Bridle&Bark Privacy Policy
Last Updated: May 2026
At Bridle&Bark Canine & Equine Behaviour and Training, we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains when, why, and how we collect personal information about our website visitors and clients, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others, and how we keep it secure.
By using our website or engaging our services, you are agreeing to be bound by this Policy.
1. Who We Are
Bridle&Bark is a canine and equine behavior and training business owned and operated by Lydia. For the purposes of data protection legislation, Lydia is the Data Controller of your personal information. If you have any questions regarding this policy or our privacy practices, you can contact us directly via email.
2. How Do We Collect Information From You?
We obtain information about you when you interact with us or use our services. For example, when you:
Fill out an enquiry form or contact form on our website.
Complete a behavioral questionnaire, new client intake form, or training contract.
Contact us via phone, text message, email, or social media.
Book and pay for our services.
Sign up for our newsletter or guides.
3. What Type of Information Is Collected?
The personal information we collect might include:
Contact Details: Your name, address, email address, and phone number.
Animal Information: Your dog or horse’s name, breed, age, behavioral history, veterinary history, current medical conditions, and lifestyle routines.
Payment Details: For financial transactions, payments are processed securely via third-party providers. We do not store your credit/debit card numbers on our systems.
Media: Photographs or video footage of your animal (and occasionally you as the handler) captured during our training sessions, walks, or yard care (subject to your consent).
Technical Data: Your IP address, browser type, and information regarding what pages on our website are accessed and when (via cookies).
4. How Is Your Information Used?
We use your information strictly to provide a safe, legal, and professional service. Specifically, we may use your information to:
Process bookings and fulfill our contractual obligations to you and your animal.
Assess your animal’s physical and emotional history to tailor behavioral modification or rehabilitation programs.
Communicate with you regarding appointment times, updates on walks, or progress reports.
Send you post-walk briefs, training curricula, or home-start guides.
Carry out invoicing and internal bookkeeping.
Verify up-to-date vaccinations or medical clearances.
With your explicit consent, showcase your animal’s progress on our website and social media channels for marketing and educational purposes.
5. Legal Basis for Processing Your Data
Under the UK GDPR, the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:
Contractual Obligation: We need your personal and animal data to fulfill the terms of the service contract you have signed with us.
Consent: Where you have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for a specific purpose (such as using photos of your dog or horse for marketing).
Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as managing accounting, internal records, and improving our services.
Vital Interests: In rare emergencies, where sharing your data is necessary to protect the life or health of your animal (e.g., passing details to an emergency vet).
6. Who Has Access to Your Information?
We will never sell, lease, or rent your information to third parties. We will not share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.
We will only disclose your information to third parties under the following strict conditions:
Veterinary & Medical Referrals: In alignment with our behavioral standards, we may share behavioral observation notes or biomechanical videos with your designated veterinarian, physiotherapist, or farrier, but only with your knowledge and permission.
Third-Party Service Providers: We use trusted third-party systems to run our business efficiently (e.g., secure website hosting platforms, email clients, scheduling software, and secure payment gateways). These providers only have access to the information necessary to perform their specific functions and are legally bound to protect your data.
Legal Obligation: We may disclose your personal data if required to do so by law or by a regulatory authority.
7. How We Protect and Store Your Data
We take data security very seriously. All personal information collected via digital forms or email is stored securely on password-protected devices and encrypted cloud storage. Any physical paperwork (such as printed contracts) is kept in a secure, locked location.
We only retain your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements (such as HMRC tax records, which require us to keep basic client invoices for up to 6 years).
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have specific rights concerning your personal information, including:
The Right of Access: You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
The Right to Rectification: You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete.
The Right to Erasure: You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances ("the right to be forgotten").
The Right to Restriction of Processing: You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
The Right to Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on your consent (such as media use), you can withdraw that consent at any time.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us in writing via email, and we will respond within one month.