Program Updates at Lake Fork Stables
Every year we assess our programming and try to make the best decisions we can to ensure our programs are meeting the vision we originally established. We are entering our fourth year as a nonprofit, which is an outstanding achievement considering the challenges the past three years have thrown at us. As the founder and director, I have worked hard over the last year to put together a great herd of horses and even started a bingo hall to help sustain us as a nonprofit.
The expense of operating a horse facility has doubled since we started. The actual cost of a riding lesson should be priced at well over $100/hr due to the high cost of feed, hay, gas, diesel, tack, equipment, and the overhead of operating an equestrian facility - and our overhead is very low considering the small size of our facility.
Fundraising is incredibly difficult. While bingo helps substantially, it cannot be our only source of income per the government. We must have donors. This means that we need your support! There are so many ways you can help us:
Facebook birthday fundraisers
Share our fundraiser posts and links
Join or encourage family and friends to join our Patreon account
Tell people how much horses have helped your child
Help us spread awareness
Help plan and create your own fundraisers!
It is very disheartening to see our fundraisers raise absolutely nothing after all of the brainstorming, creating, and work that goes into creating them. Some, like East Texas Giving Day, even require a fee to participate. Those are funds better spent elsewhere if nobody is going to donate.
As we start a new school year and the temperatures finally begin to drop, we will again be offering lessons and our programs on a regular basis with some adjustments. While it was noble and bold to offer completely free lessons right from the start as a nonprofit, it is not currently a sustainable option. In fact, no other therapeutic riding program does this without benefactors providing the funds for scholarships.
Below are the following adaptations to our programming. All lessons will continue to follow the United States Pony Club curriculum, as well as the Principles of Training by Warwick Schiller. This method of training aligns perfectly with our style of therapeutic riding and riding school lessons.
Riders Up! Therapeutic Riding Lessons
The Riders Up! Program will now be classified as a therapeutic riding program and will include the Horse Boy sessions as well. Therapeutic riding lessons will also now be offered in two 8-week blocks in the fall and spring. Students will need to apply for each session. Previous participation does not guarantee future participation.
Therapeutic lessons will now be $25 per week. However, we are starting a scholarship fund to help subsidize the cost. Assuming we receive donations, funds evenly to all rider's accounts.
Additionally, we are offering a work and outreach program that will provide families the opportunity to earn credit towards their account to pay for lessons. Students and/or parents may work off their lesson fees by participating in Volunteer Events and Work Days. Work Days are held almost monthly depending on the weather and will often coincide with Volunteer Orientations. We have a variety of tasks that need to be completed on a regular basis as well as on a “project basis.” In addition to these tasks, outreach opportunities such as spreading awareness of Lake Fork Stables at events and Big Bass Bingo will also be available.
The Fall Session will begin October 1st through the week of November 20th. Applications will be accepted from now until September 24th.
Horse Powered Reading
Individual sessions may be booked on a regular, recurring basis. Each student will be assessed and specific educational needs determined, with sessions created around those needs. Sessions are $50 per hour. Students may also qualify for scholarship fund assistance.
The Riding School
All other paid riding lessons, including Horses4Heroes, will be provided under our Riding School program. Riding School lessons will continue to be offered at the same rates and on a weekly basis.
$50/hr for private lessons. Semi-private lessons for qualifying students at $40/hr. Horses4Heroes will remain at $27.50 per hour.
Lake Fork Stables Show Team
For those interested in showing, riders will be required to join Pony Club and commit to a regular riding lesson schedule. Pony Club Scholarships may also be available to help assist with the cost of membership.
Riders will earn their Standards of Proficiency through the Pony Club and will be evaluated twice yearly for the next level. We will show in Sulphur Springs at the Northeast Texas Dressage Club shows, which offers in-hand, classical, and western dressage. Four horse shows will be offered per year. Additional show opportunities may be offered as well if the scheduling works for us. Students will be required to pay show fees as well as a hauling and coaching fee.
Journey through Horsemanship Course
This is a special 12-week course that will be limited to six riders. This course will start Saturday, October 7th, and will be two hours on Saturday mornings at 9 am for $50 per week.
These classes will be small group classes providing students with a step-by-step horsemanship and training experience that will allow them to be better horsemen. The goal of this class is to teach students:
Setting yourself and your horse up for success
How to connect with horses on the ground and build a trusting relationship
Understanding body language in both humans and horses
Understanding mindfulness and energy and how it affects the horse/rider relationship
The Principles of Training
Groundwork designed to improve our horses
Transferring groundwork to the saddle
Improving our own balance and seat to gain strength and flexibility
Using our aids effectively
Working as a team to meet our goals
All of this will be intertwined with proper safety and horse care while we work together to achieve the goals that we set for the horses as a group.