Bridle&Bark Terms & Conditions
Please ensure you have read and fully understood these Terms & Conditions before making a booking. By placing a booking, making a payment, or submitting an animal into the care of Bridle&Bark, you are deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by them.
1. General Information
Adherence to Instruction: For all 1-to-1 coaching, puppy courses, and group classes, all instructions and training methods provided by the handler must be followed strictly.
Right of Refusal/Termination: Bridle&Bark reserves the right to ask a client to leave a session or terminate a contract at any stage if the client is unable or unwilling to follow instruction, or if Bridle&Bark believes the client’s or animal's behaviour poses a danger to themselves, the handler, or other people/animals.
Owner Responsibility: Animals are unpredictable by nature. While every professional precaution is taken, clients get their animal ready for training, socialisation walks, or group environments at their own risk. Owners remain legally responsible for their animal's actions and idioyncrasies at all times.
Suitability for Group Environments: If a dog does not benefit from a group or pack environment, or if Bridle&Bark deems that the environment is causing emotional distress or halting progress, the dog will be removed and referred to solo 1-to-1 training or walks.
Equine Yard Access: For all equine stable management, turnout, or exercise packages, clients must provide safe, unobstructed access to the yard, stable, and necessary equipment.
2. Bitches in Season
Group Restrictions: Bitches currently in season are strictly prohibited from participating in group classes, "Pack" socialisation walks, or regular dog walking groups.
Handler Attendance (Group Classes): For puppy courses or group classes, the dog cannot attend while in season; however, the owner/handler is highly encouraged to attend without the dog so they do not fall behind on the curriculum. No refunds are issued for missed sessions due to a bitch coming into season.
1-to-1 Sessions & Solo Walks: For 1-to-1 behavioral sessions or solo training walks, attendance is at the sole discretion of Bridle&Bark. If the session must be postponed, it will be handled under the Refunds and Cancellations policy below.
3. Payments
Canine Services (1-to-1, Walks, & Courses): Payment is required in full at the time of booking or a minimum of 7 days in advance of the scheduled session/start date. A booking is not considered secure or confirmed until cleared payment is received.
Equine Services & Holiday Cover: Regular equine care or exercise packages are billed in advance as agreed upon in your bespoke service contract. Holiday and full-yard cover packages require a 50% non-refundable deposit at the time of booking to secure the dates, with the remaining balance due 7 days prior to the start of the care period.
4. Refunds and Cancellations
1-to-1 Sessions & Solo Walks (Canine & Equine):
Cancellations made with more than 4 days (96 hours) notice before the scheduled session will incur no fee and can be rearranged or fully refunded.
Cancellations made with 4 days (96 hours) notice or less will incur a 50% charge of the total session fee. This fee will only be waived if Bridle&Bark is able to fill the vacancy with another client.
Cancellations made with 2 days (48 hours) notice or less, as well as non-attendance/no-shows, will be charged at 100% of the session fee. No refunds or free rearrangements will be permitted.
Rearrangements: Clients are permitted one free schedule rearrangement per 1-to-1 booking, provided a minimum of 7 days' notice is given. A second request to rearrange the same session will incur a 50% admin fee.
Group Classes & Puppy Courses: When booking a multi-week course, you are securing a slot for the entire curriculum. If you cancel your booking before the course begins and Bridle&Bark can fill your slot, a full refund minus a £25 administration fee will be issued. No refunds or partial credits are available after the course start date or for missing individual weeks.
5. Health, Vaccinations, and Pain Assessment
Canine Vaccinations: All dogs participating in group classes, pack walks, or solo walks must be fully vaccinated (or appropriately titer-tested) and regularly treated for fleas, ticks, and worms. Bridle&Bark reserves the right to request proof of vaccination at any time.
Equine Vaccinations: All horses receiving exercise, turnout, or yard care must be on an up-to-date, veterinary-approved vaccination schedule (including Equine Influenza and Tetanus).
Illness and Contagion: Animals displaying signs of infectious illness (e.g., kennel cough, vomiting/diarrhea in dogs; strangles, ringworm, or unexplained coughing in horses) must not attend sessions or yards. Clients must notify Bridle&Bark immediately to pause services.
The Physical-Mental Link (Pain Clause): In alignment with our Level 3 training, if Bridle&Bark conducts a physical biomechanical assessment and suspects that an animal’s behavioral issues are linked to underlying physical pain or discomfort, services may be suspended. Bridle&Bark reserves the right to require a formal veterinary referral or clearance before behavioral training or active exercise can safely resume.
6. Marketing, Photos, and Videos
Media Creation: During training sessions, group walks, or equine care, Bridle&Bark may take photographs and video footage of the animals, and occasionally the handlers.
Usage Rights: By agreeing to these terms, you grant Bridle&Bark full permission to use these images and videos for promotional, educational, and marketing purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, our business website, social media channels, and print leaflets.
Opt-Out: If you prefer that your animal or yourself not be photographed or filmed for marketing purposes, you must explicitly state this in writing via email prior to your first session.
7. Weather-Related Changes
Extreme Weather Policy: Bridle&Bark operates primarily outdoors. Sessions will go ahead in normal rain or wind conditions. However, in cases of extreme, dangerous weather (such as severe heatwaves, amber/red weather warnings, torrential storms, or sheet ice/snow), Bridle&Bark reserves the right to postpone or adapt the session for the safety of the handler and the animals.
Equine Adjustments: During extreme heat or frozen ground, ridden or high-impact exercise may be substituted for low-impact groundwork, stable enrichment, or lunging at the discretion of Bridle&Bark, keeping the safety and respiratory health of your horse a priority.
Cancellations by Bridle&Bark: If a session must be cancelled by Bridle&Bark due to dangerous weather, you will be offered an alternative date or a full credit toward your next booking. No cancellation fees will apply to the client in this scenario.
8. Data Protection (GDPR)
Collection of Information: Bridle&Bark collects personal data (such as your name, address, contact details, and animal medical/behavioral histories) strictly to deliver safe, professional, and tailored services.
Data Security: All personal information is securely stored digitally and treated with the strictest confidentiality. It will never be sold, leased, or shared with third parties, except where required by law or in the case of an immediate medical emergency involving your animal (e.g., sharing details with your designated veterinarian).
Right to Erasure: In accordance with UK Data Protection legislation, you have the right to request a copy of the information we hold on you, or to request that your personal data be permanently deleted from our systems once our professional contract has concluded.