The staff at Hearts has worked hard to put together a plan for resuming some of our programs. While we are anxious and excited to begin inviting participants back to the ranch, we must keep everyone's health and safety at the forefront of our planning. We will be following guidelines for social distancing, cleaning, and sanitizing set forth by Santa Barbara County.
We will be re-opening
in phases
. Our programs will be modified to allow for lower-risk operations, including lessons provided to independent riders in the therapeutic riding program and Equine Services for Heroes. Unfortunately, riders requiring additional support from leaders and sidewalkers cannot be kept safe according to the 6-foot social distancing measures. Our staff will continue to evaluate these circumstances so they can be safely accommodated in later phases.
Staff only will be responsible for all therapeutic riding programs. We hope to have our amazing volunteers return to assist in these programs soon. However, for this first phase of re-opening, staff only will be helping with grooming, tacking, and instruction. The instructor will sanitize every piece of tack after each use. We also require that participants purchase their own helmets. Our staff is evaluating our new policies and procedures daily and making any necessary adjustments to keep our participants safe and healthy.
We have missed our participants over these last few months. We wish we could open the gates and invite everyone back, but sadly this is not safe or possible. We appreciate everyone's patience and support during these transitions.
We are thrilled to be getting some of you back in the saddle, and can't wait for the time where we all can be back at Hearts. Our hearts will be whole again soon!
