New Client Info

New lesson clients will need to complete several forms before their first lesson.  You may complete them online or fill them out at the barn before your first lesson.

In an effort to save paper, we encourage you to complete our FPRL New Client Release Form online.  In addition, you will need to fill out an HPC Release Form, which can also be done online, or onsite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I go?

• Our driveway looks like the feeder road of 610 north. The driveway has “no freeway access” signs and a small sign for “The Bayou Club”. Proceed until you pass the Bayou club on your right and the first polo field. After passing the first polo field, curve around to the right and park facing the second polo field (Flanders field). Head down the isle way until you see the archway. Look for the little white building across from the archway that has the blue loveseat in front. That is our office. We will meet you there!

Whats should I wear to riding lessons?

• Long pants, like jeans or breeches.
• We will supply a helmet for your first couple lessons but we suggest buying your own after your first 3 introduction lessons.
• Boots with a heel; well fitting cowboy boots are fine for the beginning of your riding career but we suggest investing in paddock boots and half chaps when you get more serious in your riding.
• If students are experiencing rubs on their legs and/or hands we suggest purchasing gloves and half chaps to prevent chafing from the leather.
• Don’t wear dangling jewelry that could get caught; stud earrings and/or a watch are okay.
• Long hair should be tied back away from the face.
• Clothing appropriate for the weather.
• Mask around the barn/tackroom area (not required while mounted).

Lessons and scheduling:

• We teach rain or shine.
• If weather conditions prohibit a riding lesson, we’ll substitute a much-needed horse-keeping or ground lesson. It is important to us to build well rounded horsemen and women that are able to safely and confidently handle horses on the ground and care for them.
• We’ll cancel lessons altogether only if traveling is hazardous or if it is dangerous for the students to be around horses (bad weather tends to make the horses antsy and unpredictable).
• We currently have a very full lesson schedule, which restricts our ability to change the schedule around but we will try our best to accommodate any changes you need to make.
• It is important to arrive on time for your lessons. When you are late, often other people and horses are standing around waiting for you. Once your child can tack up on their own, we even suggest arriving 10 minutes early so they can make the most out of their lesson.
• We reserve the right to cancel the lesson after lateness exceeds 20 minutes.
• We have a 24 hour cancelation policy. If you must cancel a lesson, please call and let us know at least 24 hours ahead of time so that we can offer that time or that horse to someone else. Please call or text (713-817-5116) to reschedule.

 Tracking your progress:

• The best way to follow your child’s progression as he/she learns to ride is to be an active participant: go sit in the arena and watch his/her lessons; ask questions about the things you don’t understand; be a cheerleader for your child’s accomplishments.
• If you’re not able to have an active role in your child’s lessons, you can still keep track of what they’re learning: make sure that you and your child download a copy of our Learning Levels program, a system that allows you to follow your child’s progress with both mounted and unmounted instruction.
• Your/your child’s performance during riding lessons is often a reflection of what’s going on at school/at home. All riders perform and progress better when they are physically and mentally feeling their best. If you/your rider have an off day, consider what else may be contributing to their difficulty during a lesson. Also, please keep in mind that progress often looks like peaks and valleys (with plateaus as well!). You/your child may seem to be struggling to master a particular concept for weeks, maybe months! That’s normal and once mastered, there will be a “spike” in their progress before the next big hurdle.
• We try hard to keep the lines of communication open so that both you and your child stay current with whatever’s happening at FPRL. Please take the time to browse our bulletin boards at each barn and “like” our Facebook page (see the link at the bottom of each page) so you won’t miss the next barn party or day camp enrollment deadline.

 

Payment:

• CLICK HERE to see our Pricing and Payments page for more detailed information.
• Payment is due at the time of booking each lesson, although some people prefer to pay ahead for lessons on a monthly basis.
• We accept cash, checks, and Venmo as payment. We can also accept electronic payments from your debit or credit card for lessons, camps, and other fees, but there is a 4% service charge when using a card.

Membership:

• Please note, that after your second introductory lesson, a Houston Polo Club membership is required to continue taking lessons with us.  This ensures grounds are well kept and facilities will continue to function.  Membership includes club benefits (tickets to polo games and invitations to HPC social events). Please note that your membership does not cover the cost of your lessons.
• Please contact accounting@thehoustonpoloclub.com for pricing and application.

Weather Policy:

We will not ride under the following conditions:

• The temperature is under 36 degrees. This includes the “feels like” temp.
• The temperature is over 98 degrees (we generally finish all lesson by 11 in the summer and should not have to cancel any of these lessons).
• Thunderstorms on top of us. Lightning is the most important factor.
• Occasional cancelation due to heavy rain and flooding

The above conditions are for the comfort and safety of both rider and horse. Remember we have use of the small covered arena in the event of light rain. We are expected to share this space with several other teachers. The teacher with the largest class usually wins the space for the hour.

In the event of flooding or heavy rain, our private lessons will likely be cancelled. We will do our very best to provide a classroom lesson alternative if riding is not possible. Some of our unmounted instruction includes grooming, tacking, tack assembly, wrapping, blanketing, doctoring, watching videos, cleaning tack, etc.