Pickering Grange Farm – Terms & Conditions for Visitors (April 2024)
All visitors (“you”) are required to accept these terms and conditions for themselves and any children they bring to Pickering Grange Farm (“the Farm”). If you do not agree then you may not visit the Farm. The partners, staff and agents of Pickering Grange Farm (also trading as Pickering Grange Equestrian) are collectively referred to as “we” or “us”.
Risk acceptance
You accept that being around horses and riding at any standard has inherent risk and that all horses may react unpredictably on occasions. You may fall off and could be injured, or be injured by another horse. You accept these risks.
You understand that children are at particular risk around horses and agree to keep children that you are responsible for under close supervision. You agree to be responsible for the behaviour and welfare of any children you bring to the Farm.
You understand that competing or using the cross country course (or both) carries enhanced risk over and above general riding and agree that if you chose to participate, it is up to you to ensure that you have the experience and ability to ride the course including any jumps that form part of it. If you are in any doubt, you will use your judgment and experience and not enter.
The Farm is a working farm and you understand and accept the risks of being on a farm. These risks include but are not limited to uneven and slippery ground, unpredictable animal behaviour and farm traffic. You agree not to enter any areas where farm machinery is being used, and will give way to farm machinery.
Horses and Riding
You agree that your horse’s behaviour and welfare is your responsibility, and that you will maintain a valid passport with a record of up-to-date inoculations including ‘flu and tetanus, and show these to us if we ask. If your horse is showing any symptoms of illness, you may not bring your horse to the Farm.
You agree to only ride or lead a horse whilst wearing a correctly fastened riding hat (to a current recognised standard) and suitable riding gloves and suitable riding footwear with defined heels. You understand that it is advisable to wear a hat when grooming.
You understand that wearing a body protector may reduce the severity of an injury. For children and for jumping over solid fences (cross-country and arena eventing) body protectors to current standards are required. Otherwise you understand it is your choice whether or not to wear a body protector. You warrant that you and anyone else you permit to ride a horse are suitably competent and experienced to ride that horse. For safety reasons all lone riders must be accompanied by another person. A mobile phone should be carried for emergencies.
If you are not a full time livery customer and we agree to handle your horse then in consideration you will indemnify us and hold us harmless for any losses arising to the maximum extent permitted by law.
If your horse requires veterinary treatment, we will try to contact you first. You consent to us providing or organising treatment at our discretion if we are unable to contact you in a timely fashion. You indemnify and hold us harmless for any welfare decisions we make on your behalf that we believe are in the interest of the horse.
If your horse is stabled with us temporarily then stables must be left clean and tidy with clean bedding banked up across the back, and if you bring a stallion you must bring an electric fence pack. Any damage caused by a temporarily stabled horse must be paid for. Stallion grills should be requested in advance by email.
Lunging is not allowed except in the lunge arena. Unless turned out in a paddock, horses must be kept off the grass areas to avoid damage to mowing equipment.
Insurance and Liability
You agree to maintain appropriate insurance for yourself, any guests and all property that you bring to the Farm. If you compete then you agree to ensure your insurance covers your participation in competitions. You must insure yourself and anyone you allow to ride your horse for public liability and any legal liability that may attach to you as the keeper of the horse.
We accept no responsibility for loss or damage to your property (including but not limited to your horse).
Competitions
If you compete, you agree to abide by the rules of the competition and pay the appropriate fee. Access for competitions is from 8.00am, please do not arrive before this time.
If you withdraw, if we deem you to be unfit to compete, or if you are not allowed to compete due to not complying with the rules or not bringing the correct equipment or documentation (such as passport and vaccination certificates) then no refunds will be given. You agree that event photography is an integral part of competitions, and competitors may be photographed. We may pass rider, horse and competition details to the event photographer who may display these details on their website. A refund of entry fees may be given in lieu of prize money. Prize money unclaimed 21 days after a competition is forfeited.
All unaffiliated events will be run by reference to the relevant affiliated rules: British Showjumping (BS), British Dressage (BD) and British Eventing (BE). The decision of the judge is final. We may amend the rules at any time.
For BS competitions you agree that we will restrict prizes to one for every five entries, in accordance with BS Rule 76 (6), and not pay scheduled prize money for competitions with fewer than four starters in accordance with BS rule 76 (14).
For affiliated competitions we may share the information you have provided in connection with your entry to the relevant body. If you receive an injury any medical reports relating to your condition may be passed to BE. Any medical reports passed to BE will be held on your records and passed in confidence to the UK Transport Research Lab for the purposes of safety analyses. You agree to comply with all the relevant BE rules as detailed in the BE Rules and Members’ handbook, including those relating to vaccinations & BEFAR (BEF Anti-Doping Rules).
Cross country
Every person entering the cross country course does so at their own risk, and voluntarily accepts the risk of injury or damage that is implicit in riding on, over or near a cross country course and cross country schooling fences, and the risk to spectators.
Before using the cross country course all riders must familiarise themselves with the course and only jump jumps for which the horse and rider are capable of, taking note of the ground conditions and any hazards or bends. Studs are recommended in all conditions.
Jumps that are marked with red and white flags may only be jumped in one direction. The direction of the jump is indicated by jumping with the red flag on the right side of the jump. Crossed flags in front of the jump indicate that the jump is out of use and must not be jumped. Please report any defect or damage to any jump whilst using the course. All accidents or damage to the course must be reported to us before leaving the course.
All riders must take note of any footpath signs and keep off footpaths. When approaching farm tracks, please slow and look for any traffic. No racing must take place at any time. Spectators must stay clear of jumps at all times. Children must be supervised at all times and are not permitted to be on the cross country course alone (mounted or on foot or spectating).
Instruction
Unless you are having a lesson from the partners or staff of Pickering Grange Farm then you agree that we provide facilities and not instruction, and any instruction is arranged between you and the instructor, even if we facilitate the arrangement. You agree to check your instructor is suitably qualified and has appropriate insurance.
You agree that where you ride with other people (which may or may not include us) each rider is responsible for their own safety and no element of tuition or oversight is provided by us. For the avoidance of doubt this includes riding outside the Farm that we have organised.
If you are visiting to instruct you agree that you are suitably qualified will perform your own risk assessment for each lesson and will maintain appropriate insurance.
Vehicles and Driving
Lorries and trailers may not be skipped out in parking areas. Hay nets may not be tied outside lorries or trailers. You agree not to leave rubbish at the Farm except in the bins provided. No horse is to be left unattended unless correctly secured inside the trailer or horsebox. Vehicles may only be parked in the allocated areas.
You accept that taking vehicles onto a farm is a risk to safety and may cause damage for which you accept responsibility. You agree to move your vehicle on request. You consent to us moving your vehicle as your agent and at your own risk. If you ask us to move a vehicle then you warrant that you act with the authority of the owner. If we agree to move a vehicle then in consideration you will indemnify us and hold us harmless for any losses arising to the maximum extent permitted by law.
You accept the risk that other drivers may not be familiar with the farm and may not be familiar with horse behaviour.
Staying at the Farm
If your visit includes staying at the Farm overnight, then you accept that the gates to the Farm are normally locked overnight, (from after 9pm to approximately 7.30am) and that you will make arrangements to exit the farm in an emergency with your event organiser or us. Please take any rubbish home with you.
General
You agree to report any potential hazards or maintenance issues to management immediately (including but not limited to broken fencing).
You agree to not to enter any areas of the Farm that are not explicitly for the purpose of your visit.
We may record and store images and audio for our own purposes, including the management of the facility, the prevention and detection of crime, to ensure compliance with farm rules and for the promotion of Pickering Grange Farm. You may not record or store images or audio without our permission. You may not use any images or audio recoreded at the Farm for any purpose without our written consent.
No smoking or use of e-cigarettes is allowed anywhere on the Farm, except for the area near the toilet where a cigarette disposal bin is provided.
You agree to be responsible for any damage caused by you or your horse. Well-behaved dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a lead and supervised at all times. You agree to clean up any mess left by your dog.
You are responsible for the safety of any guests you invite to the Farm, including any children. You agree to ensure that anyone you invite to the Farm understands and accepts these terms and conditions.
Headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these terms and conditions.
We may close the Farm or any part of it at any time at no notice due to operational issues, any outbreak of equine or human disease, or acting on the advice of any competent authority.
You agree to leave the Farm if we ask you to at any time and for any reason.