Friday, October 8, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving, Riding School Curriculum Update & More!

    

Hey Raynham Riders,

 

We are just over a month into our fall session and it’s been great to see everyone back at the barn! Just a reminder that we are closed this Sunday, October 10th for Thanksgiving.  As this date was not included in the session, no make-up lessons are required.  We ARE running classes on Monday.  


This time of year, we like to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for.  Despite it being a very challenging past 19 months, we’re still here, we have a fantastic team of staff, have had a fantastic, successful competition season, and a busy riding school with wonderful students.  We’re so happy to have you riding here at Raynham and hope you have been LOVING your lessons so far this fall.   We are constantly working to improve our services and facilities. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let us know!

 

As usual, there’s quite a bit of info in this email blast, please take a few minutes to review!

 

Nikki, Lindsay, Caryn & the Raynham Team

 

IN THIS EMAIL:

1. Rider Levels Unveiled!

2. IMPORTANT - Rain Rot 

3. Bathroom Out of Order

4. Hallowing Schooling Show Update

5. Show Season 2022!


Rider Levels Unveiled!

We are very excited to finally unveil our new rider level program!  We are confident this will help our riders create goals for their riding, and better gauge their progress.  We are using software that allows instructors to check off skills as riders complete them which can be viewed by all staff.  This will help instructors when filling in or when riders switch instructors as they will have a detailed history of each rider.  You can view the rider skills checklists HERE.  We are still working to get the horsemanship (unmounted) skills checklists entered, stay tuned!  We are also creating a printable booklet that you can bring to your lessons so you can track your progress as well! to be sent out shortly.  To celebrate riders' progress, we have certificates to present when they complete a level!  We look forward to hearing your feedback on the new program.

 

IMPORTANT - Rain Rot :( 

Unfortunately, with the wet weather and thicker coats, comes rain rot.  We have a few school horses that are infected currently, and it’s highly contagious between horses so we ask that all students use the riding school brushes (disinfecting when finished) and the horses’ assigned saddle pad to help stop the spread.  If you are interested in further details, here’s a helpful article:  https://vetericyn.com/blog/how-to-treat-rain-rot-on-horses-a-helpful-guide/

 

Bathroom Out of Order

Unfortunately, the barn septic system is out of order.  While we wait for it to be repaired, there is a porta-potty located beside the office trailer in the parking lot.  Thank you for your understanding.

 

No Halloween Schooling Show – Halloween Week Instead!

Unfortunately, we are not going to run the Halloween Schooling Show again this year.  Between the issues we are having with the septic, Lindsay being away in Virginia for a competition, and unclear regulations surrounding vaccine passports, it just feels a bit too complicated.   As that date was not included in the session fees, we will be closed that day instead (no lessons).

 

We are going to have Halloween Week, Oct 23th - Oct 31st instead!  We’ll play Halloween-themed games, jump pumpkins, and we’ll have loot bags for anyone that wears a costume to their lesson!  We can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes!

 

Show Season 2022 Info Session – Nov 7th @ 4:00pm

There has been a lot of interest in competing next year! Since there is a TON of information to relay to new show riders, we are going to do a zoom meeting where we cover the basics so that you can make an informed decision if competing in 2022 is right for you! Mark your calendar - Sunday, November 7th at 4:00 pm.   If you can’t make the meeting, let us know.  We will record the meeting and send you the link.  This is just for potential new show riders, those that have competed before do not need to attend.  Here is the meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81293485266?pwd=ZnZDOU4vRllXWmlNNFVVay9YUDZLdz09


Wednesday, September 1, 2021

TENTATIVE 2021/2022 Lesson Schedule

Hey Raynham Riders,

Thank you for your patience in waiting for the schedule to be posted. The tentative schedule was sent out via email yesterday afternoon to those that filled out the form for returning students, if you did not receive it please let us know. If you were on the waiting list, unfortunately, we were not able to accommodate any new students as we are completely full with returning riders, and sadly were not even able to fit in all of those. If you are a returning rider and did not get a spot, if someone is unable to take their offered time, you are top of the list to be offered those times.

We look forward to lessons resuming next week! The fall session begins on Tuesday, September 7th. Have a safe and fun long weekend everyone!

Nikki, Lindsay, Caryn & the Raynham Team

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

2021/2022 Lesson Registration!

Hey Raynham Riders!


It's hard to believe, but September is just around the corner! If you are a current student or rode with us during the past school year, you should have received an email with the password for the form to register for the upcoming school year. If you did not, please let us know! https://www.raynhamstables.com/20212022-lesson-registration.html

If you are not currently riding with us, and have not yet filled out our waiting list form, here is the link: https://forms.gle/ZqojeZSug1hyZefo7. Once we have scheduled in our current clients, we will be in touch to let you know what spaces are still available.

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

Nikki

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

SUMMER REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Hey Raynham Riders,

I'm so glad everyone is excited about summer lessons and the Summer Saddle Up program. We're working on the schedule and getting registration set up as fast as possible. Please do not call or email to find out when it will be up, it will be up as soon as I can get it done :) It doesn't look like I'm going to finish it today before I start teaching and I don't have any time in the office tomorrow so it will likely not be until Friday at the earliest at this point.

Thank you for your patience,

Nikki

Friday, May 21, 2021

Lessons resume Monday, May 24th!

Hey Raynham Riders!

Exciting news - with the update to the stay-at-home order, lessons are permitted to resume!  We need the weekend to get organized so classes will start again on Monday.  We will continue with the Spring schedule, so your lesson time will be the same as it was prior to the lockdown.

As for billing - all days of the week received 4 classes prior to the lockdown.  We now have 5 weeks remaining in the spring session, Monday, May 24th - Sunday, June 27th, for 9 classes total for all days of the week.  We will start adjusting invoices now with the correct balance owing.  If you had paid the full amount for the spring session, I will be in touch directly to discuss options.

PLEASE NOTE!  We were completely full prior to the lockdown, so there will not be space for any new students until July at the earliest.

We are going to need a few days to get the lesson restart sorted, and then we will send out details regarding booking summer lessons and our Summer Saddle Up program.

We can't wait to see everyone back at the barn!  Enjoy your long weekend everyone!

Nikki & the Raynham Team

Monday, April 26, 2021

RAYNHAM STABLES SPRING FUNDRAISER!

This year, the Show Team is hoping to raise money to purchase lights for the outdoor rings. This addition will benefit not only Show Team riders, but all Raynham students, as we will all be able to enjoy riding outdoors longer on warm summer nights and through the fall, as the days grow shorter.

Sticking with a successful tradition, we are once again fundraising through North Country Meat and Seafood Ltd. You can look forward to being able to choose from a delicious selection of top-quality meat products.

We hope everyone will be eager to participate. BBQ season is beginning, and Mother’s Day is right around the corner. What better time to stock up! I know my freezer is empty and I am looking forward to filling it up again!

TIMELINE:
Email raynham.fundraising@gmail.com to receive product info and order forms!
Place your orders by Friday April 30th. (Please do not leave ordering until the last minute!)
Send completed order forms to raynham.fundraising@gmail.com. Please do not send payment to this address.
Send payment via e-transfer to Raynham Stables at info@raynhamstables.com, just as you would do for lesson payments. If you absolutely cannot pay by e-transfer, please contact Louise and Helen at raynham.fundraising@gmail.com so we can arrange for you to pay by cash or cheque.
Order pick-up will be Friday, May 7th around 5:30 pm. As the food is frozen and we have no means of storing it long-term, it is imperative that you be available to pick-up that evening. (Details on pick-up procedures to follow at a later date, based on COVID-19 restrictions.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to drop us a line at raynham.fundraising@gmail.com. We’ll be happy to help.
Louise and Helen

 




Friday, April 2, 2021

Ontario Shut Down Order Update

Hey Raynham Riders,

We have read through all of the available information on the new “Shut Down” restrictions and it’s very unclear and full of contractions. Unfortunately, Public Health and Bylaw are closed today as it is a holiday, so we were unable to get further clarification.

We feel the best course of action to ensure everyone’s safety, is to close the barn for the next two weeks. Thankfully we already had planned closures this Sunday for Easter and April 12-18 for spring break, which means riders will only be missing one week of classes (and two on Saturdays). Our hope is that over the next two weeks we can get clear permission from Public Health and Bylaw to reopen. We will use this time to get our outdoor rings fully operational and set up the outside grooming stalls again. Then, ideally, we can resume classes outdoors after the April break, which appears to be permissible under the new guidelines.

Once we have a clear reopening date, we will figure out a plan to deal with the missed classes. We will either extend the spring session and/or a credit so riders will receive ALL classes they have paid for.

Stay safe and healthy! We hope to see everyone back at the barn shortly,

Nikki