An early photo


 

 

Elizabeth Graves will be training at:
ADDRESS
Shades Of Oak/Elizabeth Graves
14377 Poppy Drive
Spring Valley, MN 55975
507-346-2422
lizgraves@centurytel.net

Training Availability and Fees

Training will be available year round for the 2008 season, Days gone for conducting clinics, the daily training fee will be deducted and board fee applied only for those days.

Potential clients will be screened. Only clients willing to be an active participant in their horses education while in our program will be accepted. Horses under the age of 3 will be worked on
the ground only, we do not advocate riding horses under the age of 3 years. Horse coming in for first time undersaddle work will be accepted for no less that 60 days training commitment.

Horses will be worked  within reason of their physical and mental maturity and abilities only.
We will not consider those client applicants with:
1. Abusive tendencies
2. Negative attitudes
3. Unrealistic expectations of their horses progress and/or abilities
4. Those unwilling to follow through with continued work on their own or with help on their horse 
5. Those unwilling to continue proper care of the horse after a horse has returned home.

It is very common for many folks to expect their horses to make them a star after they have returned home from any training situation, when in truth the work has just begun and you the
owner must continue to help and support your horse, it is you that can make them that star or not. We get you and your horse started in the right direction and it must be understood is takes many years to finish a horses in their complete education and anything else is unrealistic. 

It is up to the owner to bring their own skills up to what a horse needs not that the horse will teach them to be  good equestrians once they return home. The horses still need you to direct and support them to stay on track to maintain their education and to advance their education, or they will go backwards in what they have learned to accommodate an owner and/or riders skill level.

Fast hard methods create holes in the learning process and we do not advocate  those methods. We do not use gimmicks in our training program such as weighted shoes or weighted boot, no extra or extreme strap work  such as martingales, tie downs, tuning forks etc. are also not used in our program, horses are taught to  perform within their natural abilities.We reserve the right to refuse any client applicant.


Fees: 30 Days training $900.00
This includes board 

Daily Board Fee $20.00
Applied  for any extra days stay without training

Lesson Fee $75.00 per hour
We regret having to make the above rate changes.
 We have the last 3 years tried to keep our rates to  clients as low as possible, but due to the huge rise in horse care expenses  we will not be able  offer  services without the above increases.

An advanced  booking fee of $50.00 is required which is applied to the training fee when the horse arrives on premises. This fee is Non-Refundable. 

Training, booking and lesson fees can be made by check, money order or cash to: 
Elizabeth Graves
14377 Poppy Drive
Spring Valley, MN 55975
Or by credit card  via pay pal account:
lizgraves@centurytel.net 

No training reservations will be beheld without the booking fee.
We only accept in 5 training horses at any time. All horses must have current within one year negative coggins test.. All vaccinations must be current with West Nile and Potomac Horse fever
mandatory, rabies vaccination are recommended. Shades of Oak is a Strangles free Facility, no horse will be allowed on the facility with in 4 months of last external symptom. We reserve the right to pull blood for testing on any questionable horses. Horses must be delivered in good healthy condition having been on a current worming program, hoof care maintained and dental work up to date.

Board, Grain and Hay are provide in the training fee. Any special needs for special supplements or feed additives beyond this are the responsibility of the owner to provide at the owners expense.

Private Lessons Schedule and Fee's

Beginning to advanced levels  and are open to all breeds and disciplines.
Fee : $60.00 per hour

We are sorry but no longer provide the use of our personal horses for lesson use.Lessons are with you and your horse. 

Those wishing to stay for more than one day, stalls and paddocks are available for overnight stays at $15.00 per night , horse owners provide hay and grain but is available for purchase if needed. Some electrical hook-ups are  possible for campers at no fee if you wish to camp over night on the facility.

Lessons will be available year round as schedule allows for openings. No lessons will be rescheduled if canceled within 2 weeks of scheduled dates.

$25.00 non-refundable booking fee is required to hold Lessons dates.

Everyone handling or riding a horse on the facility  will be required to read and sign a liability release. The use of protective riding helmets is welcome and strongly encouraged.
 

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Shades of Oak