Welcome to Celestial Riding Academy: Lesson Policies and RulesWe are excited that you have chosen Celestial Riding Academy to help you reach your equestrian goals! We are committed to maintaining a fun, supportive, and safe environment, which is only possible when every student, parent, and staff member works together and does their part. Core Expectations for StudentsTo ensure a productive and rewarding experience, we ask that all students come prepared to engage fully in their horsemanship journey: - Positive Mindset: We expect every participant to arrive with a positive attitude and a willingness to cooperate with instructors, staff, and fellow students.
- Dedication to Care: Students should be willing to work hard and put in the time required to properly learn how to care for their assigned horses.
- Integrated Horsemanship: All of our riding lessons include some horsemanship training as part of our regular program curriculum.
Weather and Scheduling- Rainy Day Policy: On rainy days, we will pivot to conducting a full horsemanship lesson (unmounted). For extreme weather, we may reschedule, in which case you will be notified at least 1 hour prior to your lesson time.
Parent and Visitor GuidelinesWe prioritize safety and focus during all lessons. Please review the following guidelines if you plan to visit or drop off your student: - Drop-Off Policy: If you would like to drop your student off while other lessons are in session, please check in with your instructor first.
- The instructor may be able to arrange for a staff member to keep an eye on your student and assign them some simple tasks to help out around the barn, or the student can quietly watch the ongoing lessons.
- Important Liability Note:Celestial Riding Academy is a high-risk environment and is not responsible for your children and any accidents, damage, injury, or illness that may occur while they are unattended.
Contact InformationIf you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies or your student's lesson schedule, please feel free to reach out to: SarahPhone: 470-877-8078 Email: info@celestialridingacademy.com Chrissy Phone: 770-630-8706
Celestial Riding Academy Policies I. Safety, Required Attire, and LiabilitySafety is our top priority. Compliance with the following rules is mandatory for all individuals on the property. - Weight Limit: Our current weight limit for the riding program is 180 pounds due to the size and well-being of our horses. Unmounted horsemanship lessons are available for those who do not ride.
- Liability Release Forms: All students must have a filled out and signed liability release form for both the farm and the riding academy. Guests and parents are also required to sign release forms if they will be around horses.
- Rider Attire (Mandatory): All riders are expected to wear closed-toe shoes (preferably proper tall riding boots or paddock boots), long pants, and an SEI-approved horseback riding helmet.
- Helmet: We have several helmets available to borrow, but students should plan to purchase their own after the first few lessons.
- Pants: Loose and baggy pants are not allowed as they can pose a safety risk. Students in regular English lessons should wear breeches or jodhpurs.
- Hair: Long hair should be pulled back and out of the way.
- Boots: Proper English tall boots, paddock boots, or western style cowboy boots if doing western lessons. If students wear paddock boots, they should wear half chaps so the stirrup leathers don't rub.
- Visitor Attire (Mandatory): Anyone coming into the barn area or past any fences, including parents and guests, is required to wear closed-toe shoes, preferably boots.
- General Dress Code: No revealing clothing (swimsuit tops, short shorts, or skimpy tops) will be allowed in the summer.
I Agree
II. Attendance, Punctuality, and TimingWe strictly adhere to our schedule to ensure fairness and safety for all clients. A. Daily Arrival and Preparation TimesWe ask our intermediate and advanced students, who are responsible for preparing their horse, to adhere to the following timing guidelines: - Pre-Lesson Prep: Please plan to arrive 30 minutes early to ensure your horse is properly groomed, tacked up, and ready to start precisely when your lesson begins.
- Post-Lesson Care: Plan on staying approximately 15 to 30 minutes after your lesson to untack, cool down, groom, and return all equipment to its correct place.
- Horse Care Responsibility: We expect students who are advanced enough to handle these tasks to treat the horse they are assigned as if it were their own.
- Punctuality: If you are running late, we cannot go over your scheduled time as we have back-to-back lessons. If the student is more than 15 minutes late, the lesson will be counted as a No Show (see Section III).
Note: Sometimes we do use the same horse for multiple lessons. If you are unsure whether you will be responsible for tacking or untacking, you are welcome to call or text Sarah at 470-877-8078 before your lesson. Students must have parent copied on text if they are under 18. I Agree
B. Post-Lesson Care (Mandatory 15–30 Minutes)This time is mandatory, educational, and part of the lesson curriculum. - Horse Care: If the assigned horse does not have another immediate lesson, the rider is required to cool out the horse and untack them. They must then either turn the horse back out or place them in their stall (if advanced enough and instructed to do so).
- Facility Care: Students must pick their horse's stall after their ride (Clean Stall & Manure policy) and tidy their tack area.
- Tack/Equipment Cleaning: The rider must wipe down the bit and any excessively dirty or sweaty tack. All equipment (brushes, helmets, tack) must be put away properly.
- Hygiene Note: Only the assigned grooming tools will be used on that horse and brushes will not be shared between horses to prevent the spread of skin infections.
I Agree
III. Financial, Tuition, and Cancellation PolicyOur program operates on a tuition basis, securing your time slot for the month. A. Payments and TuitionPrepayment Policy: - All monthly tuition and single lessons must be prepaid. Tuition is due on the 1st of each month, and single lessons must be paid prior to the scheduled lesson time.
- Due Date: Lesson payments are due on the 1st of each month.
- Late Fee: A late fee of 5% will be charged if payment is not received by the 4th of the month.
- Spot Holding: Lesson slots will not be held if regular tuition is not paid by the due date.
- Payment Methods: You may pay by cash, check, card, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or online through our software (includes a convenience fee charge).
- Monthly Tuition Rates (Based on 4 Weeks):
- 1 Lesson/Week (Group or 30-Minute Private): $260
- 2 Lessons/Week (Group or 30-Minute Private): $480
- 1 Lesson/Week (1-Hour Private): $360
- 2 Lessons/Week (1-Hour Private): $680
- 1 Lesson/Week Group & 1 Lesson/Week Private Combo: $580
- Single Lesson Rate (Non-Tuition): 1 Hour Group/30-Min Private: $70
- Single Lesson Rate (Non-Tuition): 1 Hour Private: $95
- Note on Months with 5 Weeks: The 5th week will be allocated as no lessons, makeup lessons, or students may schedule an extra lesson for an additional cost if there is availability. Please see the website lesson page for the annual calendar with specific dates.
I Agree
B. Cancellations, Refunds, and Makeups- No Refunds:No refunds are given for any reason (this includes withdrawal, illness, or absence). Deposits can be used for the last month's lesson if appropriate notice is given.
- Cancellation Notice: Students on tuition must give notice 30 days ahead of the next month if they will not be continuing lessons.
- Required Notice for Credit: We require cancellations be made at least 24 hours in advance (or 6 hours in advance for sickness the morning of a lesson day). Cancellations must be made on our new software, ECOPRO, unless it is an emergency.
- Penalty for Late Cancellation/No Show: Lessons cancelled in less than 24 hours will not be allowed makeups and will count towards their regular lessons completed. The student will be charged in full.
- If the student is more than 15 minutes late, we will assume they are a no-show, and the lesson will be counted.
- Makeup Credits: Credits will be given for lessons rescheduled appropriately. Makeup lessons are based on availability and must be completed within 30 days unless the instructor agrees to an extension.
- Consistency: Due to demand, lesson slots cannot be held if the student cancels more than twice a month for multiple months without making up lessons, or does not maintain at least every-other-week attendance.
- Makeup Limit: No more than one lesson reschedule is allowed each month unless the student notifies the instructor at the beginning of the month of upcoming plans.
I Agree
IV. Inclement Weather PolicyWe prioritize continued learning and development regardless of the weather. - Rainy Days: When it is raining, we will still hold indoor horsemanship lessons instead of riding. There is plenty to do with horses while not riding that will further enhance a student's knowledge.
- Extreme Weather Cancellation: If we decide to cancel due to extreme weather (e.g., severe storms, ice), we will send out a text, call, or cancel on the scheduling system (text or email) within four hours of your lesson. If you do not hear from us, plan on coming for your lesson.
- No Show for Horsemanship: If you choose to not attend an indoor horsemanship lesson, you will still be charged in full for a regular lesson unless it is rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
I Agree
V. Parent, Visitor, and Drop-Off GuidelinesWe ask all visitors to help us maintain a safe and focused learning environment. - Parents During Lessons: Parents and visitors are allowed to watch lessons but must stay out of all pastures and the barn aisle unless passing through or permission is given. Parents must sit along the side of the arena where there is designated seating.
- Viewing: Please do not interrupt or give feedback. Wait until after the lesson is over for any questions or comments.
- Falls: If your child falls off, please remain where you are, quietly and calmly, and wait for the instructor to ask you to enter the arena if needed. Reacting with worry may inadvertently cause the child more distress.
- Drop-Offs: If you drop your student off, please check in with the instructor so they can arrange for supervision or simple tasks. You must let the instructor know if you are leaving and if you anticipate being late for pickup.
- Liability Note: CRA is a high-risk environment and is not responsible for your children and any accidents, damage, injury, or illness that may occur while they are unattended.
- Tack/Equipment:Parents and visitors are not allowed to help students with the horses unless special permission is given and release forms have been signed.
I Agree - No Dogs Allowed Policy:For the safety of our horses, staff, and other clients, dogs are strictly prohibited anywhere on the property. Please leave all pets at home. This rule is non-negotiable.
I Agree
VI. Communications and Barn Conduct- Student-Instructor Communication: Students under 18 will not reach out to instructors directly by phone. Students may text instructors with a parent copied on the text. If a student texts directly, the instructor may reply but will immediately add an adult to the conversation to ensure transparency.
- Food & Drinks: Students are allowed to bring food and drinks and place them in the fridge, but do not leave anything for more than a few days, or it will be discarded. Please bring plenty of water, especially in hot weather.
- Off-Property Attire: Off-property schoolings require attire of riding boots, riding pants (breeches or jodphurs) or chaps, a nice riding shirt, and a helmet. Show attire will be discussed separately.
- Horse Shows: We attend off-property shows and events. For overnight shows, the students competing will split the total travel costs.
I Agree
VII. Horse Shows and Off-Property Schoolings (External Events)Participation in external events requires planning, commitment, and adherence to specific deadlines to secure horse and travel arrangements. - RSVP and Deposit: Students should RSVP and pay a deposit for any horse show or off-property schooling they are interested in attending as early as possible to reserve their desired horse.
- Cancellations and Refunds:No refunds will be given after a certain date (to be communicated per event), as expenses for trailering, entry fees, and horse preparation will have already been incurred.
- Show Attire: For horse shows, students must have the proper show attire (to be discussed with the instructor).
I Agree
Barn Rules for Lesson Students - Watch your children at all times.
- Keep all gates closed and locked at all times.
- Do not allow metal gates to swing fully open.
- If you open a gate, stall door, or other door please close it behind you.
- Do not run in the barn, towards a horse, or near a horse.
- Do not walk behind horses.
- Do not ride horses in the barn.
- Always clean up after your horse if they poop in the barn, wash rack, cross ties, or area right around the barn.
- Clean the wash rack after you are finished using it.
- Clean up after yourself everywhere on property, including on any paved, gravel, or public areas.
- Wrap up hoses properly when you are done using them.
- Do not leave horse hair anywhere- pick it up and throw it in a trash can.
- Do not feed or ride any horses without permission from Sarah or the horse owner.
- Do not use any stall unless you have prior permission or it is that horses stall.
- Do not feed horses in the wash rack, cross ties, barn aisle, or at the ends of the barns as this attracts ants and rats.
- Put away all tack and brushes properly before you leave. If someone is caught leaving their stuff or their horse's stuff out multiple times and have been warned, they will have to take a few minutes out of their next lesson's ride time to clean up extra.
- Pick up any manure your horse leaves on the driveway, in front of the barn, or in the aisle or wash rack before leaving.
- If you are walking anywhere on property and see trash, please pick it up and throw it away.
- No loose horses in the barn. Always use a halter and lead rope when moving a horse or bringing them in.
- Do not move jumps or poles around without permission or being asked to. If you do move jumps around, put them back exactly how they were found.
- Control your language. Only a positive attitude is allowed.
- No dogs allowed on property.
- No smoking on property.
- You MUST wear a SEI approved helmet if you are under 18 years old. You must also wear a helmet if taking lessons or riding a lesson horse. We have helmets available for use.
- No horse-play in or around the barn, arena, or in horse pastures.
- Do not climb fences or let children climb fences.
- No shouting in or around the barn or while riding.
- Parents and visitors should keep talking to a minimum if watching near the riding area and only talk to the rider on breaks or to cheer them on
- Sweep up after your horse in the wash rack and aisle after picking out their feet.
- Clean your horse's stall before leaving.
- Tie your horses while tacking and untacking.
- Wear fluorescent safety vests as it gets dark / after dark when on the farm walking between pastures, on the driveway, and to and from the arena.
Please sign stating that you have read and agree with these policies rules. I Agree
Barn Rules for 4995 Moon Road, Powder Springs, GA 1. All riding and handling is done at your own risk. 2. Smoke free facility-NO SMOKING. 3. Make yourself known when you come around corners or through entryways where one may surprise/spook a horse. No running around the horses. 4. Please close every gate you pass through. Do not allow metal gates to swing fully open (with momentum). 5. All owners, riders and blacksmiths should clean up behind horses on any paved, gravel or public area. 6. Only boarders 18 and older may go into the pasture to fetch ones’ horse. 7. Boarders children under the age of 18 must be under adult supervision and a legal guardian must sign a release form. Children under the age of 12 must be supervised directly by a qualified adult whose sole purpose is watching the child. 8. Other children and young adults under the age of 18 are not allowed to handle and/or ride horses on the premises unless the owner is present, except in cases when the horse is being used for a lesson. In addition, no child under the age of 18 is allowed to handle and/or ride any horse on the premises unless an adult who is responsible for the child signs a release waiver. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a legal guardian who must supervise the child at all times. Management reserves the right to not allow any child on the premises. 9. Helmets must be worn by anyone under age 18 and/or anyone using the jumps; all visitors/leasers using the round pen must wear a helmet and sign a waiver. 10. All leasers are required to follow, read and sign the Stable Rules. Leasers are expected to act above reproach while leasing. 11. Round pen to be shared. When there is a paid lesson, please wait until the lesson is over to use the round pen. 12. Any damage to trailers being stored at the Stables or on the property is not the responsibility of the stables. 13. Visiting horses: Current Coggins is required from any visiting horses. 14. Tack room: please keep door closed as much as possible. 15. Wash rack: Horses should be washed in designated areas. Hoses need to be turned off and relieved of pressure when you are finished with them. Please clean up after yourself and the horse so it’s clean for the next person and horse when you are done. 16. Dogs: No outside dogs allowed. January 28, 2026Celestial Riding Academy Liability Release Waiver I, understand that horseback riding is a high-risk sport and I am participating at my own risk. I hereby assume this risk and further more hereby release, and hold harmless Sarah Banks, Mark Hendrikse, Sophia Walker, Ansley Murphy, Christine Garrison, Celestial Riding Academy, LLC, and its employees, volunteers and the owners of any property on which I will ride, from all liability for negligence resulting in accidents, damage, injury, illness, or death to myself or my property, including the horse(s) which I will ride at this stable. WARNING UNDER GEORGIA LAW, AN EQUINE ACTIVITY SPONSOR OR EQUINE PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF EQUINE ACTIVITIES, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 12 OF TITLE 4 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED. January 28, 2026
THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY (this “release”) is made and given as of the day of January 28, 2026 by TBD (hereinafter together with their legal representatives, heirs, executors and administrators, collectively, jointly and severally, the “clients”), to with and for the benefit of HPW HOMES, LLC. & THOMAS E. MCFARLAND, JR. TBD (hereinafter together with its agents, directors, officers employees, successors and assigns and the legal representatives heirs executors and administrators of the foregoing are collectively, jointly and severally referred to as the “Stables.) Whereas, the stables have requested, and the clients have agreed to execute this release to acknowledge their waiver and release of liability of the stables in connection any injuries or damages arising from the use or lease of the Stable’s horses the boarding facilities or the client’s horse as applicable. Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the agreement of the stables horse and/or the boarding facilities to the clients, intending to be bound legally, hereby: - Assume full responsibility for the safety of each rider.
- Release the stables from any and all claims, causes of action, demands, obligations and liabilities which now exist or which hereafter may mature or accrue at any time arising out of or related in any fashion to the use of the Stables’ horse, the boarding facilities or the client’s horse.
- Acknowledge and fully understand that each rider uses the stable’s horse, the boarding facilities and/or the client’s horse at his or her own risk.
- Agree to hold and save the stables harmless from each and every claim, demand, liability, or other obligation which may arise out of or be connected in any fashion with loss, injury or damage to any rider or to any rider’s property.
- Agee and covenant not to bring any action at law or in equity against the stables on behalf of themselves or on behalf of any rider, whether minor or adult, arising from or relating in any fashion to any injury, damage or other loss suffered by any rider ad connected in any fashion with any rider’s use of the stables horse, the boarding facilities or the clients horse and shall further defend the Stable’s against any such actions brought by any rider or on any rider’s behalf with respect to the Stables horse, the boarding facilities or the client’s horse.
- Owner agrees to hold Stable harmless from any claim caused by said horse.
- Acknowledge and understand that the Stables do not represent or warrant the quality of character of the Stable’s horse.
- Acknowledge and understand that horseback riding or other participation in activities involving a horse may involve substantial risk of bodily injury, property damage and other damages including, but not limited to, bodily injury or death resulting from kicks and bites, falling off horses, horses falling on the rider, a rider being dragged by a foot caught in the stirrups, a rider being thrown by a horse, equipment failure or collision with other horses, animals, vehicles or inanimate objects.
- Warning
- Under Georgia law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for any injury to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting from, the inherent risks of equine activities, pursuant to chapter 12 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
- ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING AND THAT IT RELEASES THE STABLES FROM ANY LIABILITY FROM USE OF THE STABLES’ HORSE, THE BOARDING FACILITIES AND/OR THE CLIENT’S HORS; AND UNDER GEORGIA LAW, AN EQUINE ACTIVITY SPONSOR OR EQUINE PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR A INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF QUINE ACTIVITIES, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 12 OF TITLE 4 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the clients have executed this release of the date set forth above. January 28, 2026Fill out the waiver by scanning Your Driver's LicenseThis scanner is designed as an optional onsite tool to streamline the waiver-signing process. If you are not at the business' location or prefer not to scan your license please skip this option and proceed below to fill out the waiver.Click the button below to start scanning:Start ScanningScanning in progress... Please use the provided barcode scanner to scan your driver's license. |