Equine Ventures

Safety Protocols at Winning Ways

 Any participant or member of the public appearing to be ill will be asked to leave Winning Ways.

All participants are to remember the horse safety rule:

 Keep one horse length (2-3 meters) between you and all other humans and horses!

Bio-security

  Wash your hands carefully before and after engaging in any activity at Winning Ways.  When you get home, dip the bottom of your shoes in bleach water before entering the house. 

All participants will be required to have PPE:  this includes an approved helmet with chin strap (mandatory for mirrors, recommended for adults),  heeled boots are necessary, cloth/leather/garden gloves are highly recommended. Learn to do all things, including fastening buckles and knots, with GLOVES ON. Younger participants should practice, with gloves on, at home before arriving at ranch.

All minors (under 18 years of age) must wear a helmet if riding a horse at Winning Ways.  We urge ALL beginners to wear a safety helmet for their own protection. It is strongly recommended that all participants arrive with their own helmet that is ASTM approved!  Helmets will be available at Winning Ways.  We ask parents/caregivers to help smaller riders place the helmet on their head and do up the chin strap.  All Winning Ways personnel have been instructed NOT to help with this procedure.

Coach Kelly will give hands-on assistance to Rookie Riders and all participants when mounting.  Parents/participants please inquire about these procedures to ensure you are comfortable with the process.  Use of face covers during mounting may give added protection.

All Winning Ways personnel, acting as horse handlers, will remain at the head of the horse. Only in dire emergency will WW personnel reposition the rider.  Winning Ways will permit parents/caregivers to act as side-walkers during an initial lesson. (Parents/caregivers are usually not allowed in the lesson ring.)

Sanitizer will be available outside near the horses. Porta-potty for emergency use.  

Winning Ways has been a working ranch since 1980 with grass/cattle marketing its main focus for most of those years.  Kelly Friedrich has been a rancher for her whole life and has mentored many young people who were also interested in this way of life.

In 2012 she downsized the cattle herd and decided to pursue an expanded role for the other livestock on the ranch. She has always been interested in the profoundly unique experience of horses helping humans in more than the average day to day ranch work.  Horses and all the other critters on the ranch seemed to have a special attraction for many of the people who have visited over the years.

The concept of animals assisting with human learning is now a popular method of helping in the education and healing of people around the world. Winning Ways has animals that can be used in this capacity and Kelly’s interest in this type of experience made it a natural direction in which to redirect the business.