Yard planning: preparing a workable week
A yard schedule connects riders, horses, instructors and places. Preparing it starts with simple but complete information: what repeats each week, what is booked for a particular date and what has just changed.
By the Paddoco team ·
Jump to frequently asked questions
Distinguish a weekly slot from a dated lesson
A weekly slot describes a pattern: a lesson takes place on a certain weekday at a certain time. A dated lesson is one occurrence of that slot. In Paddoco’s planning settings, staff can define a season, describe its weekly slots and then generate lessons for the coming period.
This distinction helps you ask the right question when a lesson changes. Is the weekly arrangement changing, or just one lesson? First identify the dates affected. After changing settings, check lessons that have already been created rather than assuming they have all changed too.
Gather the details before creating weekly slots
- The period: the season’s name, start date and end date.
- The booking: its title, weekday, start time and duration.
- The arrangements: the facility, instructor and number of places.
- Registration: a regular group or an open lesson, with its eligibility requirements.
These details match the settings available in Paddoco. Completing them together makes a slot clear to the team. A title such as “Evening lesson” does not distinguish two consecutive groups: add a useful detail without relying on abbreviations that only regulars understand.
Check the week in the calendar
Once the lessons have been generated, open the calendar and review the period. Check times and facilities, followed by the people and horses involved. The calendar also brings together other events your account can access, such as schooling sessions, hacks and care due dates. What each person sees depends on their permissions.
For example, a lesson is moved from the indoor school to the outdoor arena. Check that the facility is available, update the lesson concerned and then let participants know. A conversation can explain the change; the calendar should let people find the arrangement that was agreed.
Give sessions a time when they reserve a horse
When planning a schooling session from a horse’s profile, entering only a date leaves its time unspecified. Add a time and duration if they are known. Paddoco uses timings to identify when a horse is occupied; an activity without a time does not provide the same information as a fixed appointment.
Finish by reading it from the rider’s point of view
Before the week starts, check that a rider can tell where to go, when and for which lesson. When something unexpected happens, update the relevant information. Available modules and actions vary by role and yard settings: preparing the shared lesson schedule is a staff responsibility.
Frequently asked questions about yard planning
What is the difference between a weekly slot and a dated lesson?
A weekly slot describes the regular arrangement: weekday, start time, duration, facility and instructor. A dated lesson is a specific occurrence, with its own date and bookings. In Paddoco, a season’s slots are used to prepare lessons in the calendar.
What should I check before opening bookings for a lesson?
Check the date, start time, duration, facility, instructor and capacity. Also check who can book and any riding-level requirements. These details should match the lesson you actually intend to run.
How can I reduce scheduling clashes?
Enter start times and durations, then review the week with the facilities, instructors and horses involved in mind. Allow time for preparation and changeovers in your organisation. Missing durations make clashes harder to spot.
Is lesson capacity the same as horse availability?
No. Capacity is the number of places offered to riders. Availability and workload concern the horses taking part. Check both before confirming the arrangements for a lesson.