EDUCATIONAL FARM AT JOPPA HILL
HORSEMANSHIP DRESS CODE AND SAFETY RULES
Dress:
All riders are required to wear an ASTM certified safety helmet specifically designed for horseback riding. Bicycle helmets do not provide adequate protection in a fall. We do provide helmets for our lessons, but students may prefer to purchase their own as it can be more properly fitted. We can help you locate a store that sells equestrian supplies.
Long pants are also required, preferably pants made of material that is not slippery. Jeans are fine, riding pants are preferred.
Weather Policy:
We will ride when the weather permits us to do so. If it is raining hard, we will have an unmounted lesson in the barn. If it rains several lessons in a row, we will try to schedule a make-up lesson as soon as possible. Please come dressed according to the weather.
Safety:
Lesson horses are usually safe to work around, but you must still be aware of the fact that horses are large animals that can bite, kick or move suddenly if they are frightened. They also are very heavy, and it really hurts when they accidentally step on you!
All riders must wear boots with approximately a one-inch heel. Riding boots or cowboy boots are super, but hiking boots or boots with any kind of deep grooved tread are dangerous and could potentially get stuck in a stirrup. Absolutely no sneakers or open-toed shoes are to be worn when working around the horses.
