TERMS & CONDITIONS

BALLYLEIGH RIDING SCHOOL

Welcome to Ballyleigh Riding School.

These Terms & Conditions are here to help keep our riders, families, staff, visitors and horses safe while making sure everyone can enjoy being part of the Ballyleigh community.

Horse riding and working around horses carry inherent risks. Horses are individual animals and may react unexpectedly.

By booking or participating in a lesson, pony camp, course, competition, event or other activity at Ballyleigh Riding School, you agree to follow these Terms & Conditions and the reasonable instructions of our instructors and staff.

For children and young riders, the parent or guardian making the booking is responsible for ensuring that the child understands and follows the relevant rules.

 

The horse always comes first, and rider safety and horse welfare are at the heart of everything we do.

FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Our full Terms & Conditions and Riders Code of Conduct are available to read at the Ballyleigh Riding School office.

These include detailed information relating to rider and parent responsibilities, horse welfare, safety, yard rules, emergencies, behaviour, safeguarding, photography and other important procedures.

If you have any questions about our rules or procedures, please speak to a member of the Ballyleigh team before taking part in an activity.


BOOKINGS & PAYMENTS

All riding lessons, pony camps, courses and other bookable activities must be booked and paid for in advance through our online booking system.

Please check that you have selected the correct:

  • Rider
  • Activity
  • Date
  • Time
  • Lesson or camp

We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance where possible.

Same-day walk-in bookings are not accepted.

Where booking for a child, please make sure you use the correct rider profile.

Bookings and payments are subject to our current booking and cancellation policy.

If you cannot attend, please contact us as soon as possible. Please do not assume that a missed booking automatically qualifies for a refund, credit or alternative booking.


RIDER AGE, WEIGHT & ABILITY

Riders must meet the age and suitability requirements for the activity they are booking.

Minimum riding lesson age: 5 years old.

Our current maximum rider weight is:

13 stone / 182 lb / approximately 82.5 kg

Riders and parents/guardians must provide accurate information about the rider's age, weight, riding experience, ability and any relevant information that could affect safe participation.

Horse and pony allocation is made by our instructors based on the rider and the horse's individual needs.

A particular horse or pony cannot always be guaranteed.


SAFETY & RIDING EQUIPMENT

Riders must wear suitable clothing and appropriate footwear for riding and working around horses.

We recommend footwear with:

  • A small, defined heel
  • A secure fit
  • A suitable sole for riding

An appropriate riding helmet must be worn when riding and whenever required by Ballyleigh staff.

Helmets may be available to borrow on request and subject to availability.

A body protector may be recommended or required for certain activities, particularly where jumping or other higher-risk activities are involved.

Riders must follow all safety instructions given by our instructors and staff.


HORSE WELFARE

THE HORSE ALWAYS COMES FIRST

The welfare of our horses and ponies is at the heart of everything we do.

Horses may need changes to their workload, rest, veterinary care or time away from an activity.

For this reason, your allocated horse, lesson or planned activity may sometimes need to change.

This may happen because of:

  • Illness or injury
  • Tiredness or workload
  • Veterinary advice
  • Horse behaviour
  • Weather
  • Ground conditions
  • Horse welfare
  • Safety

We ask our riders to understand that these decisions are made to protect the horse and keep everyone safe.

We encourage our riders to learn not only how to ride, but also how to care for and understand horses.


YARD ACCESS & HORSE INTERACTION

Ballyleigh is a working horse yard, not a public-access facility.

For the safety and welfare of our horses, riders, staff and visitors, people must not wander freely around the yard, stables, fields, paddocks or other horse areas.

Please do not:

  • Enter stables without permission.
  • Open stable doors unless instructed to do so.
  • Enter paddocks or fields to approach horses.
  • Touch, feed, groom, catch, lead or handle horses without permission and appropriate supervision.
  • Approach horses simply because they appear friendly.
  • Open gates or paddock gates unless instructed.
  • Interfere with horses, tack, feed, equipment or other yard property.
  • Allow children to wander around the yard or approach horses without appropriate supervision.

If you would like to meet, groom or interact with one of our horses or ponies, please ask a member of the Ballyleigh team first.

A horse may be resting, eating, nervous, unwell, injured or simply need space.

PLEASE ASK FIRST. RESPECT THE HORSES AND THEIR SPACE.


DOGS & OTHER ANIMALS

DOGS & OTHER ANIMALS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE PREMISES

Dogs and other animals are not permitted anywhere on the Ballyleigh Riding School premises.

This applies to all riders, parents, guardians, spectators and visitors.

Please do not bring dogs or other animals to lessons, pony camps, competitions, events or other activities.

This rule helps us maintain a safe and calm environment for our horses, riders, staff and visitors.


CHILDREN & PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that children:

  • Understand and follow the relevant rules.
  • Have suitable clothing and equipment.
  • Arrive on time.
  • Are collected promptly where required.
  • Behave respectfully around horses and other people.
  • Are appropriately supervised when not taking part in an organised activity.

Parents and guardians should provide accurate and up-to-date information about their child and tell us about any relevant medical, behavioural, additional or safety needs that may affect participation.

We ask parents and guardians to support children positively and respectfully.

We want every child to feel welcome, included, supported and proud of their progress at Ballyleigh.


MEDICAL & EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Riders or their parent/guardian must provide relevant medical, allergy and emergency contact information where requested.

Please ensure that this information is accurate and kept up to date.

If a rider becomes unwell or is injured during an activity, the activity may be stopped and appropriate first aid provided.

Where necessary, Ballyleigh may contact the rider's parent, guardian or nominated emergency contact and/or seek further medical assistance.

In a serious or life-threatening emergency, emergency services will take priority.

Parents and guardians should remain contactable while their child is attending a lesson, camp, course or event.

Please tell us about any change in a rider's health, medication or circumstances that could affect their safe participation.


WEATHER, HORSE WELFARE & CHANGES TO ACTIVITIES

Horse welfare and rider safety come first.

Lessons, camps, courses, competitions or other activities may need to be changed, shortened, postponed or cancelled because of:

  • Weather conditions
  • Unsafe ground
  • Horse welfare
  • Illness or injury
  • Staffing
  • Equipment
  • Facilities
  • Safety concerns
  • Other circumstances outside our control

Where possible, we will communicate changes as soon as reasonably possible.

Sometimes the best decision for a horse or rider is to change the plan.

The experience may change — but safety and horse welfare will always come first.


PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

To protect the privacy, safety and wellbeing of our riders, children, staff, visitors and horses:

Photographs and video recording are not permitted anywhere on Ballyleigh Riding School property without prior permission.

Permission must always be requested from an instructor or supervising Ballyleigh team member BEFORE taking any photograph or video.

This applies to:

  • Children and riders
  • Lessons and activities
  • Horses and ponies
  • Stables and yards
  • Arenas
  • Paddocks and fields
  • Staff and instructors
  • Visitors and spectators

Permission must not be assumed.

Where children are involved, appropriate parent/guardian permission should also be respected.

Ballyleigh may ask someone to stop recording where necessary to protect privacy, safety or wellbeing.

PLEASE ASK FIRST. RESPECT PRIVACY. RESPECT OUR HORSES. RESPECT OUR YARD.


BEHAVIOUR & BULLYING

We want Ballyleigh to be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and comfortable.

All riders, parents, guardians, spectators and visitors are expected to treat others with kindness and respect.

Ballyleigh has zero tolerance for bullying.

This includes:

  • Name-calling
  • Intimidation
  • Threats
  • Harassment
  • Deliberate exclusion
  • Humiliation
  • Physical aggression
  • Online bullying
  • Abusive or threatening social media behaviour

Horses must also be treated with kindness and respect at all times.

Serious or continued inappropriate, unsafe or abusive behaviour may result in participation being stopped or a person being asked to leave the premises.

If you have a concern, please speak directly and respectfully to a member of the Ballyleigh team.


FOLLOWING STAFF INSTRUCTIONS

Our instructors and staff are responsible for making decisions regarding:

  • Rider safety
  • Horse allocation
  • Horse welfare
  • Lessons and activities
  • Yard access
  • Equipment
  • Weather and ground conditions
  • When an activity should stop or change

All riders, parents, guardians, spectators and visitors must follow reasonable instructions given by Ballyleigh staff.

Ballyleigh reserves the right to stop or change participation where this is necessary for safety, horse welfare or the proper running of the yard.


RESPECTING OUR YARD

Please remember that Ballyleigh is a working equestrian yard.

Help us keep it safe, clean and welcoming by:

  • Keeping walkways and gateways clear.
  • Using equipment responsibly.
  • Putting rubbish in the appropriate bins.
  • Parking only where permitted.
  • Keeping children appropriately supervised.
  • Reporting damaged equipment, fencing, gates or other safety concerns.
  • Respecting restricted areas.
  • Leaving the yard as you find it.

RESPECT THE SPACE.
RESPECT THE HORSES.
RESPECT EACH OTHER.


FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS

The full Ballyleigh Riding School Terms & Conditions & Riders Code of Conduct is available to read at the Ballyleigh Riding School office.

The full document contains our detailed procedures and responsibilities relating to:

  • Riders
  • Parents and guardians
  • Spectators and visitors
  • Horse welfare
  • Safety and risk
  • Bookings and cancellations
  • Pony camps and events
  • Safeguarding
  • Photography and video
  • Yard access
  • Medical and emergency procedures
  • Behaviour and bullying
  • Complaints and concerns

If you have any questions about our Terms & Conditions or anything relating to your participation at Ballyleigh, please speak to a member of the Ballyleigh team.

OUR SHARED COMMITMENT

These rules are here to protect what makes Ballyleigh special — our horses, our riders and our community.

We want Ballyleigh to be a place where people can learn, grow in confidence, make friends, create memories and enjoy their time with horses.

COME AS YOU ARE.
RESPECT THE HORSES.
RESPECT EACH OTHER.
FIND YOUR PLACE AT BALLYLEIGH.

We want you to feel comfortable and confident before you visit Ballyleigh.

If you're unsure about anything in our Terms & Conditions, have a question about a booking, or simply want to chat to us about your rider's needs, please get in touch.

We're always happy to help.