Terms and Conditions for Bookings and Cancellations

 

By booking a lesson, schooling session, mindset session, clinic, event, course, holiday-cover visit or any other service with Sharon Johnson Equestrian, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions.

 

Booking and payment

 

Payment is due no later than the end of the appointment unless advance payment has been requested or another arrangement has been agreed.

 

Payment can be made by:

 

• Tap to Pay
• Card payment
• Bank transfer
• Cash
• Online payment link

 

New clients, clinics, courses, events and block bookings may be required to pay in advance to secure their booking.

 

Where payment has previously been late or remains outstanding, future appointments must be paid for in advance. No further booking will be confirmed until the outstanding balance has been cleared.

 

Cancellations

 

If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, the following cancellation charges apply:

 

• More than 48 hours’ notice — no cancellation charge
• Less than 48 hours’ notice — 50% of the appointment fee
• Less than 24 hours’ notice — the full appointment fee

 

Appointments and travelling routes are carefully planned around multiple clients. Short-notice cancellations can leave spaces that cannot reasonably be offered to somebody else.

 

If the cancelled appointment is subsequently filled, the cancellation charge may be reduced or waived at the discretion of Sharon Johnson Equestrian.

 

Any cancellation charge must be paid before another appointment can be confirmed.

 

Where a client is entitled to a refund, any deduction for payment-provider charges will only be made where lawful and applicable. Your statutory consumer rights are unaffected.

 

How to cancel

 

Please telephone or message Sharon Johnson Equestrian as soon as possible if you need to cancel.

 

Messages may not be seen immediately while I am riding, coaching, travelling or working on a yard, so please give as much notice as possible.

 

If no notice is received and I travel to the appointment, or you fail to attend an online session without making contact, the full fee remains payable.

 

Rearranging appointments

 

Where possible, I will try to accommodate requests to rearrange an appointment.

 

The cancellation policy may still apply when an appointment is moved at short notice, particularly if the original space cannot be filled.

 

If I need to cancel

 

If Sharon Johnson Equestrian is unable to attend, you will be contacted as soon as reasonably possible.

 

You may choose to rearrange the appointment or receive a refund of any appointment fee already paid. No cancellation charge will apply.

 

Block bookings

 

Block bookings must be used within their stated validity period unless a different arrangement has been agreed in advance:

 

• A block of three sessions must normally be used within three weeks
• A block of five sessions must normally be used within five weeks

 

If you cancel an appointment within a block booking, it may be rearranged within the original validity period where availability allows and subject to the cancellation policy.

 

Appointments that cannot be rearranged within the validity period may be forfeited. Any extension or refund will be considered at the discretion of Sharon Johnson Equestrian, subject to your statutory rights.

 

Clinics, courses and events

 

Clinic, course and event places are reserved for the person and horse named at the time of booking.

 

Bookings cannot normally be transferred to another person, horse, clinic or event without prior agreement.

 

If a clinic, course or event is cancelled by Sharon Johnson Equestrian, you will be offered an alternative date or a refund of the amount paid to Sharon Johnson Equestrian.

 

Any separate expenses incurred by the client, including travel or accommodation costs, remain the client’s responsibility.

 

Weather and unsafe conditions

 

Cancellation charges will not apply when Sharon Johnson Equestrian decides that severe weather, dangerous ground or exceptional circumstances make travelling, riding or coaching unsafe.

 

This may include:

 

• Gale-force winds
• Ice or snow
• Flooding or a flooded arena
• Torrential rain creating unsafe conditions
• Extreme heat
• Unsafe road, yard or ground conditions

 

Ordinary rain, wind or warm weather will not automatically result in cancellation.

 

Please contact me if you are uncertain, but do not assume an appointment has been cancelled unless this has been confirmed.

 

Rider and horse safety

 

Equestrian activity carries an inherent risk. Riders, owners and handlers remain responsible for ensuring that they and their horse are fit, suitably prepared and capable of participating in the planned activity.

 

Please disclose any relevant medical condition, injury, confidence concern, behavioural issue or previous incident that could affect the safety of the appointment.

 

Horses must have suitable, safe and correctly fitted tack and equipment.

 

Mounted clients must wear suitable footwear and a correctly fitted riding hat that meets current safety requirements. A suitable body protector may be required for jumping, cross-country or other higher-risk activities.

 

Sharon Johnson Equestrian reserves the right to stop, alter or refuse an appointment if the rider, horse, tack, equipment, facilities, ground or weather conditions are considered unsafe.

 

The fee may remain payable where the safety issue could reasonably have been identified or addressed by the client before the appointment.

 

Children and young riders

 

A parent, guardian or another responsible adult must be present for riders under the age of 18 unless a different arrangement has been agreed in advance.

 

The responsible adult must provide any relevant medical and emergency information and remain contactable throughout the appointment.

 

Schooling and riding services

 

Before I ride a horse, the owner or responsible person must disclose all relevant information about the horse’s health, fitness, behaviour, training history and any previous incidents.

 

The horse must be fit for the work requested and have suitable, safe and correctly fitted tack and equipment.

 

I may alter or stop the planned work when I believe this is necessary for the horse’s welfare or safety.

 

Schooling fees cover the service agreed when the appointment is arranged. Catching, grooming, tacking up, untacking and other yard duties may incur an additional charge.

 

Holiday cover and yard services

 

The owner must provide clear and accurate written instructions covering each horse’s normal routine, feeding, turnout, medication, behaviour and care requirements.

 

The owner must also provide:

 

• An emergency contact
• Veterinary contact details
• Clear and safe access arrangements
• Suitable feed, bedding and equipment
• Details of any relevant health, behavioural or safety risks

 

Any veterinary, farrier or other third-party expenses remain the owner’s responsibility.

 

If urgent action is required to protect an animal’s welfare and the owner or emergency contact cannot be reached, Sharon Johnson Equestrian may contact the nominated veterinary practice or another appropriate professional. Any resulting third-party expenses remain the owner’s responsibility.

 

Any medication requirements must be discussed and agreed before the booking is confirmed.

 

Travel

 

Individual appointments are generally available within 25 miles of DL8 5QR, approximately a 50-mile round trip.

 

Longer journeys may be possible and may carry an additional travel charge. I may travel further for clinics, group bookings and yards with several consecutive riders.

 

Any additional travel charge will be agreed before the booking is confirmed.

 

Online and mindset coaching

 

Online and mindset coaching is intended to support confidence, performance, habits and general wellbeing.

 

It is not a substitute for medical care, psychological therapy, diagnosis, psychiatric treatment or emergency support.

 

If a concern falls outside my professional scope, I may recommend that the client seeks help from a GP or another suitably qualified professional.

 

Photographs, recordings and client stories

 

Photographs, videos, testimonials or client stories will not be used for promotional purposes without permission.

 

Clients must also obtain permission before photographing, filming or recording a coaching or mindset session.

 

Personal information

 

Personal information supplied in connection with a booking will be used to manage the appointment, deliver the agreed service and communicate with the client.

 

Relevant information may be shared with emergency, medical or veterinary professionals where reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety or welfare of a person or animal.

 

General

 

These Terms and Conditions do not affect your statutory consumer rights.

 

If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue to apply.

 

Please contact Sharon Johnson Equestrian before booking if you have any questions or require an individual arrangement.

 

Thank you for supporting Sharon Johnson Equestrian. These terms help appointments and services run safely, fairly and professionally for everyone.