Our Policies

Visitors

CTREE and Topping Riding Club does not permit unscheduled drop-in visitors on the property. All visitors must be scheduled and accompanied with a CTREE instructor or staff. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to their visit. To schedule a visit and submit the signed waiver, please contact the office at info@ctreeny.org or call/text 631-488-0142.

Volunteering

All volunteers must meet our requirements, apply, and complete orientation and scheduled in order to volunteer at CTREE. We ask that volunteers commit to volunteering approximately 2-3 hours per week on the same day each week for a 6-10 session. If an applicant is unable to commit weekly and they wish to do so, they can be placed on our sub list to be contacted to be a substitute if a volunteer has to cancel if they are available.

Programs

All riders and participants must apply on our website and be evaluated by one of our PATH Int. certified instructors before being scheduled for lessons. We do not offer drop-in lessons without an application and evaluation. To be accepted in our therapeutic riding and equine-assisted program, applicants must meet our eligibility requirements and be approved by a PATH Int. certified instructor and the program director in order to be scheduled. Participants must sign up for and attend weekly lessons during our 6-10 sessions. Only with availability and under certain circumstances can an approved participant be scheduled for a drop-in lesson. CTREE reserves the right to not approve an applicant to our programs or drop-on request for any reason.

Tuition

CTREE offers weekly private and semi-private lessons in 6 - 10 week sessions, year round. Lessons are 30 minutes long and are $50 per lesson or $75 per lesson for participants enrolling in the Summer Session only. We offer scholarships for participants in need. Participants must commit to a weekly lesson on the same day of the week for an entire session and let us know of any conflicts at least 24 hours prior to the lesson.

Cancellations
We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. Riders will be charged for lessons cancelled less than 24 hours in advance and no-shows. Lessons may be canceled by CTREE due to weather or lack of availability of instructors or volunteers. You will be notified as soon as possible of cancellations.

Late Payment Fees
Invoices not paid within 30 days will incur a $5.00 late fee charge. Invoice balances must be paid or a payment plan must be established before the start of a new session for the rider to be enrolled. Email program@ctreeny.org if you need to establish a payment plan.

Physician’s Statement
All CTREE participants must have a signed and dated statement from their doctor.

Age
Therapeutic riding participants must be at least 5 years of age. Participants under the age of 5 are accepted under special circumstances.

Weight Limit
CTREE reserves the right to impose a weight limit in the event that no horse is available to safely carry a participant weighing over 175 pounds. A lower limit may be imposed if illness or injury prevents the use of a suitable horse. Applicants that are not eligible for for therapeutic riding lessons due to weight limitations and horse availability may be eligible for equine-assisted learning.

Behavior
Inappropriate, unsafe or disruptive behavior or any condition where the client is harmful to him/herself or others is a contraindication to therapeutic horseback riding.

Medical Precautions and Contraindications
The following medical/emotional challenges may be precautions or contraindications to therapeutic horseback riding. You will have a chance to further explain these challenges in your application so that we can have a better understanding of how these challenges may impact therapeutic riding safety. We will reach out to you if we have any questions.

  • Acute exacerbation of chronic disorder

  • Allergies to Grasses, Animals and Dust/Other Allergies

  • Asthma/Breathing/Lungs

  • Atlantoaxial Instabilities

  • Behavioral

  • Bone/Joint

  • Cancer

  • Circulation

  • Cognitive

  • Communication

  • Coxarthrosis

  • Cranial Deficits

  • Diabetes

  • Digestive/Elimination

  • Emotional/Mental Health

  • Hearing

  • Heart

  • Hemophilia

  • Heterotopic Ossification

  • Hip Subluxation and Dislocation challenges and needs

  • Hypertension

  • Hypoesthesia/Sensation

  • Indwelling catheter

  • Internal Spinal Stabilization Devices (such as Harrington Rods)

  • Kyphosis

  • Lordosis

  • Muscular

  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta

  • Osteoporosis

  • Pain

  • Pathologic Fractures

  • Peripheral Vascular Disease

  • Poor Endurance

  • Recent Surgery

  • Scoliosis

  • Seizures

  • Spinal Fusion

  • Spinal Instabilities/Abnormalities

  • Spinal Orthoses

  • Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)

  • Varicose Veins

LIABILITY RELEASE

There are risks and exposures to personal injury involved through equestrian activities, the participant/guardian releases Center for Therapeutic Riding on the East End (CTREE) and Topping Riding Club and its employees assisting in any official capacity on their behalf, from all and every claim for damages which may occur to you/your child/minor under my guardianship or property in any connection with any lesson, clinic, practice, schooling or any work with horses on the stable grounds or away from the grounds of the Topping Riding Club, Sagaponack, New York.