General & Safety Policies

Please keep the following rules in mind when visiting Mill Creek:

1. BARN HOURS: Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Monday (but open from 2:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. for boarders only).
2. FOOTWEAR: All students must wear appropriate footwear at all times while working around and riding horses. Appropriate footwear is a hard-soled shoe with a heel. Absolutely no tennis shoes or flip flops.
3. HELMETS: All students must wear an ASTM-SEI approved riding helmet at all times when mounted. Mill Creek recommends all riders purchase and wear a riding helmet with a full harness and chin strap and a vest for jumping. Helmets should be no older than 5 years.
4. LESSON CANCELLATIONS: Students (or parents) are financially responsible for all lessons not canceled before 12 noon the day PRIOR to the scheduled lesson. Cancellations must be given to the office, NOT the instructor.  Cancellations called in using cell phones are often unclear, so please follow up or call from a land line.  NOTE:  Cancellations by e-mail must be made a week in advance!! 
5. PAYMENT: Mill Creek accepts checks (payable to Mill Creek), cash, VISA and Mastercard for lessons. Please pay before the start of each class. If students wish to pay for their lessons in advance, accounts can be opened in the office with a minimum deposit of $100.00. For non-boarders, a $5.00 bookkeeping fee applies if we need to bill you; the fee doubles with each re-invoice.
6. RETURNED CHECKS: There is a $20.00 charge for any returned check.
7. TELEPHONE: There is a pay phone available in the patio area near the restrooms; a calling card or credit card is needed to use this phone.
8. VENDING: Vending machines with snacks and hot and cold beverages are also located in the patio area; change or bills are required.
9. PARKING: Please, Please drive in and out very slowly. There are often children and animals in the driveway. Do not park in front of walkways or corral gates.
10. CHILDREN: Supervision of children on Mill Creek premises is the responsibility of the parent or a supervisor appointed by them. Mill Creek employees supervise your children only during a scheduled lesson. If a minor is being “dropped off” for a lesson, please pick them up at Mill Creek when the lesson ends.
11. GROUP & PRIVATE LESSONS: Please schedule with the office each group and private lesson you wish to attend at least 24 hours prior to the lesson to see if there may be a horse available. We prefer to have a monthly lesson schedule submitted in writing. Schedules are available on the 15th of each month for the following month both on our website and at the office.
12. RUNNING OR SCREAMING: No Running or Screaming in or around the stable areas.
13. JUMPING: No one is allowed to jump without an instructor.
14. PETS: Sorry NO DOGS (or other pets).
15. FEEDING HORSES: Please do not feed the horses. Even the best horses sometimes bite.
16. RAIN: In the event of rain, call the office as near to your lesson time as possible on the day of your lesson to find out if we are planning to teach. (It may be raining at your house and not at Mill Creek.)
17. NO SMOKING in and around the barn areas, shavings or hay.