student / parent/guardian policies and procedures
It is necessary for Flying Horse Foundation to gather some information about incoming participants and students.
Please read through the provided information and fill out the form below.
attendance
All student paperwork must be submitted before students can participate in any Foundation programs.
Please arrive on time for the group - no more than 5 minutes early. If a student comes more than 5 minutes before group time, they must remain in the vehicle with their parent/guardian. No student, family, or friend may be unsupervised before or after group time. If a student is going to be more than 15 minutes late, please inform the Program Director.
Parents/guardians must sign their students in and out each time they attend.
Please email info@flyinghorsefoundation.org or use Acuity/Squarespace Scheduling reminder emails to report any upcoming absences.
After consistent unexcused/non-communication no-shows, Flying Horse Foundation (FHF) reserves the right to suspend program participation.
For Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL):
If a student requires an extended period of absence, we cannot guarantee placement back into their original group but will do our best to accommodate them upon return.
attire
Flying Horse Foundation staff will strictly enforce this dress code. While we agree with an individual’s right to expression, due to the nature of our work and to the trauma many of our students have experienced, this dress code is essential for students to feel safe in this setting. Anyone who comes in clothing not following the established dress code will be asked to change and offered other clothing, if available. If the student refuses to change their clothing, they may be asked to leave for the day and return the following week dressed in compliance with the code.
NO STUDENT WILL EVER MOUNT A HORSE WITHOUT A HELMET.
long pants are required:
Students must wear long pants, socks, closed-toed shoes, and layers (due to frequent changes in the weather) for participation in the program. If a student is wearing shorts, they may not participate in a horse-mounted activity due to potential pinching of the skin from tack and increased contact with horsehair and fly spray, which may increase the risk of allergic reactions.
shirts/tops:
All shirts/tops must be long enough to cover the stomach completely.
The shirt neckline cannot be lower than a hands width from the base of the neck.
Tank top straps must be three fingers wide, or a shirt is worn over it.
footwear:
Must wear boots with 1/2” to 1” heel (can be borrowed).
Must wear socks with boots to avoid blisters and for sanitation.
Barn Rules and Guidelines
Please do not tour or wander around the facility or property without FHF staff accompanying you. The equipment barns and wedding/event venue are off-limits.
Please do not visit with animals without FHF staff present, and do not feed animals any outside food since some have dietary restrictions.
Do not go into any pasture or stall for any reason without the permission of the FHF staff or the group facilitator.
Please respect our space - trash goes into trash cans, boots on the shelves, jackets hung back up, animal waste cleaned up, etc.
Students and guardians must abide by all of these barn rules and guidelines. Failure to do so may result in warnings or expulsion from the program at the sole discretion of the Flying Horse Foundation. The Foundation reserves the right to discontinue services in the event rules and guidelines are continually broken despite warnings.
Cancellation
Please check our website for weather cancellation information before heading to the ranch. All weather cancellations will be posted on the website at least 2 hours before group time, and a cancellation email will be sent through Acuity/Squarespace Scheduling.
All major holidays are observed.
Please use the Acuity/Squarespace Scheduling system to cancel in the event of any planned absences.
Contacts
For cancellation delays or emergency cancellations, please contact Flying Horse Foundation by emailing info@flyinghorsefoundation.org or calling (303) 660-3583. During the weekend, this phone number will not be answered.
For any business or administrative questions, contact Trisha Tarleton, ttarleton@flyinghorsefoundation.org.
For any programmatic or group-related issues, contact Rachel Britton, rbritton@flyinghorsefoundations.org.
For Acuity/Squarespace Scheduling or enrollment questions, contact Ricardo Colas, rcolas@flyinghorsefoundation.org.
For volunteer inquiries, contact Karen Ament, kament@flyinghorsefoundation.org
To reach Trisha, Rachel, Ricardo, or Karen via phone, please call the FHF at (303) 660-3583.
Programs
The Flying Horse Foundation Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) program has a social and emotional educational focus. We utilize a curriculum-driven program to advance student wellbeing in five areas using the acronym C.A.R.E.S. (Connection, Awareness, Resilience, Empathy, Self-Regulation).
We do not provide Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Horseback Riding, or Psychotherapy services. We are not a riding program and, therefore, do not provide riding lessons.
Snacks
Snacks are provided for students. To the best of our ability, any rules or parameters set at home will be followed here, but food restrictions must be communicated to the student’s group facilitator. Participants will only be allowed access to food at designated times.
We encourage all students to bring a reusable water bottle.
Please clean up all trash.
No outside food or drinks are allowed (other than water). However, if programming exceeds 2 hours, participants may bring additional food to maintain proper blood sugar levels or other dietary practices. Additionally, if medically necessary, students may bring outside food at any time upon discussion with the Program Director.
Birthdays/Holidays
FHF has many groups operating simultaneously and we serve a diverse population of students. Not all students celebrate the same holidays and not all families have the same financial opportunities. As such:
Special treats from families are not allowed.
No gifts are allowed.
Technology
FHF-Guest is available for Wi-fi, although connectivity may be inconsistent and the network is not secure.
Students may not be on phones or other forms of technology unless given permission by staff.
Visitors
All visitors must be approved by the facilitator or management before coming to the property.
Family, siblings, and guests may not observe the group unless invited to do so or pre-approved by staff and may not take photos of the groups for the privacy of the other students in the groups. This policy maintains the safety and privacy of all students and limits group distractions.
Absolutely NO pets are allowed to be on the property. Pets must be left in your vehicle.
Family, siblings, and guests waiting for students are asked to follow the barn rules and guidelines listed above to be aware of the safety of the animals and students by not engaging in loud activities or running, throwing balls, etc. as this may startle the animals.