Finding Your Stride

Welcome to Finding Your Stride

Farm and Stable Guidelines

Finding Your Stride is a working farm and learning environment. These guidelines are in place to support the safety, privacy, comfort, and wellbeing of our clients, staff, and animals.

Thank you for taking a moment to review them before your first visit.

Respect for One Another and Inclusivity

• Finding Your Stride is a welcoming and inclusive space.

• Everyone is expected to treat others with kindness, respect, and consideration.

• Discriminatory language or behaviour of any kind is not tolerated.

• Differences in age, ability, experience, culture, identity, and communication styles are respected.

We believe people learn best when they feel safe, seen, respected, and welcome.

Respect for Our Animals

The animals at Finding Your Stride are living beings, not tools or equipment. This is their home, and their wellbeing always comes first.

• Animals are given choice in how and when they participate.

• During their free time, animals may rest, move away, or interact as they choose.

• Respecting an animal’s boundaries and communication is part of what we teach.

• Please do not feed any animal without staff permission. Some animals have specific dietary requirements.

• Carrots, apples, and other treats may only be given with staff approval.

Staff will guide all interactions to support the safety and wellbeing of both people and animals.

General Conduct

• Calm and respectful behaviour is expected around animals.

• Horses and other farm animals can be sensitive to movement, noise, and activity around them.

• Please follow staff instructions while on the property.

• If you are unsure about something, please ask. We are always happy to explain.

Arrival and Session Times

• Please remain in your vehicle until 5 minutes before your scheduled session.

This allows us to maintain client privacy, safely finish the previous session, prepare animals, and create a calm transition between appointments.

• If you arrive late, your session will still finish at the originally scheduled time.

• Sessions cannot be extended to accommodate late arrivals.

• Please plan to arrive on time for pickup. Late pickups affect our next clients, staff schedules, and animal care.

Parents, Guardians, and Visitors

For riding lessons, parents or guardians are welcome to watch if the rider is comfortable with them being present.

We ask spectators to:

• Allow the instructor to coach the rider without additional coaching from the sidelines.

• Keep conversations and distractions to a minimum.

• Avoid repeatedly entering and leaving the viewing area, as this can be distracting to both the rider and the horse.

• Take photos at the end of the lesson whenever possible.

For Horse Assisted Self Development, Nature Based Wellness, counselling, and other private sessions, parents, guardians, siblings, friends, and visitors are asked to remain in their vehicle or return at pickup time.

If a parent, guardian, or support person would benefit from attending a session, this can be discussed ahead of time with the facilitator and client.

Because of insurance, liability, animal safety, and client privacy, visitors are not permitted to walk around the farm or visit animals without a staff member present.

If children or additional family members are staying during a riding lesson, they must be actively supervised and provided with quiet activities so the lesson is not disrupted.

Waivers

• All required liability waivers must be completed before anyone interacts with the horses or other animals.

• Sessions cannot begin until required waivers have been completed.

Safety and Attire

• Closed toe shoes or boots are required for anyone entering horse or animal areas.

• Please dress appropriately for the weather.

• Clothing may get dirty. This is a working farm.

• Anyone under 18 is required to wear an approved riding helmet whenever they are interacting with horses or miniature horses.

This includes riding, groundwork, leading, grooming, brushing, handling, or participating in activities around the horses.

• Helmets must remain properly fastened while the participant is interacting with the horse.

Around the Farm

• Please do not enter paddocks, pastures, stalls, pens, or animal areas without staff permission.

• Please do not wander around the property without a staff member.

• No pets are permitted on the property.

• No smoking is permitted anywhere on the property.

• If you open a gate, please close it securely behind you.

• If you use equipment, please return it to its proper place.

• If something is damaged or broken, please let us know.

• If you ever have a concern about the wellbeing of one of our animals, please tell us immediately.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency, clients and visitors will be asked to calmly and quietly leave the barn and proceed to the designated meeting area at the picnic table on the EAST side of the parking lot.

Finding Your Stride staff will manage the horses and other animals.

Please do not attempt to catch, move, release, or assist with animals during an emergency unless specifically directed by staff.

Once outside, remain at the meeting area and wait for further instructions.

Calm and clear movement helps keep everyone safe.

Most Importantly

If you have a question, please ask.

If you have a concern, please let us know.

Finding Your Stride is a place of teaching and learning, and open communication is important to us. We want clients and families to feel comfortable asking questions, communicating their needs, and helping us create a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone. ❤️