· I understand that riding at any standard has inherent risk and that all horses may react unpredictably on occasions. I may fall off and could be injured - I accept that risk.
· I understand that while STE staff and helpers in charge will take all reasonable care of me and/or my child, unless they are negligent, they cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or injury suffered by me/my child arising, during or out of the activity.
· I understand that instructions are given for my safety and agree to follow instructions given to me by staff and instructors of the riding school and will make sure my child understands the same.
· I reserve the right not to ride a horse/pony allocated to me and may request a change of instructor.
· I understand that wearing an appropriate riding hat and body protector may reduce the severity of an injury should an accident happen and agree that I will always wear a hat when riding or leading horses on STE premises. I agree that any riding hat I wear will comply with current safety standards. I understand that body protectors are compulsory for pole work, jumping and hacking for anyone under the age of 18 and are highly recommended for all for these activities for everyone.
· I understand that I may borrow a hat and boots from STE and agree to look after them and return them before leaving the facility. I understand that the riding school staff will give guidance on what to look for when fitting my own/my child’s riding hat, but are not qualified hat fitters, so I am responsible for choosing a suitable hat. I am aware that slides, clips and grips should not be worn in hair underneath a hat. I understand that I am advised to invest in my own hat and boots for optimum comfort, performance and fit. I am aware that muckers, rubber boots and wellies are permitted for yard duties but are not suitable riding footwear.
· I understand that appropriate riding attire is essential for maintaining safety standards. I agree to the following dress code for STE:
No hooded tops or coats and no scarves,
No jeans – only jodhpurs or leggings,
No fashion jewellery or piercings of any kind - these must be removed or covered if new,
No strappy tops or fashion tops that leave the shoulders uncovered,
Suitable footwear - no fashion boots, trainers, high heels, deck shoes, no open toe shoes.
Long hair tied back at all times.
· I understand that the riding school will make decisions based on information I give them and agree to always be honest and volunteer information about:
My abilities and riding experience,
Any previous riding accidents,
Any medical condition(s) which may affect my ability to ride.
· I understand that children are at particular risk around horses and agree that I will keep children (especially siblings) that I am responsible for, under close supervision when they are not under instruction.
· I understand that the riding school may refuse my request to ride for safety or operational reasons.
· I understand that competing carries an enhanced risk over and above general riding and agree that if I choose to participate in any competition or event, it is up to me to ensure that I have the experience and ability to meet the demands of the class I have chosen to enter. If I am in any doubt, I will use my judgement and experience and not enter.
Adults who are supporting their children's participation must remember to lead by example, as their child will be influenced by attitudes and behaviours seen in their parents. As a result, parents are reminded to show:
- Respect for other riders/competitors/show officials/instructors/members of staff/parents;
- Appropriate language and manners;
- Empathy and encouragement for those who are struggling;
- Consideration for the welfare and happiness of the ponies;
- Enthusiasm for participation and effort;
- Respect for the instructor and to refrain from interfering in a lesson/coaching session (even though your intentions may be good, it is distracting to riders and can be counter-productive);
- Respect for the wishes of their child and the child's own aims and ambitions.
In addition to the sportsmanship ethic above, please note the following requirements of adults/parents at STE:
· Parents/adults are welcome to watch lessons, but must comply with both health and safety and child protection guidelines.
· Do not enter the riding arena unless requested to do so by an instructor or member of staff – even if you child has had an accident and you are watching, please wait to be called in – this is for the safety of all.
· Parents/Guardians/Visitors are asked to keep any other children under close control and make sure that all children are reminded not to run/scream/shout/play in the vicinity of the arena or the barn.
· Parents must collect their child from the STE office in person as we will not send children out to cars. Please report directly to the office if coming to collect your child.
· If you are not collecting your own child and are sending an alternative adult, please notify us in advance.
· If your child is not coming to their riding lesson, please notify us as soon as possible (please also see the cancellation policy).
· All adults are respectfully asked not to sit in the car park with their headlights on when lessons are running in the dark – it is distracting to ponies, riders, leaders and instructors and therefore dangerous.
· No photos or videos are to be taken without the express permission of the instructor or member of staff in charge and must only be of your child (except in special circumstances). If other children are evident in the background or in exceptional group photographs then these MUST NOT BE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
· We are a no dog site.
· Any adults that do not have children at St Teresa’s are not permitted on any other part of school property than the driveways, car parks and STE grounds.
· Please notify any adults who are coming to collect your child/watch a lesson/spectate at any activities we may be running that they are also bound by this code of conduct and advise them of the contents therein.
· Please treat staff and instructors with respect, if there are any issues do speak to the staff member in charge. Being rude, using foul or abusive language, or being violent or aggressive will not be tolerated.
· If you have any questions or concerns about anything to do with STE, please get in touch with us directly so that we can ensure a productive, safe and enjoyable time for yourself and/or your child.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
We are delighted that you are considering lessons at St Teresa’s Equestrian. To make the booking process as smooth as possible, we use an online booking system called EC Pro. This system allows clients to book, view and pay for lessons with ease. It is important, however, to note the following Booking and Cancellation Terms and Conditions.
Booking terms and conditions
v All new riders and the Parents/Guardians of riders are required to create an account under their name and complete a registration form for every rider, using the St Teresa’s Equestrian EC Pro booking system: st-teresas-equestrian.ecpro.co.uk
This must be done before it is possible to register for termly lessons or to book ad hoc lessons or pony days.
v Termly lessons, assessments, off-site hacks or the BHS courses (BHS Pony Stars and BHS Challenge Awards) must be agreed through the office before they can be booked on the system.
v Ad hoc lessons and pony days/half days can be booked directly through the booking system once the lessons have been made ‘live’ and an account has been created by the user.
v The first riding lesson for all new riders will be an assessment lesson unless they have attended a pony day/half day (in which their riding will have been assessed).
v Full payment must be made at the time of booking or upon receipt of the invoice.
v If a rider has booked a three-quarters of an hour shared lesson but there is only one rider, the lesson will only be half an hour in length (thus the equivalent value of a half hour private lesson).
v For the welfare of our current horses/ponies, we are currently unable to accept riders with a weight of 11 stone (70Kg) or more (total weight when dressed to ride with appropriate clothing and boots).
Hacking
STE offers hacking on site around the beautiful fields and woods of St Teresa’s School, for our junior and less experienced riders. For off-site hacking, the following rules apply to ensure the safety of the riders, staff and horses.
v Off-site hacking is only available to riders who are 11 years old and over and who can walk, trot and canter in a light seat safely and can turn and look behind whilst mounted in the walk and rising trot (STE Grade 8). We would strongly advise riders to take the BHS Ride Safe course and exam.
v Non-STE riders who wish to hack off-site will need to have a free assessment to check their competence.
CONTACT
v St. Teresa's Equestrian Office on 01372 750257 or equestrian@st-teresas.com
v Only e-mails received at the equestrian@st-teresas.com address will be accepted for booking purposes. Please do not contact staff members using their direct e-mail accounts.
v IMPORTANT: Please do NOT respond to any emails sent to you from EC Pro as these replies will not be received by STE.
Cancellation terms and conditions
An equestrian facility is a labour intensive and costly undertaking, essentially funded by the horses and ponies being used to provide riding lessons and related activities. Additionally, Instructors and staff who help the girls before/during/after lessons have to be booked in advance to provide the training and support which clients rightfully expect. When lessons are cancelled at short notice, however, all the committed costs still have to be met. As a result, it is necessary to define the Terms and Conditions for Cancellation of all horse/pony related training activities to ensure that the establishment is efficiently and economically managed.
General
v No monetary refunds will be given but credit will be applied as outlined in these terms.
v If STE is unable to offer ridden training due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, stable management or equitation theory training will be provided instead. Please note that riders will be expected to arrive dressed to ride in all weathers with suitable outdoor clothing befitting the weather conditions.
v In the unlikely event that STE has to cancel a lesson or an activity completely, riders will receive a credit for the equivalent value of the session or will be offered a catch-up session if possible.
v In all circumstances, in order to qualify for a credit, cancellations MUST be notified to the office by email or phone and NOT by the account holder on the booking system:
St. Teresa's Equestrian Office on 01372 750257 or equestrian@st-teresas.com
Termly lessons
Discounted termly lessons
v Riders who commit to all 10 termly lessons will be entitled to a 12% discount on the understanding that it is not possible to receive a refund/credit for a cancelled lesson for whatever reason. It will, however, be possible to move up to 2 lessons within the term with a minimum of 72 hours' notice.
v If a Rider’s termly lesson slot falls on a Monday, the commitment will reduce depending on the number of Bank holidays during the term. STE will not run lessons on Bank holidays, so the commitment will be to the number of lessons minus the Bank holidays. The policy will be as outlined in the bullet point above.
Full price termly lessons
v For riders who need more flexibility, it is possible to book termly lessons without the discount.
v Cancellations will be accepted due to an unavoidable conflict with an Effingham School Trust event for which the rider’s presence is mandatory/critical, as long as 72 hours' notice is given. IMPORTANT: please do not sign your child up for a sport on the day that their lesson has been assigned.
v STE will endeavour to offer a catch-up session, but in the event that this is not possible, a credit will be applied to the account.
General termly
v For existing riders, it may be possible to reschedule their termly slot if a conflict with another activity becomes apparent at the start of the Autumn Term. This must be done before the second week of term, when riding lessons begin.
v If a rider doesn’t attend for three lessons during the term, they will lose their right to renew their termly slot and their place will be offered to riders on the STE waiting list.
v Riders are required to give six weeks’ notice to cancel regular termly riding slots. However, in the case of Autumn Term cancellations, notice must be received BEFORE the school breaks up for the summer holidays as per the St Teresa’s website, i.e. nine weeks.
Non-termly/Ad-hoc lessons/Holiday activities
v Notice of cancellation must be given 72 hours or more in advance in order to receive a credit for the session or to be offered a catch-up session.
v If notice of cancellation is received LESS than 72 hours in advance of the scheduled activity, no alternatives will be offered, no credit will be issued, and the activity is not eligible for transfer.
NSEA Show Entries
v NSEA Show entry cancellations are non-transferrable and non-refundable, except on production of a doctor’s or veterinary surgeon’s note, in which case a credit for the equivalent value of the entry fee will be issued.
Arena hire
v The Arena is available to hire for free by pupils and staff of the Effingham Schools Trust but it is requested that 72-hours’ notice is given for any cancellations.
v The Arena is also available to hire by external riders for a fee. Notice of cancellation must be given 72 hours or more in advance in order to receive a credit for the booking.
