Gold Tuition Agreement

McKinley Farms Riding Club Agreement

1. The Services:

McKinley Farms LLC/McKinley Farms Riding Club will provide client with access to riding lessons based on which level they choose.

-- Bronze Level

• Pony Pals Academy includes enrollment in one 4-week session, up to 10 sessions per year. You can register for one session at a time and get priority registration for the next session. Limited to 6 students.

  • Session-Based Enrollment: Pony Pals Academy is offered in 4-week sessions. No advance notice of cancellation is required, as enrollment is session by session.

  • No Guarantee of Placement: A spot in a future session is not guaranteed. Priority registration may be offered but is dependent on availability.

  • Refunds & Tuition: Tuition is non-refundable. There are no pro-rated credits or refunds for missed classes.

• Tiny Rider includes two 20-minute private lead line lessons per month to be scheduled on alternating weeks.

  • Notice of Cancellation: Enrollment is subject to a 30-day written notice requirement to end the subscription. Cancellation must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

  • Lesson Scheduling: Lessons are held at a fixed day and time. No cancellations, rescheduling, or make-ups are permitted. Missed lessons do not roll over to the following month.

  • Late Arrival: If a rider arrives late, the lesson will still conclude at the scheduled end time.

  • Refunds & Tuition: Tuition is non-refundable. There are no pro-rated credits or refunds for missed classes.

• Equine Explorer includes two 30-minute private lessons per month to be scheduled on alternating weeks. Each lesson is a combination of a lead line or lunge line lesson and pre-ride preparation or post-ride care.

  • Notice of Cancellation: Enrollment is subject to a 30-day written notice requirement to end the subscription. Cancellation must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

  • Lesson Scheduling: Lessons are held at a fixed day and time. No cancellations, rescheduling, or make-ups are permitted. Missed lessons do not roll over to the following month.

  • Late Arrival: If a rider arrives late, the lesson will still conclude at the scheduled end time.

  • Refunds & Tuition: Tuition is non-refundable. There are no pro-rated credits or refunds for missed classes.

-- Silver Level includes access to a maximum of 4 lessons classes per month. Depending on rider ability, lessons will be 30 minute privates, 45 minute semi-privates, or 60 minute groups, based on instructor approval.

• Rainbow Level is specifically for beginning riders ages 4 - 7 years old or as a bridge from Pony Pals to our core lesson program. The lessons will be 30 minute privates with an additional 10 minutes practicing pre-ride preparation or post-ride care.

-- Gold Level includes access to a maximum of 8 riding classes per month.  Depending on rider ability, lessons will be 30 minute privates, 45 minute semi-privates, or 60 minute groups, based on instructor approval.

-- Platinum Level includes access to a maximum of 12 riding classes per month.  Depending on rider ability, lessons will be 30 minute privates, 45 minute semi-privates, or 60 minute groups, based on instructor approval.

If you are late to your lesson, at approximately the half-way point (10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes depending on scheduled lesson block) the lesson is considered completed.

McKinley Farms LLC/McKinley Farms Riding Club will be closed up to 8 weeks per year to give the lesson horses a break, allow students to compete at horse shows and not to miss lessons, to run special events, and even to give riding instructors a break.  The weeks that are off will be communicated via a calendar.

McKinley Farms LLC/McKinley Farms Riding Club will also provide access to group unmounted horsemanship classes, up to four, each month for Silver, Gold, and Platinum students that they are encouraged to attend. Confirmation of attendance and a minimum of three students is required so that we can plan accordingly. If the day and time does not work, client is responsible for completing the Study Guide independently and/or accessing our online course.

There is no guarantee that a client will receive the maximum number of lessons in a given month.  The client will receive a dedicated day and time for their lessons.  It may be the case that some months the client gets sick, or the available lessons don’t work for the client’s schedule for a number of reasons. In this situation (Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels) -  a maximum of one unused lesson from a previous month will rollover to the following month.  If the lesson is not used the following month, it expires.

2. Client Requirements

Client must be wearing proper riding attire - boots with heels, an ASTM/ SEI certified riding helmet, a fitted or tucked in shirt, and breeches. Client must be coachable, positive, and have a good attitude.

Client must show up on time dressed and ready to ride.

All Bronze, Rainbow, and Silver level students not yet independent are to arrive 5 minutes before scheduled lesson time.

All Silver, Gold and Platinum level students who are independent*** are to arrive up to 30 minutes before scheduled lesson time based on how quickly they are able to have the horse prepared and able to remain up to an addtional 30 minutes for post-ride care.

***Until Client (or parent of Client) can prepare a lesson horse independently (pre-ride preparation: groom, tack up, sweep cross-tie area, warm up or post-ride care: cool down, untack, groom, tack care, and clean cross-tie area) - part of each lesson will be dedicated to building these skills. The sooner these skills are mastered the more riding time the Client has.

3. Compensation and Payment Terms

Our monthly tuition price is based on the annual value of .  Client will put a credit or debit card on file, and it will be automatically charged the amounts below based on which program they choose.

The Bronze Level Tuition (Pony Pals Academy):  $250/month.

The Bronze Level Tuition (Tiny Rider):  $150/month.

The Bronze Level Tuition (Equine Explorer):  $200/month.
The Silver Level Tuition:  $450 a month.
The Gold Level Tuition: $850 a month.
The Platinum Level Tuition: $1350 a month.

Please note there is a one-time enrollment fee that will be included on the first invoice.

Bronze one-time enrollment fee: $50

Silver, Gold, and Platinum one-time enrollment fee: $150

Client calendar month begins the day you enroll- and the maximum amount of lessons that client is permitted to take must be used before the same date on the following month.  For example if you enroll on September 5th into the Silver package- you have until October 5th to take advantage of your 4 riding classes.

McKinley Farms LLC/McKinley Farms Riding Club will be operating on a quarterly basis.  Students will be considered to be enrolled for the entire following quarter if we do not receive notice that you wish to cancel prior to the 1st day of the last month of the quarter. 

Jan-Feb-Mar is considered Q1.  If you do not cancel in writing prior to 11:59pm on February 28th you will be financially committed for all of Q2.  

April-May-June is considered Q2. If you do not cancel in writing prior to 11:59pm on May 31st you will be financially committed for all of Q3. 

July-Aug-Sep is Q3.  If you do not cancel in writing prior to 11:59pm on August 30th you will be financially committed for all of Q4. 

Oct-Nov-Dec is Q4.  If you do not cancel in writing prior to 11:59pm on November 30th you will be financially committed for all of Q1 for the following year. 

We have incredible expenses and financial commitments to be able to offer this program and we depend on students who can make some commitment as well as give us plenty of notice if they are quitting so that we have time to pull students in from the waiting list to take their place. We are dedicated to offering a program that allows families to participate in the world of horses at a significant discount in comparison to horse ownership.

There is no reason why a student will not be financially committed for the entire quarter, even if they are unable to make it to lesson.

Example:  A student enrolls July 1st.  They immediately get injured and cannot ride for 3 months. They still have to pay for July, August, and September- even though they cannot ride. They are still welcome to attend all unmounted lessons, participate in lesson auditing, will be granted full access to Global Equestrian, and depending on medical clearance, can groom horses.

Students must cancel in writing by sending an email to [email protected] for their cancellation to be valid.

4. No Guarantee and No Refunds
The company does not warrant or guarantee any specific level of performance or results. The results of your riding program are largely based on the efforts and participation of the student as well as frequency of riding lessons. The more we practice, the better we get.

• Tiny Riders, Equine Explorers, and Pony Pals Academy: Tuition is non-refundable. There are no pro-rated credits or refunds for missed classes.

• All Other Programs (Silver, Gold, Platinum): There are no refunds for any reason.

5. Release of Liability

I acknowledge the risks and potential for risks of horseback riding and activities in and around a facility where horses are kept and farm machinery operated.  However, I feel that the possible benefits to me/my son/my daughter/my ward are greater than the risk assumed.  Intending legally to bind myself, my heirs, and assigns, executors or administrators, I hereby waive and release forever all claims for loss or damages of any kind against Joseph McKinley, Danielle McKinley, Robin Christiansen, and anyone working at 12902 Tesla Road, Livermore, California 94551 for any and all injuries and losses that I/my son/my daughter/my ward may sustain while participating.  This release includes without limitation the risk of negligent instruction and supervision.  I engage in activities at 12902 Tesla Road, Livermore, California 94551 voluntarily with knowledge of the risks and I assume all risks of injury, death, and property damage that may result.  I agree to bear any loss myself.  I acknowledge that Joseph McKinley, Danielle McKinley, and Robin Christiansen are materially relying on this waiver and assumption of risk in allowing me/my son/my daughter/my ward to participate in activities at 12902 Tesla Road, Livermore, California 94551