Overview

Membership
                                                                          NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

                                                                            The UM Equestrian Club openly admits students to its membership and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

                                                                              According to the UMEC Constitution and ByLaws, active membership is open to people officially connected to the University of Maryland, College Park. This includes faculty, staff, and registered students (full, part, graduate). Although only undergraduates may participate in voting. To be considered an active member, one must pay their dues ($20 membership fee), attend at least 75% of meetings unless otherwise noted, ensure qualified substitutes for weekly obligations if unable to perform, and inform instructors of excused riding absences.

                                                                                Fees
                                                                                  Membership Fee

                                                                                  The membership fee is $20/semester and must be paid by everyone, regardless of position or riding availability. This payment is due at the beginning of the semester before you are able to sign up for lessons, etc. This cannot be eliminated by discounts.

                                                                                    Riding Fee

                                                                                    Members cannot ride until the fee is paid, and each missed lesson that results from non-payment is an unexcused absence unless approved by the finance director (for monetary reasons) or teaching director and instructor (for lessons once the fee is paid).

                                                                                      All members pay a $200 riding fee that can be discounted as per the constitution. In short, discounts can be earned by feeding or cleaning at least twice a week, or thorugh participation as head trainers or instructors.

                                                                                        Special payment circumstances can be discussed with the finance director, umec_finance@yahoo.com, but must be brought up and completely arranged before the first riding lesson.

                                                                                          Discounts and Hold Checks

                                                                                          Riding fees may be worked off to the amount of $25 with a series of tasks performed around the barn on a weekly basis.  Any person involved in riding lessons MUST either feed/clean/or teach a lesson. However, you don't receive a discount unless you perform a weekly duty at least twice a week. This means that you would pay $125 up front and a $75 hold check that would be cashed only in the event that you do not fulfull your responsibilities.

                                                                                            Hold checks are a form of insurance to the horses that your job is done correctly and responsibly. These checks are written out in the amount of the discount you are trying to receive. If, for any reason, you do not show up to feeding/cleaning/teaching unexcused and without a substitute, these checks are deposited. Otherwise they are returned at the end of the semester.

                                                                                              In order to receive the discount, you must feed, clean, teach, or train a lesson twice a week for the semester. After the one required day, every day of a given week that you contribute to UMEC feeding/cleaning/teaching/head training deducts $75 from you original riding fee; assistant trainers get a $25 discount.

                                                                                                For example, if for the semester you only clean once a week, your riding fee would be $200 with no hold check. If you clean twice a week, your fee would be $125 and your hold check would be $75.

                                                                                                  This would total two checks PLUS your $20 membership fee.

                                                                                                    You can only work off up to $25. Checks are non-refundable.

                                                                                                      Lessons

                                                                                                      Lessons are paid by semester. The cost is $200 per semester all club members. This includes one 1-hour lesson per week (not including half hour tack up and tacking down). We offer balanced seat riding lessons for beginners through advanced riders. This means basic English equitation that will prepare our students to walk, trot, canter, and jump up to 2’6” comfortably and confidently.

                                                                                                        All lessons are 1 hour in length with the maximum of 4 students per lesson. When signing up, please consider the half hour prior to the lesson and the half hour afterwards, such that the entire commitment takes a total of 2 hours.

                                                                                                          Checks (fees and hold checks) are due the first day of lessons, which usually start the second or third week of the semester. After this time, schedules are full and times cannot be changed. For more information about payments, please refer to the above "Fees" section.

                                                                                                            Lessons are taught to all riders of the University of Maryland community (faculty and students) of all levels proficiencies. All riders must be evaluated by Horse Usage prior to being placed in a lesson. Riding levels range from E- (absolutely no experience) to A (advanced). At the end of each semester, the instructors will again evaluate your skill and recommend an appropriate level.

                                                                                                              Cancellations

                                                                                                              Notice for cancellation much be given 24 hours in advance as unexcused absences will be counted against you. Two unexcused absences result in losing the semester riding spot.

                                                                                                                There are no make-up lessons. All lessons will be proceed regardless of weather, although it is up to the discretion of the instructor. During inclement weather ground lessons on horsemanship may replace mounted lessons.

                                                                                                                  Clinics

                                                                                                                  Clinics and seminars are scheduled throughout the year. Experts and professors from various areas for expertise come to the General meeting to share their fields of knowledge.

                                                                                                                    All of the lessons are taught by club members and typically have two to four riders per lesson. All riders are required to commit roughly 1.5 hours a week to help feed or clean our horses in order to be in lessons. We also have an assistant instructor program for members interested in learning how to teach.