Program Enrollment & Billing FAQ
Shadow Hills Riding Club
This FAQ provides information about how Shadow Hills Riding Club’s adaptive riding program operates, including enrollment, billing, assessments, and participation options. Our program is designed to prioritize rider safety, animal welfare, staff and volunteer support, and long-term sustainability.
Why does Shadow Hills Riding Club use a monthly enrollment model?
Shadow Hills Riding Club operates as a therapeutic adaptive riding program, not a drop-in lesson facility. Our horses, staff, volunteers, and safety systems must be in place every day, regardless of attendance, weather, or last-minute changes.
A monthly enrollment model allows us to:
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Provide consistent daily care for our therapy horses
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Schedule and protect trained staff and volunteers
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Maintain required safety coverage, insurance, and workers’ compensation
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Operate responsibly and sustainably as a nonprofit
This structure ensures the program can continue serving the community ethically and safely over the long term.
What does “monthly program enrollment” mean?
Monthly enrollment secures a rider’s place in the program. Enrollment allows us to reserve appropriate horses, staff, volunteers, and safety resources in advance and to plan responsibly for each rider’s participation.
Enrollment supports:
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Daily animal care and welfare
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Staff scheduling and safety oversight
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Volunteer coordination
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Facility readiness and insurance compliance
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Program continuity during illness, weather, or unavoidable interruptions
Enrollment is capacity-based, not attendance-based.
Why is the monthly enrollment rate $750?
The monthly enrollment rate reflects the full operational cost of running a therapeutic riding program supported by third-party funding. These costs exist whether or not a rider attends every scheduled session and include:
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Daily feeding, veterinary care, farrier services, bedding, and staff support
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Staffing continuity and safety supervision
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Facility overhead, insurance, and program readiness
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Required workers’ compensation coverage for equine staff, which carries one of the highest risk classifications due to the physical nature of animal care
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Administrative coordination related to third-party billing systems
This structure allows the nonprofit to remain financially stable while meeting its ethical and legal obligations.
Why is enrollment slightly higher than the equivalent single-session total?
Monthly enrollment reflects additional administrative and operational costs associated with third-party funding, including:
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Delayed reimbursement timelines
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Documentation and reporting requirements
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Invoice preparation, follow-up, and reconciliation
The modest difference helps offset these additional responsibilities while supporting consistent animal care and program stability.
What happens if my child misses sessions due to illness or weather?
We understand that illness and weather happen. However:
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Horses still require daily care
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Staff and volunteers are scheduled in advance
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Safety and insurance obligations remain in place
Because these costs continue regardless of attendance, monthly enrollment billing does not change based on the number of sessions attended in a given month. Enrollment ensures the program can continue operating responsibly and safely.
Why can’t you bring in another rider from the waitlist when someone cancels?
Therapeutic riding is not a drop-in service. Each rider must be:
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Assessed and approved
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Matched with an appropriate therapy horse
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Supported by trained staff and volunteers
Same-day substitutions are not safe or appropriate in a therapeutic environment, and resources cannot be repurposed on short notice.
Are single sessions still available?
Yes. Single Therapeutic Adaptive Riding Sessions are available for:
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Unique
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Occasional
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One-time visits
Single sessions are offered based on availability and program suitability. For riders participating on an ongoing basis, monthly enrollment is strongly preferred to ensure continuity of care and program stability.
Why is enrollment preferred for ongoing riders?
Enrollment allows the program to:
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Maintain consistent scheduling
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Reserve appropriate horses and staff
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Respect volunteer commitments
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Provide continuity of individualized therapeutic care
It also ensures the program can continue supporting animal welfare, staffing, insurance coverage, and safety operations during inclement weather or temporary program interruptions, when sessions may need to be modified or paused.
Why are assessments required annually?
All riders are required to complete an initial and annual assessment ($250) to ensure:
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Appropriate placement
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Rider safety
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Ongoing therapeutic effectiveness
Assessments allow us to maintain up-to-date information on each rider’s current needs and make informed decisions about participation. Assessment fees are billable to FMS when applicable.
How does this affect families using FMS or Regional Center funding?
For families utilizing third-party funding, such as an FMS:
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Billing is issued monthly for program enrollment, not per individual visit
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This structure supports animal welfare, staffing continuity, and program sustainability
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Families are asked to notify their service coordinator of the enrollment-based model
This approach aligns with capacity-based therapeutic service delivery.
Does Shadow Hills Riding Club profit from this structure?
No. Shadow Hills Riding Club is a nonprofit organization. This structure exists to:
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Care for our horses responsibly
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Protect staff and volunteers
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Maintain insurance and workers’ compensation compliance
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Prevent the nonprofit from operating at a loss
The enrollment model ensures the program can continue serving families ethically and sustainably.
What if this model is not the right fit for our family?
We understand that every family’s situation is different. Our team is happy to discuss whether monthly enrollment or single-session participation is the best fit for your needs.
Our priority is always safety, animal welfare, and providing the highest quality therapeutic experience possible.
Who can I contact with questions?
If you have questions after reviewing this FAQ, please feel free to contact our team directly. We appreciate your partnership and support.