Riding Program Success Lessons from the Pandemic, by Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Equine Facility Manager Certifier Jill Montgomery, is the latest CHA blog post for readers to enjoy.
Jill interviews Jody Taylor, who is a CHA Certified Riding Instructor and co-owner with his partner Kim of Star T Ranch in Aledo, Texas, just outside of Fort Worth. Jody describes their experience, “We started out 2020 with a well-established program and a great crew of six CHA-certified riding instructors. When the Pandemic hit, we developed protocols to keep our students and boarders safe following guidance provided to area businesses by the City of Fort Worth. By showing leadership and sharing the plan with our clients—we made a smooth transition from closing the month of April through a graduated re-opening of services and were back to 100% by July—that led to the busiest Autumn in our history to date.”
He went on to say, “Clear and regular communication with our clients about the rules and commitment to their health and safety were keys to our operation’s success dealing with COVID19.”
Susan Garside, who is a CHA Board Member and Certifier and the Equestrian Program Director at the Akron, Ohio, YMCA Camp Y-Noah, was also featured. Camp Y-Noah offers a year-round riding for youth and adults. Programs include riding lessons, trail rides, birthday parties with ponies and both day and overnight youth camps. Being part of a larger organization, Susan’s program had several levels of management to clear when changing program details. She described 2020 as a stressful year requiring creativity and adaptability. She also saw big pay offs in getting two parts of their Camp running for the 2020 season. The experience required recalibrating priorities.
To read more about Jody and Susan’s experiences and to read more great blogs from CHA visit here.
Jill Montgomery is a CHA English and Western Riding Instructor, Equine Facility Manager, and Certifier for EFM. She is owner and CEO of JRAM Enterprises, Inc. an equine business consulting firm that focuses on work to keep equine activities accessible and enjoyable for everyone. For more information email Jill@JRAMEnterprises.com.
About CHA
CHA Equine Professionals Change Lives Through Safe Experiences with Horses. The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors and trail guides, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, has an educational horsemanship streaming video channel, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA.horse or call 859-259-3399. To find a certified equine professional or accredited equine facility near you, visit www.CHA.horse.
