We often hear similar questions from new customers, so in an effort to cover things you may wish to know, here’s a list of frequently asked questions about Stubbe Horse Farm.
General questions
/ʃt’ʊb.bʊ/ would be the correct
IPA pronunciation, but we often hear Stoob, Stoobee, Stubb, and Stupid (some people don’t read well…). Whatever you choose to use, we are okay with though. Except the Stupid…
Thankfully, no. We’ve never had any of the horses under our care wind up on the road. We have had numerous *cough*7*cough* visits from neighbor’s horses at all hours of the day and night, which we’ve dutifully gone out and rescued. If you see a horse on the road, contact us immediately and we will take care of it.
Safety equipment and clothing
All riders must wear a CSA approved riding helmet in good condition, and a laced boot with a heel of at least 1 inch.
Authentic riding pants made from stretchable fabric and leather inseam gives a rider much better grip with their legs, and doesn’t ride up like jeans or other fabrics will.
Eventing vests are designed to protect against piercing injuries often experienced by regular eventing athletes, who may fall under a horse or onto sharp objects such as tree limbs. It will not protect against crushing injuries, but does afford an extra layer of protection for the rider.
Lessons
We have many different options for anyone interested in horseback riding. We typically start children at 6, but younger kids who show a strong desire can do assisted pony rides and mild grooming. No age is too old, and we have special groups for older people who would like to ride with their peers. We also do parent classes, theraputic classes, gymnastic (volting), and many other activities. All you need to enjoy horseback riding is a love of horses!
Tacking up and grooming done before your lesson begins will allow for more actual time spent on your horse, so arrive early enough to retrieve your horse and get ready. Plan for at least 15 minutes in the winter, and 30 minutes in the summer.
If you’re a few minutes late to a lesson, grab your horse and tack up as usual, and join the lesson when safe to do so. If you can’t make it to your lesson, contact us at least 24 hours beforehand so we can re-schedule. If you do not contact us or cancel last-minute, we may not be able to find a make-up lesson and you will forfeit it.
Stubbe Horse Farm has a number of coaches available depending on your skill level and goals. We are always willing to host clinics with outside coaches, but do not allow regular teaching by third parties.
We love going on trail rides! However, we don’t allow inexperienced riders outside of the arena until they show competence at controlling a horse. There’s lots of unexpected things to be found in nature, and you need to know what to do when your horse sees a turkey. If you are looking for a single experience horse adventure, Pinto Valley is a great option.
Farm policies
We keep the front gate closed for safety reasons, as the parking lot does not currently have an inner fence to keep straying horses off the road. Once the inner perimeter is fenced we will consider keeping the gate open during business hours. Customers are welcome to enter the closed gate during business hours, but please close it behind you.
Everyone that wants to ride at Stubbe Horse Farm must sign a waiver beforehand, and have appropriate riding gear. Further, all riding of school horses must be approved beforehand. If you are a boarder who wants to loan out your horse, you may do so if the above conditions are met.
