• Has any symptoms of Covid-19 (Fever, new or worsening cough, new or worsening shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose or headache)
• Has been out of the country in the past 14 days
• Has been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past 21 days or has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19

​

Additional Standards to Ensure the Safety of our Riders:

• All visits to the barn are by appointment only until further notice. 
• Staff will be sanitizing all commonly touched indoor surfaces and shared equipment between riders.
• ​We will be reducing lesson volume and staggering classes to ensure physical distancing.
• We are limiting the number of people to 5 per building to ensure physical distancing (max of 2 people in tack rooms)
• We will use outdoor facilities, weather permitting.
• Coaches/staff will ensure they maintain physical distance from riders.

Covid-19 Procedures:

• Please do not bring any guests/spectators to lessons. Riders under the age of 18 may have a parent stay to assist them or watch if lesson if tacking up/riding outdoors, but they are not permitted in the buildings
• Please arrive 30 min before your lesson, enter through the tack up area and immediately wash your hands and sign in.  Riders must be done untacking and out of the buildings or wash stalls no more than 30 min after their lesson to make space for the next student.
• If weather permits, please use the outdoor wash stalls for tacking up/untacking.  If the weather is poor, you will be assigned a grooming stall in the tack up area to use. We will only use each grooming stall once, and then disinfect before they are used again.
• If you have your own lead rope and grooming supplies, please use them.  If you use the barns equipment, please place brushes/lead ropes/etc. in the labeled disinfectant after use.
• Masks must be worn when tacking-up indoors or if staff needs to get within 2m to assist you, but should be removed once mounted (have a pocket!)
• Please be sure to clean all tack thoroughly with soap and water after each use.
• Riders are reminded to wash/sanitize hands frequently while on the property, avoid touching their face, and cough/sneeze into their sleeve.
• Please try to avoid using the washroom. If you need to use it, please spray anything you've touched with the bottle of disinfectant.

June 1st - June 28th Lesson Schedule (Updated June 4th)

Hey Raynham Riders!

Here is the tentative schedule for June - thank you for your patience!  This schedule will start Monday, June 1st, and run for four weeks, until Sunday, June 28th (four weeks of classes).   If you are missing from the schedule, or you at booked for a time that isn't possible, please email me ASAP and I will do my best to adjust.  We will be sending out updated invoices shortly.

We will schedule summer classes (July & August) separately, as we have done in previous years.   We still have not received any clarification from the provincial government, York Region Public Health, or King Township bylaw regarding whether or not day camps will be permitted and under what restrictions.   If we are unable to run camps this summer, we will have more space for lessons than in previous years and will be looking to offer an alternate program for our campers.  We will make a decision about camp by next week and will send out an email with our plan for lessons and summer programs.

Please read our Covid-19 policies, below, before coming to the barn.  Please let us know if you have any questions!

We look forward to seeing you back in the saddle!
Nikki

Raynham Stables COVID-19 Policies:

The safety of our clients and staff members remains our number one priority.  Due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Raynham Stables is taking extra precautions, including a self-declaration of health and enhanced sanitation/disinfection procedures in accordance with Equestrian Canada and the Province of Ontario’s recommendations.

Do NOT come to the barn if you or anyone in your household:

• Has any symptoms of Covid-19 (Fever, new or worsening cough, new or worsening shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose or headache)
• Has been out of the country in the past 14 days
• Has been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past 21 days or has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19

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Additional Standards to Ensure the Safety of our Riders:

• All visits to the barn are by appointment only until further notice. 
• Staff will be sanitizing all commonly touched indoor surfaces and shared equipment between riders.
• ​We will be reducing lesson volume and staggering classes to ensure physical distancing.
• We are limiting the number of people to 5 per building to ensure physical distancing (max of 2 people in tack rooms)
• We will use outdoor facilities, weather permitting.
• Coaches/staff will ensure they maintain physical distance from riders.

Covid-19 Procedures:

• Please do not bring any guests/spectators to lessons. Riders under the age of 18 may have a parent stay to assist them or watch if lesson if tacking up/riding outdoors, but they are not permitted in the buildings
• Please arrive 30 min before your lesson, enter through the tack up area and immediately wash your hands and sign in.  Riders must be done untacking and out of the buildings or wash stalls no more than 30 min after their lesson to make space for the next student.
• If weather permits, please use the outdoor wash stalls for tacking up/untacking.  If the weather is poor, you will be assigned a grooming stall in the tack up area to use. We will only use each grooming stall once, and then disinfect before they are used again.
• If you have your own lead rope and grooming supplies, please use them.  If you use the barns equipment, please place brushes/lead ropes/etc. in the labeled disinfectant after use.
• Masks must be worn when indoors or if staff needs to get within 2m to assist you, but should be removed once mounted (have a pocket!)
• Please be sure to clean all tack thoroughly with soap and water after each use.
• Riders are reminded to wash/sanitize hands frequently while on the property, avoid touching their face, and cough/sneeze into their sleeve.
• Please try to avoid using the washroom. If you need to use it, please spray anything you've touched with the bottle of disinfectant.

June 1st - June 28th Schedule

I hope the times work for everyone!  It was very tricky to spread out the groups and stagger start times of lessons to ensure we do not have too many riders on the property at once.