Our Terms & Conditions, the boring details
1. All clients:
•Must have completed a Rider Registration & Release Form before riding a horse.
•Must resubmit their Rider Registration Form if their details change (the responsibility falls to the parent/guardian if the child is under 18).
•We reserve the right to refuse to allow 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.
•Text 772-485-1903 when you book anything on the day you book and again a few days before.
•You reserve the right to request another Instructor subject to availability.
•You are welcome to bring your own horse riding helmet, saddle (based on fit upon horse as to whether it may be used.)
•Each client must accept the authority of the Wrangler/Trail Boss/Instructor.
•The Wrangler/Trail Boss/Instructor will not be held responsible for incidents or accidents which may occur as a result of unwise personal initiative.
•If the health or conduct of any client before or during the tour appears likely, in the opinion of the Wrangler/Trail Boss, to endanger the group, the client may be excluded from the tour. Expenses resulting will be borne by the client and a refund of money paid will not be given.
•The company/Wrangler/Trail Boss will not accept any responsibility for personal property of client.
Payment Policy
You may pay by credit or debit card when scheduling your appointment and all payments may be processed at the time the appointment is scheduled.
2. Punctuality and arrival times:
•Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the trailride/lesson/hack/pony ride to allow time for helmet and equipment fitting/Releases.
•We aim to run on time and stick to the timetable, but occasionally lessons/Trails/Parties may run over time for whatever reason, so please bear with us.
3. Cancellations:
•We operate a NO REFUND Policy. This is a condition of booking. Reservations are non-refundable. This is because organising a Trail Ride or Party has many costs once you make a booking. When we agree to take your booking we commit horses, staff and equipment to you and it is often not possible to sell this to others if you cancel or do not turn up. We may have turned down others who want the dates you have booked so we lose this business. Most people who get disappointed by their trailride are the ones who book and then do not come; and then do not get a refund or credit towards another ride opportunity!
Please be sure of your dates and ability to arrive before placing a reservation.
Your Booking is not considered as FIRM until payment has been received by us.
Choyce, LLC is not responsible for acts of man or nature resulting in your inability to honor your reservation. Contact us as soon as possible if you have to cancel.
•Cancellation Policy: Rain, snow etc. will not be sufficient reason to cancel reservations. No shows or cancellations less than 72 hours before reservation on Trailrides/lessons/parties will receive no refund/credit.
•No credit or transfers are given for late cancellations (less than 72 hours)
•All bookings require a minimum of 3 clear days notice from the booking day to cancel, for example if your lesson is on Saturday cancellation must be on the preceding Thursday. Credit toward a reschedule is your option and is transferable if needed.
•Full fees are payable without exception, unless the relevant notice (72 hours) is given to terminate the Trail Ride/Lesson/Pony Ride. Cancellation should be via telephone, text or in person. Please note we do not accept cancellations by email.
If you do cancel with less than 72 hours notice, we will try to fill your slot with someone else. If we are successful we will offer a Credit to reschedule. Thank you.
ORGANIZED RIDES (30 DAYS NOTICE OF CANCELLATION)
•Organized Rides (OWTTR,FCTA,GFCD) can be cancelled with a 30 day notice. Less then 30 days would depend on if that slot can be filled. NO REFUNDS. Payments from qualified cancellations(30 day notice or EARLIER) can be rolled to another trail ride or open camping event if used within one year. No credit on Organized Rides (OWTTR,FCTA,GFCD) can be rolled unless we can fill your spot with less than 30 days notice. We recommend travel insurance with respect to these big rides.
4. The Weather Risk :
•Since horseback riding on the trail is an outdoor activity it may be affected by the weather. If you decide that the weather is not suitable for you to ride the trail you do not get a refund.
•You should call or text us at 772-485-1903 before you leave for the Center / Park / Trailhead if the weather is in doubt.
•Activities might be cancelled by the Wrangler/Trail Boss in extreme weather. Fees are non-refundable, transferable and good for any date based on availability within the 365 days. We care about clients fun, safety and that of our horses.
Riding might be cancelled when the following weather or conditions are occurring:
Heavy rain and/or flooding.
Hurricane force winds.
Lightning storms.
Equipment/Vehicle Failure
In those events only we can wait to see if weather clears if we have already arrived with the horses/ponies or we will decide this beforehand via phone/text and a credit will be available. An email confirming this status will be provided.
5. Gift Certificates purchases and redemption:
It’s a condition of purchase that:
•The intended rider has no medical conditions that require doctors approval.
•Certificates are valid for 1 year from date of issue and are transferable. Gift certificates are non-refundable and have no cash value.
•To redeem a gift certificate, please provide the gift certificate number when scheduling your appointment and bring it with you on the day of your appointment.
•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) or sign a Helmet Refusal Form to be kept on file.
•Riding Helmets:
Helmets (all types): should be ASTM F1163 – 15
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:
We may offer body protectors subject to availability
We use an airvest occasionally and can highly attest to the safety and comfort of these items.
We strongly recommend that you wear one whenever riding.
This is especially important if you take part in jumping classes.
We recommend you wear one whenever handling a horse.
Should you wear one of ours and it should deploy for any reason, (such as a dismount without releasing lanyard from saddle), Canisters are $60 and we expect compensation upon completion of the ride.
•Riding footwear: clients must wear appropriate footwear while riding.
Preferred footwear:
Jodhpurs boots
Leather riding boots
Closed toe shoes with a flat sole and heel.
•Non-Preferred Footwear:
Trainers
High heels
Sandals
Hiking boots
•For safety reasons backpacks (other than hydration backpacks) and the like are not permitted to be worn whilst horse riding.
•Depending on the weather we suggest bringing bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellent & brimmed hat (HELMET REFUSAL RELEASE REQUIRED). Long pants, jodphurs, breeches, Jeans best to ride in.
•We reserve the right to refuse footwear we deem unsafe
•We recommend toe protection whenever handling a horse.
•Jewelry: you should not wear jewelry 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 jewelry.
7. Lease Horses – terms and conditions:
•Costs
All year round pony lease per month
All year round horse lease per month
Half year lease per month
3 month lease per month
Summer Lease per month
Day lease at ____ per day can be arranged depending on ponies availabilty also shared lease can be arranged
•Payment for the lease horse or pony must be made in advance due on the first of each month unless outherwise stated.
•lease owners will be expected to see to their horse/pony three times a week to do all stable and field duties. Any missed days will be charged at $5.00 per day. Lease owners can come up more days if they wish but may not necessarily be able to ride.
•Times that lease horses are used in lessons can be confirmed by text.
•Any lease owners that wish to ride without a member of staff need to get their own
insurance.
•A ‘list of care for the horse’ will be given to perspective lease owners on the lease agreement. Anybody diverting from the list of care understands we will have the right to immediately take away the horse or pony from that lease owner with no refund.
•Horses/ponies can be taken to shows, pony club or out on hacks with consent.
•No persons other than the lease owner will be permitted to ride that pony under any circumstances.
8. Extra 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.
•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.
9. 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.
•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 or in the parking lot. Please don’t display valuables on your dash or seat asking for a break-in.
•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.
WARNING
Under Florida law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities.
10. 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 them.
TIPS ~ TO INSURE PROPER SERVICE If you liked your ride, hug and treat your horse and tip your Wrangler or Trail Boss! Many people do not realize that it is customary to tip your wrangler. If you had a great time on your ride, show your appreciation by tipping your Wrangler. The standard is 15-20% – similar to what you would tip a waiter or waitress.