Attendance
All sessions begin and end promptly at their scheduled time, regardless of patient arrival. If you cannot attend a prescheduled session, please notify us in writing as soon as possible by emailing the following:
Sessions are reserved in advance and cannot be filled by other patients in the event of absences. Please understand that the costs to manage sessions remain the same whether you attend your prescheduled session or not. ESMA expects consistent attendance by patients at their regularly scheduled sessions. Consistent attendance is important to support progress and continuity of care. Frequent missed or cancelled appointments may result in changes to scheduling availability and, in some cases, discharge from therapy services.
Cancellations
Written cancellation via email must be sent at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Any cancellations within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment may incur a cancellation fee, which may be automatically charged to the card on file. For PT, OT, SLP, and hippotherapy, this fee may be waived if the appointment is rescheduled within 7 days of the original session, subject to Easterseals Massachusetts The Bridge Center availability.
Rescheduled or make-up sessions may differ from regularly scheduled sessions in location, activities, staffing, therapeutic tools, or treatment approach based on scheduling availability, clinical judgment, safety considerations, and patient needs. The use of equine movement-based treatment techniques cannot be guaranteed for any individual session.
Please note that Recreational and Therapeutic Groups, as well as Equestrian Center services, operate on a term/session basis. Missed or cancelled Recreational, Therapeutic Groups, and Equestrian Center programs are not eligible for refunds, credits, make-up sessions, or rescheduling during the term, and participants remain financially responsible for the full scheduled lesson fee.
Please note that refunds are not provided for packaged visit programs, series, sessions, or prepaid service packages once purchased.
Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for additional details.
Attire & Footwear for the Equestrian Center & Hippotherapy
Sturdy, close-toed shoes are required by all who enter the barn for safety, including caregivers and siblings. ESMA Staff reserve the right to dismiss a participant/patient from that day’s programming without a refund if safe footwear cannot be procured. Long pants and long socks are required for riding, as they help prevent painful chaffing for mounted students/patients.
Adhering to The Bridge Center’s Code of Conduct
All programming and events are held on our expansive, 22-acre campus surrounded by woods, horse paddocks with electrical fencing, and a pond. All buildings have multiple egress points; as such, all participants/patients must be able to safely remain engaged in programming with no more than 1:1 support. All participants/patients and their respective parties must follow The Bridge Center's Code of Conduct while on campus. Inappropriate language, behaviour, or any other activity by participants/patients or their parties that threatens the well-being of others, including the animals, will result in dismissal from programming and the potential of TBC staff calling for assistance from emergency services. Refunds will not be provided for dismissed sessions.
Weather Cancellations
ESMA aligns with Bridgewater Public Schools for weather-related closings and delays. On days when school is not in session, all participants/patients will receive an email if programming is cancelled. When programming is cancelled by ESMA, credit, refund, or a rescheduled session will be offered. Rescheduled sessions cannot be guaranteed.
Mounted activities will not occur during extreme weather that threatens the safety or well-being of the riders/patient and herd. For example, riding will only occur within the 15°F-89°F range; otherwise, unmounted and/or alternative horsemanship lessons or therapy sessions will be offered. ESMA reserves the right to cancel lessons when deemed necessary. When programming is cancelled by ESMA, credit, refund, or rescheduled session will be offered. Rescheduled sessions cannot be guaranteed.
Last Updated June 2026
