Welcome to the Equest Therapeutic Riding Center. There are many potential safety issues that exist in this type of environment. The top priority for our instructors is to ensure the personal safety of your rider. Please take a few moments to review our policies on parental involvement and general farm safety.

• If you are bringing a rider to our program, we would suggest that you take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the serenity of this environment. Many parents/care takers take the time to read a book, enjoy the sun or just sit back and relax. Our staff is highly trained and, generally speaking, do not need assistance from parents or care takers during a riding session. This is your rider's opportunity to develop riding skills and/or participate in a therapy session independently. We have found that talking to your rider or instructor during the session is highly distracting. We suggest that you use the time at the beginning or the end of a session to communicate any changes or concerns that may impact your rider on that day. In addition, we request that if you arrive early for your rider's session, please be considerate of the lesson in progress. Out of respect for the other student's time, please avoid interacting with the instructor or horse until your scheduled session. In advance, we thank you for being considerate of this policy. Adjacent to each arena is a designated space where you can relax and wait.

• On occasion, we do need parent or caretaker assistance. Examples may include significant behavioral or communication issues with the rider. If you have been asked to help as a side walker, please wear appropriate footwear. Sneakers and hiking boots provide the best support and protection while walking next to our horses. If you are functioning as a permanent sidewalker (this is usually determined during the initial intake session) please sign up for one of our volunteer training sessions.

• If you bring a sibling or friend to a session, please make sure that you are able to supervise this child during the riding session. We can share our toys and invite you to enjoy the surroundings with this child while you are waiting. The swing set is available to visitors, but children must be supervised at all times. Please be aware that only Equest staff is allowed access to horse pastures.

• Please try to remember that the vision and perception of a horse is very different. If you have been invited to pet one of our horses but are not sure how to approach the horse, please speak to the instructor on how to do this safely. Items such as umbrellas, balloons, kites or quick and sudden movements outside of the ring can be frightening or distracting to horses.

• All students should use normal voices when around the horses. No yelling and screaming, this scares the horses. Do not run or speak loudly around any ring when a rider is working in the ring.

• Our farm dogs, Tucker and Emma, will go out of their way to get your attention! Both dogs beg you to throw them a stick. Their excitement with this sort of play can serve as a distraction to our horses. They also loved to be quietly stroked and talked to. We ask that you resist the urge to throw or stick or ball to them.

• Smoking is not allowed on the farm property. If you see someone smoking, please ask him or her to put it out. Please do not hand-feed the horses. Treats may be given with the supervision of an Equest instructor, using a grain pan.

• Please remember to go to the bathroom before your lesson takes place. This will help us to start promptly when you arrive. A unisex, handicapped accessible public toilet is located on the farm property.

• If you need handicapped parking, please park in one of the front two spaces where the handicapped parking sign is located. Otherwise you may use any part of the paved area on the right side of the street to park.