Rock Branch Horse and Cattle Co.
Cancellation, Late Arrival, Missed Appointment and Payment Policy
Trail rides and riding lessons start promptly, so please be dressed and ready to ride at least 5 minutes in advance of your scheduled ride. Lateness, “no-shows” and late cancellations inconvenience not only the other riders, but also the horses that are saddled ahead of time.
Beginning September 1st , 2026, Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company will be transitioning our regular riding lesson program to a monthly package system. We are making this change to provide more consistency for our riders and horses and to ensure that weekly lesson times can be properly reserved. We will be sharing the updated policy with all current lesson clients, so everyone has plenty of time to prepare for the change.
Lesson Packages & Payment
-Regular weekly riding lessons are offered as monthly packages.
-Payment for the month is due before the first lesson of the package.
-Your payment reserves your regular weekly lesson time for the month.
-Lesson packages are non-refundable and non-transferable.
-The number of lessons included in each monthly package is based on the number of times your regularly scheduled lesson day occurs during that calendar month. Some months will include four lessons, while others may include five. The monthly package price will be adjusted accordingly.
-Your next monthly package must be paid before beginning the next package.
-We are unable to provide a lesson if payment has not been received before the scheduled lesson.
If you need to pay by cash or check, please contact us in advance at 434-202-4040.
Scheduling & Arrival
Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your lesson so that you are dressed and ready to ride when your lesson begins.
Your lesson time cannot be extended if you arrive late, as we often have lessons and other horse activities scheduled immediately before or after your appointment.
If you arrive late, we will do our best to accommodate you for the remaining portion of your scheduled lesson time. Your lesson will still end at its regularly scheduled time.
Cancellations
We understand that life happens and occasionally you may need to miss a lesson.
To qualify for a makeup lesson, you must provide at least 24 hours’ notice of your cancellation.
Please call or text 434-202-4040 as soon as possible if you know you will be unable to attend.
Makeup Lessons
-Each monthly package includes one makeup lesson for a lesson missed with at least 24 hours’ notice.
-Makeup lessons must be scheduled within 30 days of the missed lesson.
-Makeup lessons are subject to availability and may not be scheduled during your regular weekly lesson time.
-A makeup lesson does not create an additional makeup opportunity if the makeup itself is missed.
-Makeup lessons are not included in the following month’s package and do not count as one of the regularly scheduled lessons in the new package.
-Additional missed lessons beyond the one included makeup are forfeited.
-The makeup policy is intended to provide reasonable flexibility while allowing us to maintain consistent scheduling for our riders, instructors, and horses.
Late Cancellations & No-Shows
-A late cancellation is any cancellation made less than 24 hours before the scheduled lesson.
-A no-show is a missed lesson without any advance notification.
-Late cancellations and no-shows will result in the lesson being forfeited with no makeup or refund.
Because a horse and instructor have been reserved specifically for you, we are unable to fill most last-minute cancellations.
Weather & Farm Cancellations
-Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company may cancel or reschedule lessons when weather, farm conditions, trainer availability, or other circumstances make riding unsafe or impractical.
-If Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company cancels your lesson, you will not lose the lesson, and the canceled lesson will not count toward your one makeup lesson for the month.
-The canceled lesson may be rescheduled within 30 days of the original lesson date, subject to availability.
-There is no cancellation fee when Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company cancels due to unsafe weather or other circumstances.
-Please understand that weather and safety decisions are made with the safety of our riders, horses, and staff as our first priority.
Holidays, Clinics & Planned Farm Closures
-Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company will provide advance notice of any planned farm closures, holidays, clinics, or other scheduled events that will affect regularly scheduled lessons.
-If your regularly scheduled lesson falls on a planned farm closure, holiday, clinic, or other scheduled event, that lesson will not be included in your monthly package and will not be charged.
-We will make every effort to provide advance notice of any dates that will affect the regular lesson schedule so that riders are aware of the number of lessons included in their monthly package before payment is due.
Reserved Weekly Lesson Times
Your regular weekly lesson time is reserved specifically for you as part of your active lesson package.
If you choose to discontinue lessons, your recurring lesson time may be offered to another rider.
Repeatedly missing scheduled lessons may also result in the loss of your recurring weekly lesson time.
-We understand that paying for a full months lessons at one time may be difficult for some families. If the monthly payment schedule presents a financial challenge please reach out to us privately. We are happy to discuss whether an alternative payment arrangement may be possible
Our Goal
Our lesson program is built around consistency. Regular riding allows riders to build confidence, improve their skills, and develop a better relationship with their horse over time.
Our horses also benefit from a predictable schedule and consistent workload.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make this change. This updated policy allows us to continue providing quality instruction while being respectful of our horses, our instructors, and the time reserved for each rider.
Cancellation of a Trail Ride
Please be respectful of our small family farm and our horses and call us promptly if you are unable to show up for a scheduled ride. If it is necessary to cancel your scheduled appointment, we require that you call at least 24 hours in advance. To cancel appointments, please call 434-202-4040 and leave your name, phone number and canceled ride time on our voicemail.
Late Arrival
If you arrive after the departure of a trail ride, you will not be able to ride. You will be charged the full amount of the ride, as a horse was reserved for you and cannot be re-assigned.
If you arrive late we can not extend your assigned time.
Late Cancellations and No Show Policy
A late cancellation is when a rider fails to cancel their scheduled appointment with 24-hour advance notice for lessons and 48 hour notice for trail rides.
A “no-call no- show” is a rider who misses an appointment without any advanced notification.
In both the case of a late cancellation or a “no call- no show,’” you will be charged the full amount of the trail ride.
Rock Branch Horse and Cattle CO reserves the right to cancel and the participant will not be charged.
Payment Policy
Payment is due prior to the trail ride. If payment is not received before the ride we will not be able to provide services. If you plan on paying in cash or check send a message to 434-202-4040.
Thank you for supporting Rock Branch Horse & Cattle Company and our lesson program!
Questions or Cancellations
434-202-4040