Overview
Poppyfield Equestrian employs highly qualified instructors whose time must be scheduled in advance. Lessons are organised using a booking system where clients confirm attendance for the next available session within their ability group. As lessons are grouped by ability, lesson times are generally fixed. In some cases, we may be able to offer an alternative day at the riding school’s discretion, but we cannot change the lesson grading or ability group.
During the booking process, clients may request a preferred horse or pony. While we will try to accommodate requests, this cannot be guaranteed. We reserve the right to change a rider’s horse or pony at any time, including during the lesson, for reasons including animal welfare, operational requirements, or rider safety. Examples include a horse becoming unwell, rider size suitability, or instructor safety concerns.
These decisions are final and non-negotiable. If a rider refuses to ride the alternative horse or pony offered, the lesson will be treated as cancelled and the cancellation fee will apply.
Booking-in
Clients must arrive no later than 15 minutes before their lesson start time and must book in at the desk before the lesson begins. Lessons must be paid for in full before the lesson starts, including any outstanding cancellation fees from missed lessons.
Payment can be made by:
- Cash (preferred)
- Cheque (payable to Mrs J Morton)
It is the client’s responsibility to book future lessons. We cannot assume ongoing attendance or hold spaces without a confirmed booking. Poppyfield Equestrian cannot be held responsible if future bookings are not made at the time of booking in.
Clients will be offered lessons at their regular interval (e.g. weekly or fortnightly) and may request a preferred horse or pony.
By making a booking, clients agree to comply with the following policies:
- Rider’s Code of Conduct
- Cancellation Policy
- Digital Media Policy
Cancellation
Cancellations may result in entire sessions being cancelled due to low attendance, which creates additional administration and operational costs. We understand that exceptional circumstances may occur and will consider these on a case-by-case basis.
Cancellations must be made by:
- Telephone call (voicemail accepted)
- Text message to 07707 399181
- In person
We cannot accept cancellations by any other method.
If cancelling by text message, please ensure the message shows as sent. Weekends are particularly busy, so we may not be able to respond immediately.
If Poppyfield Equestrian cancels a lesson due to extreme weather, no charge will be made.
If a client cancels due to weather but we deem conditions safe to continue, full payment will still be required.
Information required for Cancellation:
- Rider’s name
- Date and time of the lesson being cancelled
If a client cannot attend a lesson, as much notice as possible should be given. Once a lesson is booked, the cost of a missed lesson remains payable and must be paid at the next booking-in.
For private or semi-private lessons, the full lesson cost remains payable even if cancelled, regardless of the amount of notice given. These lessons are arranged specifically for the client and result in lost instructor time if cancelled.
You may request a new booking when notifying us of a cancellation. Please clearly state the new requested date and time. Once we receive your cancellation, we will send a confirmation text message. If a new date has been requested, we will confirm the new booking details at the same time.