LESSON POLICIES

These policies are intended to keep lessons safe, consistent, and fair to everyone involved. Please review them before scheduling. All riders, or a parent/legal guardian for minors, are required to acknowledge the current lesson policies before participating.

SCHEDULING & PAYMENT

Private lessons are $90 for approximately 90 minutes.

Lessons are scheduled directly with DLH EQUINE. Payment is due on the day of the lesson.

CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULING

Please provide at least a 24 hours notice when cancelling or rescheduling a lesson.

Cancellations made with less than the required notice will be charged in full.

No Shows / Missed Lessons will be charged in full + an additional fee.

Weather, unsafe travel conditions, horse emergencies, and genuine emergencies happen. These situations will be handled reasonably, except when DLH EQUINE determines circumstances warrant otherwise. Repeated last minute cancellations may result in future lessons requiring advance payment or scheduling being discontinued.

If DLH EQUINE needs to cancel or reschedule a lesson, any payment made will be transferred to the rescheduled lesson or refunded.

LATE ARRIVALS

Your scheduled time is reserved specifically for you.

Arriving late does not extend the lesson beyond the originally reserved time.

Depending on the circumstances and the schedule that day, the lesson may be shortened while the full lesson rate still applies.

Please contact Denali as soon as possible if you are running late.

WEATHER, SMOKE & ARENA CONDITIONS

Lessons may be modified, rescheduled, or cancelled at anytime when weather, arena conditions, heat, cold, ice, smoke/air quality, or another environmental condition makes the planned work inappropriate or unsafe for rider and/or horse.

A lesson may also be modified rather than cancelled when productive instruction can safely continue in another form.

Denali makes the final determination regarding use of the facility and whether conditions are appropriate for lessons.

HORSE SOUNDNESS & FITNESS

Horses brought for lessons must be reasonably sound and physically appropriate for the work being requested of them.

Please disclose known injuries, recent veterinary treatment, rehabilitation restrictions, or other concerns that may affect the horse's ability to participate.

If a horse appears uncomfortable, unsound, excessively fatigued, or otherwise inappropriate to ride, the lesson may be modified to groundwork, horse/rider evaluation, equipment discussion, or another appropriate educational format.

Denali may stop work anytime when continuing would not be in the horse's best interest.

HORSE BEHAVIOR & SAFETY

Known dangerous or concerning behaviors must be disclosed before arrival, including a history of biting, kicking, striking, rearing, bucking, bolting, aggression, or other behavior that may create additional risk.

Disclosure does not automatically prevent a horse from being accepted for instruction.

It allows an appropriate plan to be made before the horse arrives.

Denali reserves the right to decline, modify, or stop work with any horse when the situation exceeds what can reasonably and safely be addressed within a lesson.

TACK & EQUIPMENT

Riders hauling in are encouraged to bring the tack and equipment they normally use. This allows Denali to evaluate the horse and rider as they actually work together.

Equipment must be reasonably safe and in serviceable condition. Denali may require equipment to be adjusted, changed, or removed when its fit, condition, or use creates a safety or welfare concern.

Please do not purchase different equipment specifically for your first lesson unless discussed beforehand.

HELMETS

ASTM/SEI-certified equestrian helmet is required for anyone under the age 18.

MINORS

Riders under 18 must have all required documents completed by a parent or legal guardian before participating.

GUESTS, CHILDREN & SPECTATORS

Guests must remain in designated safe areas and may not enter the arena, horse handling areas, pastures, or other areas without permission.

Children accompanying a rider must be directly supervised by a responsible adult who is not actively participating in the lesson.

Spectators may not coach, instruct, or otherwise interfere with the lesson at any time.

DOGS

Please leave dogs at home unless prior permission has been given.

Dogs permitted on the property must remain under the owner's control at all times.

Permission may be revoked at anytime if a dog creates a distraction or safety concern around horses, riders, livestock, other animals, or people.

HAUL-IN & FACILITY CONDUCT

Clients are responsible for safely hauling, unloading, handling, and securing their horses unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Please follow designated parking, unloading, arena, and property access instructions.

Horses may not be turned loose, tied in an unsafe location, or placed in pens/pastures without permission.

Please respect the property, livestock, equipment, gates, and private areas of the facility.

INSTRUCTOR DEMONSTRATIONS & TRAINING RIDES

Brief instructor demonstrations may occasionally be incorporated into a lesson when useful for teaching or evaluating the horse.

Work that becomes a substantive training ride is separate from normal lesson instruction and may require separate scheduling and fees.

A full training ride will not automatically be included in the lesson rate simply because the Denali gets on the horse.

SAFETY & INSTRUCTOR DISCRETION

Horse and rider safety takes priority over completing a planned activity or maintaining a predetermined amount of riding time.

Denali reserves the right to change an exercise, require a rider to dismount, move instruction to the ground, refuse particular equipment or activities, or stop a lesson when continuing would create an unreasonable safety or horse welfare concern.

A modified lesson may still constitute the scheduled lesson when meaningful instruction can safely continue.

POLICY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Policies may be updated as the program, facility, insurance requirements, or operating conditions change. The current version published by Denali Hart applies to lessons scheduled after the effective date shown below.

Effective: 9/16/2026