The membership program is designed as a lease option here at Painted Bar Stables. 

About the Program:

When you become a member, you aren't leasing a specific horse - you're gaining access to the entire herd!

Because of the need for our horses in our riding programs, we have limited ability to do half-leases on our horses as we can not guarantee that a specific horse will always be available. However, as we rotate our horses through our lesson and trail programs, there are horses left in the barn that are free for use. The membership program came out of this situation.

Instead of leasing a specific horse, the membership program is a way to "lease" a selection of horses from our stables. This gives our members the opportunity to experience a number of different horses for different uses and occasions, as well as increased flexibility when it comes to access to our horses. 

How it Works:

Members are allowed a specific amount of ride hours per week and may sign up on our Pike13 system for their weekly rides.

Various arena ride times are available throughout the week for you to sign up for.

Trail hacks (beyond the arena availaiblity times) can be booked at times of your convenience, as coordinated through the membership manager.

Community trail rides are available on set schedules. Community trail rides are unguided group rides where members can meet up and ride together in a social way.

Before the start of your ride, staff will inform you of your horse assignment (or option of multiple assignments if multiple horses are available). We also welcome requests.

Links for Members to Sign Up for Weekly Rides

Membership Levels

There are different levels of memberships available depending on the skill of the rider and the number of rides desired a week.

Adult Memberships:

Support Memberships

Support memberships are designed for riders who: more novice riders transitioning to independent riding, desire company on their rides, and minors.

The Support Memberships are the perfect way for students to get the opportunity to get in the practice that they need in the arena between lessons with some indepenent practice time, under the distant supervision of staff that are on site.

Support members get access to our "First String" of more novice level horses so that they can be safe and secure while practicing.

As a more novice membership, we require a competency level of strong walk and trotting abilities, but are more flexible on the canter skill set. The only requirement for people not yet at a higher level is that they do not practice new skills in their independent sessions and instead focus on honing the skills that they already possess, reserving the new skills for lesson time so as to not place undue burden to the animal or safety risk.

First-String Membership

The First String Membership is designed for those capable of independent riding but needing (or desiring) access to less complicated horses. With the first string membership you get access to the first string of novice level horses to use for your independent riding.

First string members may also use second string horses, upon approval based on their skill level.

Pro Second-String Memberships

Ourpro membership leases are for intermediate to advanced level riders who are capable of riding our horses completely independently without instruction or support. To be at a membership level riders must be able to prove to us that they can ready a horse without assistance, ride with independence, and control a horse at the trot and canter without undue burden to the animal or safety risk.

While similar to a typical lease in that riders get to ride a certain amount, our program differs in that each of our members is assigned a herd of horses instead of just one horse. This allows flexibility in terms of scheduling, as specific horses may also be required for lesson or trail programs. It also allows riders to develop multiple relationships with horses to work on various skill sets and to have spare horses available to them if one horse is lame or unfit to ride at any point.

With the Pro Membership, access is only granted to our second string of more advanced horses and horses that require a bit more sensitive riders when riding unsupervised. These horses also tend to be more available as they are less needed for beginner level trail riders and lesson students. For those who want access to our first string horses who are more novice based, a First String Membership is required.

This is a great program for the independent skilled rider who is not in a position to own a horse as it allows a good amount of freedom. Members usually ride alone, however some do jump in our scheduled trail rides when available to the general public to pull up the rear so that they don't have to go out completely alone. We also always strongly suggest that members take lessons in conjunction with their membership in order to keep tabs on their skill sets and receive advice and support, as well as get help from us for any problem solving needed in specific relationships with their herd.

Adolescent Memberships:

All adolescent memberships are created for young adults ('Tweens and Teens) to be able to develop independence in and self reliance in their riding. A membership provides once a week opportunities for them to ride outside of lessons to practice their skills, enjoy the horses and spend time with their friends.

Adolescent memberships are only available during the off season (November - April) as that is the time of year where we can guarantee access to the beginner and novice horses that the younger riders will need in order to be independent and ride alone.

Adolescent Support Memberships

Support memberships are designed for riders who are transitioning to independent riding, desire company on their rides.

The Support Memberships are the perfect way for students to get the opportunity to get in the practice that they need in the arena between lessons with some indepenent practice time, under the distant supervision of staff that are on site.

Support members get access to our "First String" of more novice level horses so that they can be safe and secure while practicing.

At the Adolescent Support level, young members must have a parent on site for the duration of their ride. This requirement is waived as members develop their independence and test out to the Adolescent Trail Membership level.

Support Members may also use second string horses, upon approval based on their skill level.

As a more novice membership, we require a competency level of strong walk and trotting abilities, but are more flexible on the canter skill set. The only requirement for people not yet at a higher level is that they do not practice new skills in their independent sessions and instead focus on honing the skills that they already possess, reserving the new skills for lesson time so as to not place undue burden to the animal or safety risk.

Adolescent Trail Membership

The Adolescent Trail Membership is designed for young adults that are capable of independent riding but needing (or desiring) access to less complicated horses. With the Adolescent Trail Membership, riders get access to the first string of novice level horses to use for your independent riding.

Adolescents, unlike adults, are not allowed to ride on trails alone. They are welcome to enjoy the arena solo, however to go on trails they must ride with another rider. Options are to join forces and ride together, as adult members and boarders if they could escort them or to caboose on the back of trail rides that are heading out
(NOTE: the public Trail Riding clients get first priority, any member that interferes or "bothers" a trail ride or requires needless staff support will not be allowed to join in the future and may have their trail membership revoked).

Adolescent trail members may also use second string horses, upon approval based on their skill level.

Adolescent PLUS Trail Memberships

The Adolescent PLUS Trail Membership allows an extra hour of riding each week.

Apprentice Membership Rebate

Apprentices that are significantly helpful beyond the routine support by accomplishing specific assigned tasks or showing impressive dedication and commitment to excellents will be awarded points for their accomplishments. Upon reciept of a certain number of points apprentices will be entitled to a rebate credit of $15 off of their next apprentice ride.

POINT SYSTEM STILL IN THE WORKS.

Practice Programs:

Requirements and Rules:

• All members are required to take a Membership Orientation & Test-Out session to join the program
  • During the session members will be evaluated and assigned an appropriate level of membership.
  • If a rider does not pass the test-out, or does not achieve the level of membership desired, they are welcome to take multiple test-out sessions.
    
    
• Three Strike Rule
  • Mistakes happen but if members make mistakes on a repeated basis they will be asked to recertify their membership with another Test Out in order to problem-solve.
  • Mistakes can include:
    - Mistreatment of horses or tack
    - Failure to Properly or Safely Ready a Horse
    - Failure to ride safely or riding in a manner that causes hazard for themselves, their horse, or inconvenience for other riders
    - Neglect to care for a horse after a ride
    - Neglect to properly care for and stow their tack after a ride
    - Failure to clean up after themselves (manure, hoof pickings, equipment, etc...)
  
  
• All members must take at least one (1) group or private lesson per month to maintain their membership.
  • Members recieve a 10% discount on groups lessons (including group lessons and specialty long format lessons such as Trail Quest or Distance Lessons) that they take during their active membership.
  • This discount only applies individual lessons that will be used during the membership and not packages. In sum, members get the package discount price without having to purchase the entire package upfront.
    
    
• Weekly rides cannot be rolled over from week to week and are "use or lose" access.
  • It is the responsibility of the member to use their privileges that they are entitled.
  • If a member no-shows for a ride or fails to give more than 24 hours notice that they will not ride, the member can either pay a $15 no-show fee or one of their rides will be deducted from their plan.
  • No discounts, refunds, rebates or pro-rates will be offered to those members who do not fully use their membership privileges.
    
    
• Memberships are a pre-paid riding opportunity.
  • All memberships are paid by the 1st of the month and last throughout the entirety month.
  • Only the first month can be pro-rated. 
    
    
• Youth age 10 and up are welcome as support members only.
  • Youth must be supervised by an adult during their rides times. Multiple youth may be supervised by one adult.
• Teens will be permitted in writing to participate without adult supervision on a case by case basis.
  
  
• Members may join appropriate Public Trail Rides
  • Members are allowed to use their weekly rides on appropriate guided trail rides for trail ride clients, understanding that the priority and safety of the non-regular riders will be prioritized and there may be limited independence offered on these rides.
  • Members joining these rides are expected to ride at the rear of the ride
    
    
• Members may join appropriate Community Trail Rides
  • Community trail rides are unguided group rides where members can meet up and ride together in a social way.
    - Staff may or may not join community rides. If they do, they will not be there as guides, but usually riding one of the schooling horses.
  • Participants can either head out all as one group or divide into smaller groups in order to curate ride experience.
  • Support Members cannot sign up for community rides unless a staff member is present on the ride.
  
  
• Members must clean store their tack appropriately after use.
  • Please make sure that before you put away your tack all tack has been wiped down and is clean of dust and/or mud. Tack must be stored properly.
  • Repeated mistakes in storing tack inappropriately may result in the loss of your membership

Membership Test Out Requirements

Members must display the following skills during their test outs to be approved for memberships:

More specific information on the test out available in this google document.

Maps

Incident Report Form

If you are a member and you have an incident with one of the horses please use this link to report the incident and help us keep track of anything that occurs in the barn: http://tinyurl.com/PBSincident

Incidents may include very minor experiences, but are still worth reporting. Examples of Incidents: Horses biting or kicking on trail, getting squashed in the barn, someone falling off, saddle and tack malfunction or repair needed, horses running through the bit or being hard to control, spooking, etc...