NEW Winter Part Boards

To keep our students excited and motivate about riding during the winter months, we have decided to offer part-boards during January and February.   Typically our part-board programs run March – October and are only for show students but this program is open to all riders Novice level and above (with coaches approval). 

What is a part-board?

A part board gives you many of the perks of horse ownership at a fraction of the cost! Riders are guaranteed their part-board horse for their lessons as well as a weekly free ride (no instruction).

What does it include?

• Use of the school horses tack 
• Horse guarantee for your lessons
• Weekly free ride - no instruction, it is an opportunity to practice the skills worked on in lessons
• BONUS FOR JAN/FEB ONLY – Second free ride/week for and additional $50/month, that’s only $12.50/ride!
• No additional cost for vet, farrier, board, etc. 

Cost

• $177/month + HST = $200.00, in addition to regular lessons.

NOTE: Students must be riding 2x/week to part-board (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis). Lessons can be paid for in monthly installments instead of sessions while part-boarding.

If you are interested, please contact us via email us to set it up!

Session 3 Lessons: Sun. Jan 5th – Sat. Feb 22 - IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

We have received many requests from riders looking to switch days for the next session so it looks like we need to redo the lesson schedule so we can accommodate everyone’s requests.  The lesson registration form has been posted on the website, http://www.raynhamstables.com/janfeb-lesson-registration.html.  The form needs to be filled out by ALL RIDERS by Thursday, Jan 2nd so that Nikki can have the new schedule posted on Saturday as classes resume on Sunday (I realize this isn’t a ton of time so I greatly appreciate everyone cooperation!).

We hope everyone is planning to continue classes this session, as riding is a year-round sport.   Especially for those who are hoping/planning to compete this summer, we are only 4 ½ months away from the first shows so this is already training time!   The weather has been more uncooperative than usual so far this year, but we do not expect riders to come to the barn during inclement weather.  If the temperature is below -12c (before the wind chill) or there is icy rain or heavy snow, we will cancel classes.  If we cancel once during the session, we ask that riders schedule a make-up class, which can be during the following session.   If we have to cancel a second time, we are happy to deduct the class off the following session so there is no inconvenience to reschedule.  Please note that cancellations will be posted here on the blog only, so please check before heading to the barn during the winter months.

If you are unable to ride in the next session and have not yet notified Nikki by email, please do so ASAP.  We will have to adjust our school horse numbers based on the number of lesson students.

Holiday Schooling Show & Team Try-Outs - Saturday, Jan 4th!

The schooling show is open to ALL Raynham Stables students.  Our schooling shows are low-stress, a great learning opportunity as well as a ton of fun!

In case the weather is very chilly again, we are going to run on our NEW winter format!  Riders will complete an equitation flat class then an equitation over fences round.  This way, all the classes can run in the big arena and divisions will only last approx 1 hour so riders so not have to wait around all day in the cold!

Happy Holidays, Important Dates & Make-up Classes!

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted - between illness, crazy ice storms, power outages, and then the holidays, the past week has been hectic!

 Happy Holidays!

From Lindsay, Caryn, Nikki & all of the Raynham Staff!

Winter Break Important Dates:

Monday, Dec. 23rd – Saturday, Jan. 4th – Closed for the Winter Break

Saturday, Dec. 28th – Make-up/Extra Class Day (details below)

Thursday, Jan 2nd & Friday, Jan 3rd  - In House Clinics (details to follow)

Saturday, Jan 4th – Winter Schooling Show & Show Team Tryouts (details to follow)

Sunday, Jan 5th –Session Three Begins

In-House Clinics - Thursday, Jan 2nd & Friday, Jan 3rd

Want to get ready for the try-outs/winter schooling

show? Or just keen to get back in the saddle?  Come for  

an intensive two-day clinic!

Clinic Highlights: 

• TWO rides each day
• Video analysis
• Lunch included!

 Dates

• Dressage - Thursday, Jan.2nd
• Show Jumping - Friday, Jan. 3rd

Lessons Cancelled Sunday Dec 22nd

We hope everyone got home safely yesterday if they had to go out on the roads (or even just walk around!).  What a stretch of bad weather weather we have had this past week - I don't recall ever have to cancel classes this many times in a whole winter, never mind one week.

Unfortunately we keep loosing power and the roads are very icy so we have decided to cancel classes yet again.   Once we have power back, Nikki will send out an email blast regarding make up lessons  (typing an email blast on an iPhone would be tricky!).

Stay safe today!

Lessons Cancelled Saturday, Dec 21st

Good morning!

As I'm sure everyone has heard, they are calling for an icy rain storm today.  Not only will driving conditions be unsafe but the power has just gone out and we do not know when it will be back on.  So  unfortunately we feel as though it would be safest to cancel classes again today. We are going to run make-up classes next Saturday.  I will post a link on the blog shortly to our online booking so students can schedule a make-up lesson.  For today's class, you can schedule a make-up or deduct the class off next session's fees - your choice.

Stay safe if you go out today!

Lessons Cancelled - Monday, Dec. 16th

Brrrrrrr! It's still very chilly out today, thankfully the extreme cold is supposed to break tomorrow and hopefully go back up to more seasonal temperatures!  As the high they are calling for tonigh is -13c before the windchill, we have decided to cancel classes again this evening.  If enough riders are available, we could do make-up classes on Saturday, December 28th for both this evening and last Saturday.   Please email Nikki to let her know your availability.  Stay warm tonight!

Extreme Weather Cancellation - Saturday, Dec. 14th

Good morning everyone!   If you have been outside yet today, you will have noticed it is very chilly, -15c before the wind-chill.   We have decided to cancel classes today as per our Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy below.  Please email Nikki at your convenience to schedule a make-up class (it can be in the new year).  Stay warm today!

Inclement Weather Cancellations

We know that living in Canada, there are going to be some unpleasant days from December - March and do not want anyone driving to the barn in unsafe conditions.

Lessons Will Be Cancelled During:

• Icy rain 
• Heavy snow fall 
• Extreme cold (temp. is below -12c before the wind chill) 

In the event that we cancel classes once during a session, we ask that students schedule a make-up lesson (can be in the following session as well). If we have to cancel a second time during a session, we will deduct the cost off the following session.

Jessica Phoenix Clinic Friday & Saturday!

In case you haven't heard, Jessie is coming back again this year for our winter clinic! 
Jessie was our 2013 OHTA Leading Lady Rider, highest placed Canadian at the 2012 London Olympics in 3 Day Evening and was 2011 PanAm Games individual gold and team silver medalist!  We have had Jessie out to do a clinic for the past two years and everyone had a blast and learned a ton from her upbeat and positive coaching style. 

There is only 2 spaces left in the clinic.  If you are interested in riding in the clinic, please email Nikki ASAP!

Clinic Format

Friday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
10, 45 min semi-private lessons.  Riders are asked to mount 15 min. ahead of time and warm-up in small arena. 

Saturday: 9:00am - 4:00pm
4, 1½ hour group (5 riders) jumping lessons

Clinic Fees (Includes meals both days and an auditing spot for your groom):
- $200 + HST ($226.00) for both days if you own your horse
- $250 + HST ($282.50) for both days if you are riding a school horse

Auditing

Even if you do no feel ready to ride in the clinic,  we encourage everyone to come audit (watch) the clinic, as you can gain a ton of knowledge from observing!

Auditing Fees:

- $20 for Friday, $25 for Saturday or $40 for both days if paid for by Thursday, Dec 5^th

- $25 for Friday, $30 for Saturday if purchased at the door

Banquet Wrap Up

Hello Everyone! 

We hope that everyone who was able to attend Banquet on Friday had a fabulous time.  The venue was beautiful, the silent auction was full of great deals, the entertainment (slide show, Tori Warner and the coach “dance off”) kept the evening very interesting, and everyone looked lovely all dressed up and out of their barn grubbies! 

We will send out an email shortly with a summary of the fundraising efforts but it looks as though the evening was a success!  We would like to thank all of the very generous sponsors and donators for their support - we couldn’t do it without you!  

Also, we wanted to thank the banquet committee: Veronica Low, Michelle Presotto, Sue Kocaurek and Heather Gamble, for all their hard work!  We’d also like to thank Michael Moorhouse and Julia Meneghetti for putting together the terrific slide show and to Julia for also putting together the evening’s playlist.  Thanks to Jamie Maclellan for putting together the program, it is a terrific keepsake!  Also, thanks to Nancy Byrne and Brad Kryschuk for their assistance in setting up the silent auction, it looked terrific!  To anyone I have missed – THANK YOU!  Banquet it always a team effort!

Approximately 363 days until next year’s banquet!

Nikki, Lindsay and Caryn