Wildwind Policies

Warning

Under the Michigan equine activity liability act, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from an inherent risk of the equine activity.

History: 1994, Act 352, Eff. Mar. 30, 1995.

Liability Release Forms:
All persons that will be in direct contact with a horse on the property must fill out a liability release form. If under 18 years old this must be filled out and signed by a parent or legal guardian. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. (Download a copy of our Liability Form.)

Cancellation Policy:
Our Lesson Cancellation Policy is 24 hours. Please call at least 24 hours before a lesson to cancel. If you do not call to cancel you will be expected to pay for the lesson. If you don't cancel there will be no make-up lesson. Continual absences, rescheduling, no shows, or no cancellation calls will result in the loss of your lesson spot.

Weather Policy:
Lessons are canceled when the temperature is greater than 95 degrees or below 10 degrees. Cancellation for any other weather issues will be made on an individual basis.

Lesson Policy:
Riders should arrive on time and with proper attire. All riders must wear long pants (no capris, or shorts), shoes that fully enclose the foot, and an SEI Approved riding helmet. Helmets are available for your use. Family and friends must also wear shoes that fully enclose the foot for safety. (No sandals, flip-flops, crocs or shoes that do not fully enclose the foot.)

Students are expected to attend their scheduled lessons regularly. Multiple absences may result in the loss of your place in class. We do our best to keep classes running on time. All classes will run their full length. Late classes may affect the class schedule for the day.

All lessons are to be purchased in advance before you ride.
All lessons are to be scheduled in advance.
Payment must be made to office staff or directly to your instructor.
Parents, do not drop off students without their payment.
Lessons must be canceled 24 hours in advance or no make-up lesson will be issued. Make-up lessons are based on availability and are not guaranteed.
Make-up lessons are available for students following cancellation policies.
Due to pricing and preset schedule, make-up lessons are not permitted for Private Lesson Students or Seniors
All make-up lessons must be done within the month.
Vacations dates must be provided at the time of invoice, a maximum of 1 week per month.

Please ask to see our full payment policy available from the office.

In Case of Emergency:
Should a student fall, please remain quiet and seated. Screaming or running out into the ring may cause other horses to get upset. The instructor will direct the class along with other barn help and if needed will call you into the ring, at which time you should walk quietly out to the student. As long as the student is not injured, it is our policy to get them right back on the horse.

Beginner Lessons:
Walk Trot students should arrive at least 10 minutes before class time. Instructors with beginners cannot leave their students once there are horses in the ring, so please be on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late you will not be able to ride and you will be expected to pay for class.

Walk Trot Students:
Students must be on time and ready to ride at the start of their lessons. Any student arriving more than 10 minutes late will not be able to ride.

Walk Trot Canter Students:
Please arrive 30 minutes before class to groom and saddle your horse. Students must immediately clean up after their horse in aisle.

New Policy:

Students with stalled horses must remove all manure from their horse's stall after the lesson.

Jump Students:
Please arrive early enough to tack your horse, warm up and be ready to ride by the beginning of your lesson time.

Dress Code:
Seniors & Walk Trot students must wear long pants (no capris), shoes that fully enclose the foot.
Parents & guests entering the barn must wear shoes that fully enclose the foot.
Helmets must be worn at all times. They are available from the barn.
Walk Trot Canter students must wear either half chaps and short boots or boots and britches. Shirts in the summer should be properly fitted and tucked in. Hair should be pulled back and neat. Tack and boots should be clean at all times. No spaghetti straps, tank tops or revealing clothing.
Jump students must wear boots and britches. Shirts in the summer should be properly fitted and tucked in. Hair should be pulled back and neat. Tack and boots should be clean at all times. No spaghetti straps, tank tops or revealing clothing.

General Policies:
Helmets must be worn while riding and by children any time they handle a horse.
No Smoking on Wildwind property.
Only shoes that fully enclose the foot are permitted on the farm.
Please do not park in front of gates.
Please pick up after you and your children. (trash, clothes, horse tack, etc.)
Children must be supervised by parents at all times.
School horses are to be mounted from the mounting block.
All guests must sign a liability form.
Staff only allowed in the pasture.
Make sure you close your horse's door and latch it tight.
Put all tack and other items away when you're finished using them.
Pick up any manure your horse makes in the aisle or indoor riding arena.
Practice proper ring etiquette when riding, pass left shoulder to left shoulder, announce when changing direction, or making a maneuver that may cross the path of other riders.
Horses may have treats but no hand feeding.
Do not climb on fences or gates.
No dogs or other animals on property. We have plenty thanks! (Don’t leave them in the car. They're more comfortable at home.)

Leasing Policy:
All regular barn rules and regulations apply.
All riders leasing a horse/pony must take at least 1 lesson per week.
All persons leasing will have first refusal rights to lease the same horse when their lease is up. Please give management 3 weeks notice.
Lease horses must be scheduled for your practice rides and must be canceled if you are not coming. Make-ups are not available.
Canceled and rescheduled lessons are not guaranteed on lease horse/pony.
Lessee only may ride horse/pony.
Horse/pony must stay boarded at Wildwind.
Horse/pony must stay on Wildwind property unless attending an approved show.
Horse/pony going to shows must be accompanied by Wildwind Trainer (with exception of Equestrian Team)
All Wildwind horses/ponies will be trailered by Wildwind arrangements. Equestrian Team horses/ponies must have the safety of their trailering approved by management before horse/pony leaves the property.
In half lease options all vet and farrier visits are taken care of by the barn unless the injury is due to rider negligence.
In full lease option all vet and farrier visits are the responsibility of the lessee, however, any medical decisions will be made by medical staff.
Some horses/ponies will have to have death and indemnity insurance held by the lessee, dependent on horse/pony value.
Jumping is not permitted outside of lessons unless you have management permission.
Any rider not taking care of their horse/pony (proper grooming, warm up and cool down) or abusing the horse/pony will be removed from the lease program and forfeit any fees paid.
All leasing payments are due on the 1st of the month.
Late payments will result in the rider not having access to the horse. Missed lessons or practice rides will not be made up.
If lease horse/pony is injured, not due to riders fault, another horse will be provided for your lessons. Supplying a replacement horse for the injured horse/pony will be reviewed by management and determined on an individual basis.
Lessee students may use horse tack on a “you break it, you bought it” basis.
Tack needs to be cleaned at least once per week.
Tack lockers are not available for all persons leasing. Those leasing for 1 year or 6 months will have priority.
Any personal tack can only be used on the horse if approved by Vikki.
A lease contract must be signed by all lessees.

Camp Policy:
All students must wear long pants, (no capris).
All students must close-toed shoes. Shoes must completely cover the foot. No crocs. No sandals. No open-toed shoes.
All safety equipment will be supplied.
All full-day campers should bring a bag lunch.
Changing camp dates will incur a $20 administrative fee each time and for each rider a change is made.
Camp payment is due in full. No refunds.

Refund Policy:
Camp payment is due in full. No refunds.
Rescheduling fee will be waived with a doctor's note.
Refunds are not given for riding lessons.
Boarding refunds are issued only if management asks the customer to leave and the refund would then be prorated by the month.
All horses are sold as is and no refunds are given.

Notice to Participants:
Wildwind programs are offered to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, creed, or ability. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate participants with disabilities for our programs. To register someone who will need assistance, please call 248-486-7433 at least 4 weeks prior to the program. All athletic and recreational activities involve some risk of accident or injury. Wildwind does not provide insurance for a therapeutic riding student and we do not have a certified therapeutic riding instructor on our camp staff. We will make reasonable accommodations for everyone to participate. We do however reserve the right to not allow anyone to ride should they be a danger to themselves or another student. Any student signing up without letting us know they are in need of special accommodations will not be given a refund if we cannot handle the special needs.