General Barn Rules - IMPORTANT - Please read these rules carefully!

 

• Barn Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - we understand occasionally clients need to be here early or late, but it's important for our family and staff to have time to begin and end the barn day.

• This is a private facility - we are not open to the general public - only URC clients are permitted at the farm. Others by appointment only.

• A rider is asked to have at least one parent/guardian/family member with them to supervise their ride. Additional family members, siblings, friends etc. are welcome but must be mindful of risks, all barn rules and regulations. 

• Hand sanitizer should be used frequently. A hand sanitizer dispenser is mounted to the right of the main barn bathroom. There is plenty of soap in the bathroom for handwashing as well. 

• Everyone is encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes/spray.

• Everyone should thoroughly sanitize all equipment they have come in contact with during their visit. 

 

Quarterly Riding Programs

All students - new and returning - who will participate in riding programs over the yearly Quarters must complete and submit a registration form, which includes the information about our lessons, RideShare leases and combined options. Even if you have already submitted a previous quarter registration form, we ask that you fill out and submit the updated registration form as it includes new options, times, pricing, and waivers. Look over new lesson schedules closely as we may have made changes.  .  

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Lesson Rules and Procedures

In addition to reading these guidelines; look for signs posted around the barn.  We'll continuously monitor and adapt to any changes in restrictions or allowances with everyone's comfort, health and well-being foremost in our minds. 

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Please read the following thoroughly. The following policies and procedures must be strictly adhered to as we resume lessons at URC. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support!

• Lesson groups are limited to assist with Social Distancing and limit people from gathering inside or in close proximity of the barn.

• Riders and their guardian should check their temperatures before leaving for the barn.

• Any person experiencing any sickness or COVID-19 symptoms is not permitted on the property. 

• ONE parent/guardian should bring the student to their riding lesson/lease ride - no additional relatives, siblings or guests are permitted on property, especially during lesson and lease ride times, without express prior approval. We fill up fast!

• As much as possible, parents/guardians should remain in their personal vehicle except when assisting their child to the ring, helping their child mount their lesson horse, or using the bathroom.

o We reserve parking spaces around the ring for lesson parents to watch the lesson from their vehicles. Look for safety cones marking this        area.

o For lessons/rides in the indoor arena - parents practice must social distancing, stick to the observation lounge and areas near the ring.

• When arriving at the barn - STOP AND READ ALL SIGNS! Look for tape that will help you know what areas are limited access.

• Face masks must be worn by all persons if entering the barn to use the bathroom and whenever you are within 6 feet of another person outdoors.

• We recommend students wear gloves when handling horses, equipment and tack; there are mixed opinions about gloves - use your best judgement, but always thoroughly wash hands after any activity here at URC.

• Lessons will be taught in outdoor arenas unless weather conditions unexpectedly change - in the event of all-day inclement weather, lessons may be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • Outdoors, sunlight and good airflow is recognized as a less-likely environment for transmission of COVID-19

• Maryland Horse Council recommends staff and riders wear masks when riding indoors; we will use common sense if this presents any safety conflict for lessons since two-way communication is vital and face masks can make it difficult for trainers and students to hear each other.

• Lesson horses will be tacked by a staff member, waiting in the ring for riders in any lesson below the Intermediate B level.

• Lesson horses will be tacked with a halter underneath their bridle and a lead rope that is used exclusively by the staff leading the horse.

• Lesson students should not go into the barn - exceptions are using the bathroom and participation in our RideShare Lease rides - RideShare lease ride safety protocols and guidelines apply.

• Students that require assistance mounting, beyond the use of the mounting block, should be assisted by their parents -as staff should limit assisting with mounting at this time. This is especially important for our younger Beginner A/A+ students who do require assistance mounting. We are happy to give parents a quick ‘how-to’ and are able to steady the horse. Your child will appreciate your participation!

• Riders and parents/guardians may use our main indoor bathroom; please walk along the outdoor arena fence outside of the main barn, entering the bathroom in the most direct manner possible.

• Please note and be considerate when our lounge and lounge bathroom are closed or being used for a special event.

• Please bring drinks, snacks and coolers to keep you comfortable during lesson times.

• We try to keep stocked with soap/hand washing, hand sanitizer, wipes and disinfectant sprays, but recommend you bring your own supplies to ensure you have everything you need on hand.

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Lease Ride Rules and Procedures:

 

• Lease rides should be scheduled, with prior approval, during regular barn hours. 

• A lease rider must schedule a set ride time window (1.5 hours), which is not flexible once set.  If you are late to your ride time, you are still required to leave by the end of the allotted time! If you arrive too late, rescheduling may be required. 

• We are scheduling limited lease rides during the same/overlapping appointment window.

• Please note, scheduling may be impacted by boarder rides and care, barn emergencies and services. We will do our best to accommodate your requests.

• Each lease rider/guardian may be at the barn for the 1.5 hours of their appointment window only and this includes riding/grooming/grazing and seeing the leased horse. You must leave the barn by the end of your appointment window so everyone gets use of their scheduled time.

• No loitering or congregating in groups is yet allowed. 

• Proper care of your lease horse includes warm up, cool out, tacking/untacking and grooming after your ride - running late does not excuse a rider from proper care or allow them to run over their appointment window. Wear a watch or set an alarm to stay on time!

• Leasers are only allowed to be in the school horse aisle. The exceptions are leasers/riders of Kenny, Nyra, Posie, Molly, Elmo, Penny, Willow, Smoothie and Spice who are permitted to enter the aisle up to and in their horse's stall. 

• Riders must groom/ tack their horses in the horse's stall. 

• Use of the indoor wash racks is prioritized for boarders. If your lease horse is sweaty and needs to be hosed off, use the pony barn wash racks and sanitize the clips/hose after you are finished.

• Leasers should use their own grooming equipment and tack as much as possible, including halters/lead ropes, grooming supplies, saddle pads, bridles, saddles, etc. 

• Leasers should only touch their own tack trunk and school tack assigned to their lease horse. Please sanitize equipment when you are done with your ride!

• If a rider needs help with their horse, including holding/mounting, assistance must come from the guardian who brought them to the barn and not another person or member of our staff.  Please let us know in advance of your visit if this could present a problem - this is a restriction currently mandated under the Maryland order.

• For both rider and horse safety: NO JUMPING without approval; no groundwork above your routine lesson level. NO EXCEPTIONS. Absolutely NO riding which is careless, rough or exhausting to the horse, e.g., endless cantering, jumping, chasing after other riders, etc. Rider's will be given appropriate corrections and warned - at the third warning a rider's lease may be revoked with no refund given.

• To use the bathroom, leasers and guardians should walk along the school horse aisle, through the indoor to the main bathroom or walk along the outdoor arena to follow the most direct path to the restroom.  Please do not walk through the first two aisles of the main barn.

• Leasers and guardians should limit use of the lounge. Bring what you need to stay hydrated and comfortable!

 

How to Schedule a Lease Ride:

We have a business cell phone to stay better connected with everyone! The phone number is 240-877-4686.

We will generally respond to messages/calls sent to this phone between the hours of 8:30am and 8:30pm; please be patient for a response! 

 

To schedule a lease ride, please text our business cell phone at 240-877-4686:

• In the text, state your name/student’s name, lease horse requested and time desired.  

• We will let you know if your requested time is open or offer other available times. 

• Once determined, we will confirm your ride time, start to finish. 

• Do not come to the farm to ride unless you receive confirmation of your time!!

 

 Good to Know: 

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• Horses are currently in the field until ~3-4pm; if your ride time is scheduled before 4pm, you may be responsible for bringing your horse out of the field. When the weather warms up, horses will be inside between 8am and ~3pm, then turned out during the night. 

• Right now, we are only accepting appointments for one week out and they are available on a first come, first serve basis. 

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Operation Protocols - Summer Kids Club 2021 - updates will be made, as applicable

 

Guidelines, regulations, protocols and best practices - summer camp operations:

• Our camper activity groups will be limited to not more than 15 campers plus a staff counselor.

• Our camper groups will start and end each day together and enjoy a daily rotation of activities, lunch and breaks as a unit.  Groups will not co-mingle, and because our facility is large and well laid out, we can readily socially distance groups throughout the day. 

• Most activities will be out of doors, or in our open-air pavilions.  For arts & crafts activities and if weather becomes a factor, in our recreation hall there is room to socially distance our groups. NOTE: we have a weather emergency plan that will be followed in a manner that minimizes the greatest and most imminent threat to campers and staff.  For instances requiring cover, we can maintain social distancing; for instances requiring shelter, we will put campers and staff in the safest possible structures on the property, utilizing PPE and doing our best to maintain social distancing.  It doesn’t happen often, but storms can come up fast and we will keep your child as reassured, safe and secure as possible.

• Facilities and equipment will be sanitized between uses.  Sanitizing has always been part of our camp operations protocol on a not less than daily basis; this season we will sanitize following each activity rotation.

• Face masks – we will follow the recommended use of face masks as it pertains to each activity through the camp day.  All campers and staffers will need to come to camp with a face mask to don as needed.  Face masks will not be used when a child is riding, or swimming or in most outdoor activities with social distancing.

• We will conduct intake health screenings for each staffer and camper at the start of each day.  We will use a touchless scanner-type thermometer to take the child’s temperature, and have parents complete a simple COVID-19 symptoms wellness checklist.  This information will be kept secure and confidential.  URC has always had sign-in/out procedures for campers; this is an easy variation that follows Maryland youth camp guidelines.

• Hand washing – we have numerous hand washing facilities in our rec hall, all our bathrooms, at our bank barn and in our pool pavilion.  We will closely follow the recommended best practices regarding hand washing.  If the need arises, we can gear up with additional hand wash stations.  Hand washing has always been part of the routine staff and camper health protocol at URC.

• Hand-sanitizing – we will have hand sanitizer in the type and quantity required available to all campers and staff throughout each day and will follow best practices regarding the use of hand sanitizer. Availability/use of hand sanitizer has always been part of the routine staff and camper health protocol at URC.  We recommend that campers bring their own hand sanitizer each day for convenience. 

• At this phase of Maryland’s COVID-19 recovery, busing is not recommended due to the close proximity and co-mingling of campers while in transit.  URC’s daily bus routes will not be operating. 

• Drop-off, Pick-up/Sign-out – we will have a drop-off/pick-up circle with staffers assisting multiple campers, as needed.  Once groups are determined, we will suggest (but not require) staggered times to arrive or depart from camp as a group to facilitate the process.  We will follow our standard procedures allowing only authorized persons to pick up your child from camp.

• We will offer before and aftercare from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the morning and from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon at no additional charge to allow for staggered drop-off and pick-up of campers.  Before and After Kids Club will be in our rec hall in areas set aside for their group to maintain social distancing.  The Before and After care counselor will be on hand to help kids stay entertained with fresh art supplies, audio-visual entertainment and sanitized games. 

• If your family needs to drop-off or pick-up before or or after these hours, please get in touch with us to discuss extended care options. 

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Thank you – we wish you happy riding and to always be well!

Sandy & Jessica Henningsen

Henningsen Equine Ventures, LLC dba Urbana Riding Club

Phone: 301-789-8589 or 240-877-4686

Email: urc@urbanaridingclub.com