Equestrian Centre Terms and Conditions

1. All clients:

  • Must have completed a Rider Registration Form before riding a horse. This will be countersigned after the lesson by an instructor.
  • Must resubmit their Rider Registration Form if their details change (the responsibility falls to the parent/guardian if the child is under 18).
  • New clients are required to attend a mandatory Assessment/Introduction Lesson before being allowed to book anything else. This allows us to ascertain your riding level.
  • Previous clients returning to us after 12 months or more may be asked to complete another Assessment Lesson.
    We reserve the right to refuse you to ride a particular horse/pony if we feel that the safety of the rider or horse is in question.
  • Instructors reserve the right to refuse to teach a client for any reason.
  • You reserve the right to request another Instructor subject to availability.
  • Please note our weight limit is 15st

2. Punctuality and arrival times:

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the lesson/hack/pony ride to allow time for hat fitting. If you do not arrive in time for the departure of a ride, you will not be able to participate and a refund will not be given.
We aim to run on time and stick to the timetable, but occasionally lessons may run over time for whatever reason, so please bear with us.

3. Payment and Cancellations:

  • We operate a No Refund Policy. This is a condition of booking.
  • All payments must be made at time of booking.
  • All bookings cancelled prior to the 48hr deadline will be credited to a future booking.
  • Bookings cancelled after the 48hr deadline will result in no refund or transfer.
  • All bookings cancelled within 48 hours of the booking will result in no refund, payments may not be moved to a future booking.
  • Full fees are payable without exception , unless the relevant notice is given to terminate the lesson. Cancellation should be via telephone or through the online booking page. Please note we do not accept cancellations by email.
  • See our bad weather policy.

4. Bad weather or adverse conditions:

  • Activities might be cancelled in extreme weather.
  • You should call us on 015395 52244 before you leave for the center if the weather is in doubt.
  • Riding might be cancelled when the following weather or conditions are occurring:
    • Heavy snow.
    • Heavy rain and/or flooding.
    • Hurricane force winds.
    • Electrical storms.
    • Power failure (no lighting for outdoor school).

5. Vouchers purchases and redemption:

  • It’s a condition of purchase that:
    • The intended rider has no medical conditions that require doctors approval.
    • Vouchers are valid for 365 days. No refunds available.
    • All bookings are subject to availability.

6. Safety equipment and riding wear:

Every time you handle a horse you are required to wear the appropriate P.P.E (Personal Protective Equipment).

Riding Helmets:
Riding hats are available to hire at no extra charge
Hats (all types): PAS 015:1998 or 2011, the SNELL E2001 or VG1 and we can no longer accept hats that are purely (BS)EN 1384.
Must be worn and fastened at all times while riding a horse.
Must be worn and fastened at all times while handling or a horse.
We strongly advise all customers to purchase their own helmet as soon as possible.
We recommend against purchasing second hand riding helmets in case they have been damaged.

Body protectors:
MUST be worn when Jumping, we strongly recommend that you or your child wears one whenever riding.
Riding footwear: clients must wear appropriate footwear while riding.
Riding boots are available to hire subject to availability at no extra cost

Allowed footwear:
Jodhpurs boots
Leather riding boots
Disallowed Footwear:
Trainers
High heels
Sandals
Hiking boots
We reserve the right to refuse footwear we deem unsafe
We recommend toe protection whenever handling a horse.

Jewellery:
you should not wear jewellery of any kind, anything you wear you do so at your own risk. It’s the parents responsibility to check their child isn’t wearing jewellery.
Clothing: Please wear Jodhpurs or stretchy trousers like leggings. You will not be allowed to ride in shorts or jeans!
Snug comfortable clothing that allows you to move should be worn please avoid tight or flappy clothing.

7. Visitors and/or friends of the family:

  • Children must be supervised at all times by a legally responsible person and remain seated and quiet whilst lessons are in progress and not to run around the gallery unsupervised.
  • Parents are advised not to leave your children unattended at any time during their stay at Witherslack Hall Equestrian Centre.
  • If spectating in the gallery, please remain as quiet as possible, and in full view of the horses/ponies & Instructor at all times, please do not use umbrellas as they can scare the horses.
  • Whilst spectating, the Instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave the viewing gallery if they feel the safety of the rider or horse/pony is in question.
  • Please can we ask that you do not watch lessons with dogs, if clients bring their own pets onto the grounds/premises then please feel free to walk up into the woods.

8. General:

  • There are No Entry type signs and notices posted around the facility, you must acknowledge and obey them, ignoring them is at your own risk.
  • There is no entry into stables or house and grounds.
  • Maximum speed 5mph on the premises.
  • Movement of horses & ponies and farm equipment around the yard and surrounding areas is unavoidable and we ask you to give way to them at all times.
  • We have many different warning signs all over the grounds, they are there for a reason, you must obey them.
  • We reserve the right to ask you to leave the grounds at any time if we think you are a danger to yourself.
  • We have a strict no smoking policy, if you are caught you will be asked to leave.
  • We can’t be held responsible for any damage to your transportation while on the premises/grounds.
  • We can’t be held responsible for damage, theft or loss of your personal property while it’s on the premises.
  • All animals are unpredictable, do not feed the horses & ponies at any time. Don’t enter any field, or paddock unless authorised.

RIDING IS A RISK SPORT – your choice to ride is voluntary. We take all reasonable care to provide suitable and safe horses and ponies for all our clients.
No video or phone video to be published on you tube or similar websites without WHEC consent.

9. Agreement of terms:

If you do not agree with any of our Terms and Conditions, then you do not have permission to enter the premises and any bookings are null and void. Our no Cancellation Policy applies in this situation. Because our Terms and Conditions are available online and on request at any time, you have every opportunity to read them before booking any activity and a refund will not be available on failure to accept

10. Membership

WHEC members will pay a yearly fee. Members will receive:

  • 10% discount on Merchandise, hacks, lessons and holiday clubs. Excluding
  • Access to members only clinics and events.
  • Reserved booking slots (Please note that these slots are not guaranteed.  WHEC reserves the right to use reserved slots for riding holiday clients)

 

 

Riding Holiday Terms and Conditions

1. To make a booking with LDHRH you must send a completed booking form with 30% of the total holiday price as a deposit by bank transfer. A confirmation email and invoice will then be sent to you.

2. The balance of the holiday price and any extra add on (where applicable) is payable no later than 4 weeks before your arrival date. If you book less than 4 weeks before the relevant arrival date, you must pay the holiday price in full on booking.

3. We strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance once you have paid your deposit which covers you against unavoidable cancellation.

4. Medical vaccinations, passports, visas etc, are entirely your responsibility and must be arranged prior to departure. We can take no responsibility for cancellation of your trip in the event that you are not allowed to fly. If you are unable to travel due to lack of appropriate passport or visa we reserve the right to retain the cost of the trip.

5. Changes
We will make every effort to assist our riders wishing to alter their arrangements. Any change can only be made if vacancies are available at a suitable time, otherwise the change will become a cancellation. All changes should be confirmed in writing, signed by the same person who signed the original booking form.

6. Cancellation                                                                                                                                                         Should you or any member of your party need to cancel your holiday once it has been confirmed, the organiser must immediately advise us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when we receive it in writing. The following cancellation charges will be payable:
• 60 days and more – loss of deposit
• 56 – 29 days – 60% of total holiday cost payable
• less than 28 days – 100% of total holiday cost payable

7. We reserve the right to cancel a Riding Holiday. However, we will not do so unless forced to by virtue of unforeseen circumstances such as flight cancellations, civil or political unrest or “force majeure”. In the events of cancellation, all the payments made to the LDHRH in respect of the tour will be refunded. We do not accept liability from any incidental expenses you may incur as a result of cancellation or for any loss or damage caused arising out of cancellation.

8. Payments may only be made to LDHRH by direct bank transfer.

9. All itineraries in the brochure and website are suggested only. Trip arrangements are planned many months in advance and occasionally changes may be made to a trip itinerary. LDHRH reserves the right change the itinerary. Tours of this kind by their very nature require a degree of flexibility from the client. A published itinerary is to be taken as the aim of the expedition and not a contractual obligation. Changes in route, method of transport or meal plan may be required as a result of weather, local political conditions, natural disasters (including landslides), strikes, border regulations, mechanical breakdowns, flight cancellations, seasickness, logistical complications or other unforeseen circumstances. You must be prepared to accept this flexibility and to accept that we cannot be held responsible for delays and alterations in the schedule, or for expenses incurred as a result of any delay or alterations arising from any such circumstances.

10. Anyone suffering from illness or disability or undergoing treatment for any physical or medical conditions must declare the true nature of such condition at the time of booking and make arrangements for the provision of any medication or other treatment which may be required during the holiday. Failure to make such disclosure will constitute a breach of these booking conditions and result in such persons being excluded from the holiday in which case all monies paid will be forfeit.

11. Complaints
Should the unlikely situation arise that you have a complaint about your stay, the complaint should be reported immediately to us in order that we may be given the opportunity to correct the matter during your stay.

12. All bookings are accepted on the understanding that such risks and hazards are appreciated by the Client and that they undertake all treks and other activities of their own volition.
a. Horse riding participants have a responsibility for understanding the requirements of the ride when selecting a riding holiday with the assistance of LDHRH. Make sure you read the rider experience level descriptions and the requirement of the rider level which is described for each riding holiday by the LDHRH. For the protection of all participants, the ride leader reserves the right to prevent anyone from riding who displays insufficient ability or whose behaviour endangers the safety of the other riders, themselves or the horses. No refunds are made to a participant who is rejected for such reason.
b. Ride participants must provide as part of the booking their riding experience, weight and height accurately. If a participant’s weight increases from the time of filling out the form to partaking in the holiday they must inform LDHRH of the change prior to traveling. Any inaccuracies that result in the participant being prevented from participating will not incur any liability or refund.
c. Any participant who does not want their testimonials or photos used in future promotional materials or on the LDHRH website should notify the LDHRH accordingly.

13. General:
• There are No Entry type signs and notices posted around the facility, you must acknowledge and obey them, ignoring them is at your own risk.
• There is no entry into stables or house and grounds.
• Maximum speed 5mph on the premises.
• Movement of horses & ponies and farm equipment around the yard and surrounding areas is unavoidable and we ask you to give way to them at all times.
• We have many different warning signs all over the grounds, they are there for a reason, you must obey them.
• We reserve the right to ask you to leave the grounds at any time if we think you are a danger to yourself.
• We have a strict no smoking policy, if you are caught you will be asked to leave.
• We can’t be held responsible for any damage to your transportation while on the premises/grounds.
• We can’t be held responsible for damage, theft or loss of your personal property while it’s on the premises.
• All animals are unpredictable, do not feed the horses & ponies at any time. Don’t enter any field, or paddock unless authorised.

14. Punctuality and arrival times:
Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the lesson/hack/pony ride to allow time for hat fitting.
We aim to run on time and stick to the timetable, but occasionally lessons may run over time for whatever reason, so please bear with us.

15. Agreement of terms:
If you do not agree with any of our Terms and Conditions, then you do not have permission to enter the premises and any bookings are null and void. Our no Cancellation Policy applies in this situation. Because our Terms and Conditions are available online and on request at any time, you have every opportunity to read them before booking any activity and a refund will not be available on failure to accept