Stopek Stables

For your convenience, we accept Pay Pal. You may pay for lessons, training, stud fees, or even the purchase of a horse by using either your credit card, debit card or checking account through PayPal. If you intend to make a purchase through PayPal, please let us know and we will be happy to send you a request via email.

2. ASTM approved safety helmets are required for all riders. If you do not own a helmet, we may have one that you may borrow if it fits you properly. Shoes with heels are required for riders (no tennis shoes). Please wear closed toe shoes while in the barn and around horses (no sandals or bare feet).

3. Students who ride their own horse for their lesson should be tacked up and ready to start at their scheduled lesson time. If you are riding a school horse, arrive 30 minutes PRIOR to your scheduled time to allow time for grooming and tacking up. If you do not allow enough time before your lesson, your grooming time will end up taking part of your riding time, therefore cutting your lesson short. In consideration of the student riding in the lesson following yours, we will not allow your lesson to run over your scheduled time into the next student's time. Thank you for your cooperation.

4. If you do not cancel your lesson with a minimum of 24 hours notice, you will be charged in full for that lesson.

5. Please park by the barn, not the house. This will be more convenient for you and also allows the Stopek family access to their personal vehicles.

6. Clients are welcome to bring their dogs as long as they are kept on a leash at all times.

7. Family and friends of students are welcome to observe lessons ONLY if they conduct themselves properly around horses. People who run, make loud noises, throw things, or behave in any way that could spook a horse will be asked to leave. (Please see #9, below). The safety of our riders and horses is our number one concern!

8. UNDER IOWA LAW, A DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES SUFFERED BY, AN INJURY TO, OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF DOMESTICATED ANIMAL ACTIVITIES, PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE CHAPTER 673. YOU ARE ASSUMING INHERENT RISKS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS DOMESTICATED ANIMAL ACTIVITY.

9. A number of inherent risks are associated with a domesticated animal activity. A domesticated animal may behave in a manner that results in damages to property or an injury or death to a person. Risks associated with the activity may include injuries caused by bucking, biting, stumbling, rearing, trampling, scratching, pecking, falling, or butting.

The domesticated animal may react unpredictably to conditions, including, but not limited to, a sudden movement, loud noise, an unfamiliar environment, or the introduction of unfamiliar persons, animals, or objects.

The domesticated animal may also react in a dangerous manner when a condition or treatment is considered hazardous to the welfare of the animal; a collision occurs with an object or animal; or a participant fails to exercise reasonable care, take adequate precautions, or use adequate control when engaging in a domesticated animal activity, including failing to maintain reasonable control of the animal or failing to act in a manner consistent with the person's abilities.

Due to continued rising costs of hay and grain and fuel, we will have to raise some prices as of April 1.

~Lesson prices will remain the same:

            One hour private= $40

            Half hour private= $30

            One hour group= $25

*As of April 1, 2008 there will be an additional $5 fee for the use of a school horse in your lesson. If you are leasing a Stopek Stables’ horse or riding your own horse, this fee does not apply.

~Board will increase slightly:

            Pasture board w/grass or hay only= $175/mo.

            Pasture board w/hay and grain 2x/day= $200/mo.

            Stall board= $325

~Rental fee for Stopek Stables tack. This is due to the fact that it costs us to maintain and replace our tack. If you are leasing a Stopek Stables’ school horse, tack is included in your lease cost. These charges are for people who do not own their own tack and use Stopek Stables' tack on their personal horses.

            Per use= $5/item (Saddle includes girth and pad)

            Per month=$50

Trip charge: (for lessons at locations other than Stopek Stables) $10 and up depending on distance from Stopek Stables. Trip charge may be split among all students riding during same trip.

Coaching at Show: $25 per day per student plus expenses (food and lodging if out of town).

Stopek Stables' School Horse Show Fee*:$25 per day plus expenses (food and lodging if out of town) Includes use of Stopek Stables school horse that is clean and clipped and use of all necessary clean tack. This fee is in addition to the Coaching Fee. Hauling of school horse and stall fees will be split among all students using that horse at that show.

*Students are responsible for their own entry fees payable to show secretary, plus miscellaneous fees and stabling fees if applicable.

Hauling: $.75 per mile per horse round trip with mileage beginning and ending at Stopek Stables. Minimum charge of $25.

Some of our school horses are available for a "half lease" program. Leasing a horse provides an excellent way for potential horse owners to test out what it would be like to have a horse of their own. The horses are available to be used by their lessees on the days they are not used for lessons (3-4 days per week). This would include weekends since we do not teach lessons on the weekends. Some restrictions do apply:

1. Leases are only available to students who are currently taking lessons at Stopek Stables.

2. You must be able to demonstrate that you are able to catch, groom, tack, ride and put away the horse correctly, safely, and without the help of an instructor to qualify to lease.

4. Lessees get first dibs on showing “their” horse at a show. Plus, if you are leasing a horse and take it to a show, you only pay the coaching fee, not the school horse fee, thus saving money!

6. Leases will be available in one month terms; therefore you do not need to make a long term commitment!

Since you will be only “half” leasing the horse, you only have to cover half of the horse’s expenses! Board will be paid by the lessee, but vet bills, farrier bills and insurance will be covered by Stopek Stables. If you are interested in half leasing a school horse, please discuss this further with Karen. Available horses may be seen on our School Horses page.