Terms and Conditions

1. Who we are and what these terms cover #

2. The role of Horse Marketplace — what we are and are not #

2.1 Horse Marketplace is an intermediary marketplace and Booking platform. Except where expressly stated (e.g. our own subscription fees or Commission), we are not a party to any contract for the sale of a horse, the sale of equipment, or the provision of a Booking/hire service. Those contracts are formed directly between the buyer and seller, or between the customer and the host/service provider (“Users”).

2.2 We do not own, inspect, vet, insure, or guarantee any horse, item of equipment, arena, livery yard, coaching service, horsebox, or experience listed on the Platform, except to the extent of the identity and document-verification steps described in Section 5.

2.3 We are not a bloodstock agent, veterinary service, riding establishment, transport operator, or property agent. Nothing on the Platform constitutes advice on the health, suitability, temperament, or value of any horse, or on the safety or legality of any Booking or hire.

2.4 Because we are not a party to the underlying sale or hire contract, any dispute regarding a horse, item of equipment, or Booking is between the relevant Users. We may, at our discretion, assist with dispute resolution (Section 15) but we have no obligation to do so beyond what is required by law in respect of transactions we process payment for.

3. Accounts and verification #

3.1 You must register an account to list a horse, list equipment for sale, list a bookable service, make a Booking, or use Custom Offers.

3.2 Payment Identity verification (KYC). Payments and payouts on the Platform are processed via Stripe Connect. Before you can receive payouts, you must complete Stripe’s identity verification process in order to receive any funds. Until KYC has been completed with Stripe we are unable to release any funds.

3.3 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account.

3.4 You must provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering and when creating any Listing or Booking, and keep it up to date.

3.5 We may suspend or terminate any account we reasonably believe is being used fraudulently, in breach of these Terms, or in a way that risks harm to another User, an animal, or the Platform (see Section 13).

4. Horse classifieds #

4.1 Nature of horse listings

Horse listings are enquiry-based classifieds. Unless the seller and buyer choose to use a Custom Offer (Section 4.5), no money changes hands on the Platform in respect of a horse sale — the Platform is used to advertise the horse and connect buyer and seller, and the sale itself is agreed and completed off-platform between them.

4.2 Listing fees

Private sellers may list horses for free, subject to the Listing limits of their account tier.

Dealers, breeders, and yards Listing on a trade basis must hold a paid subscription (see Section 7).

We reserve the right to determine, at our discretion and based on the information you provide, whether an account is trading as a Private Seller or on a trade/business basis, and to require the appropriate subscription accordingly.

4.3 Passport and identification requirements

UK law (the Horse Passports Regulations, as amended) requires every horse, pony, donkey and other equine to have a valid passport, and requires microchipping.

When creating a horse Listing you must provide the horse’s passport number in the relevant Listing field.

Where our verification process is able to confirm this against available public records, the Listing will display a “passport confirmed” badge. A passport-confirmed badge indicates that the passport number field has passed the checks we run at the time of Listing — it is not a guarantee of the horse’s identity, breeding, health, ownership history, or that the passport is up to date, and buyers must independently verify passport and identification documents before completing any purchase.

If you sell a horse, you are responsible for complying with your legal obligation to notify the horse’s passport-issuing body of the change of ownership within 30 days of the sale (or such other period as the law then requires). We do not do this on your behalf and take no responsibility for your compliance with this obligation.

You confirm that any horse you list is, to the best of your knowledge, accurately described, and that you have the legal right to sell it.

4.4 Buyer responsibilities

Before completing any purchase, buyers should independently: view the horse in person, arrange an independent vetting/pre-purchase examination if desired, check the passport and microchip against the horse presented, and satisfy themselves as to the horse’s history, health, and suitability.

We strongly recommend a pre-purchase veterinary examination for any horse purchase, regardless of value.

We are not responsible for any loss arising from a failure to complete your own checks.

4.5 Custom Offers (optional on-platform payment)

Sellers may optionally enable a “Custom Offer” to allow a buyer to pay for a horse through the Platform’s checkout (via Stripe Connect) instead of paying the seller directly.

Where a Custom Offer is used, we act only as a payment processing intermediary via Stripe Connect; we do not inspect, verify, or guarantee the horse being sold, and our standard Commission applies to the transaction value at the rate published at the time of sale.

Use of a Custom Offer does not constitute an escrow service, and does not by itself guarantee refund rights beyond those set out in Section 9 and applicable law.

4.6 Animal welfare

All horse listings and any related activity must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and all other applicable animal welfare legislation. We may remove any Listing, or suspend any account, where we reasonably suspect a breach of animal welfare law or a risk to an animal’s welfare, and may report such concerns to the relevant authority (e.g. the RSPCA, local authority, or police) without prior notice to the User.

5. Equipment sales (checkout) #

5.1 Equipment listed on the Platform is sold via on-platform checkout, processed through Stripe Connect, with Commission (Section 7) deducted from the sale proceeds.

5.2 Consumer Rights Act 2015. Where a seller is selling in the course of a business (a “trade seller”), the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to sales to consumer buyers — goods must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose, and consumers have statutory rights to repair, replacement, price reduction, or refund where goods do not conform.

Trade sellers are responsible for complying with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (including the 14-day right to cancel for online sales to consumers, where applicable), and all other consumer protection law applicable to their sales.

5.3 Private sellers selling equipment are not bound by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in the same way, but must still accurately describe the item and must not misrepresent its condition, and remain subject to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the general law of misrepresentation.

5.4 Returns, refunds, and cancellations for equipment purchases are handled as set out in Section 9 and in any category-specific returns policy published on the Platform.

5.5 Prohibited items include (without limitation) any item that is unsafe, counterfeit, subject to a product recall, or that cannot lawfully be sold in the UK. We may remove any Listing that we reasonably believe breaches this Section.

6. Bookings (arena hire, coaching, livery, horsebox hire, experiences) #

6.1 Nature of bookings

Bookings are contracts between the customer and the host/service provider (“Host”) for arena hire, private coaching, stable/livery hire, horsebox or trailer hire, or an equestrian experience, booked through the Platform’s checkout, availability calendar and Booking tools.

6.2 Host obligations

Hosts must ensure their Listing accurately describes the facility, service, equipment, or experience offered, including any restrictions, requirements, or risks.

Hosts are solely responsible for holding any licence required by law to operate their service, including (without limitation) any local-authority licence required for “hiring out horses” or operating a riding establishment under applicable licensing legislation, public liability insurance appropriate to the activity, and compliance with health and safety law applicable to their premises or activity. Where our Listing form requests a licence number, providing it does not constitute verification by us that the licence is valid, current, or sufficient for the activity offered.

Hosts are responsible for their own safeguarding, supervision, and risk-assessment obligations, particularly for activities involving minors, novice riders, or unfamiliar horses.

6.3 Availability, deposits and cancellation

Bookings are subject to the availability calendar, security deposit terms (if any), and host-approval settings configured by the Host at the time of Listing.

Security deposits, where charged, are held and released in accordance with the terms displayed at the time of Booking. Disputes over deposit deductions are between the customer and the Host in the first instance; we may assist per Section 15 but are not obliged to arbitrate.

Cancellation terms (including any cancellation window, refund percentage, and no-show policy) are set by the Host and displayed on the Listing at the time of Booking. Where no specific policy is displayed, our default cancellation policy (published separately) applies.

6.4 Customer obligations

Customers must follow the Host’s on-site rules and any safety instructions, disclose relevant riding experience or medical information reasonably requested by the Host, and are responsible for their own and any accompanying minor’s appropriate riding attire and equipment (e.g. hats meeting current safety standards) unless the Host’s Listing states otherwise.

6.5 Multi-session and group bookings

Where a Booking covers multiple sessions or multiple participants in a single checkout, the cancellation and refund terms apply on a per-session or per-participant basis as set out in the Host’s Listing, unless otherwise agreed.

7. Fees, Commission and subscriptions #

7.1 Booking Commission.

We charge Commission on completed bookings (arena hire, coaching, experiences, horsebox hire, stable/livery hire etc.) at the rate published in your account dashboard at the time of Booking (indicatively 12–15%, subject to change on notice).

7.2 Equipment Commission.

We charge Commission on completed equipment sales at the rate published in your account dashboard at the time of sale (indicatively 8–10%, subject to change on notice).

7.3 Custom Offer Commission.

Where a horse sale is completed via a Custom Offer, our standard Commission applies to that transaction.

7.4 Subscriptions.

Trade and business sellers may subscribe to a paid tier (e.g. Trade or Pro) for a monthly fee, in exchange for a reduced Commission rate, additional Listing allowances, and/or additional features, as described on our pricing page at the time of subscription. Subscription fees are billed in advance and are non-refundable except as required by law.

7.5 Fee changes.

We may change Commission rates or subscription pricing from time to time. We will give at least 30 days‘ notice of any increase to Commission rates or subscription fees applicable to existing listings/bookings already live at the time of the change; changes take effect for new listings, bookings, and renewal periods after that notice period.

7.6 Payment processing fees.

Stripe’s own transaction fees (currently 1.5% + 25p per UK transaction, subject to change by Stripe) are payable by the seller/Host and are deducted as part of the payment flow; we do not control or set Stripe’s fees.

7.7 Founding-seller / promotional rates.

Where we run a promotional Commission rate (e.g. a founding-seller 0% Commission period), the standard rate in this Section resumes automatically at the end of the stated promotional period, and we will make the promotional end date clear at the time you opt in.

8. Payments and payouts #

8.1 All on-platform payments (equipment checkout, bookings, and Custom Offers) are processed by Stripe, Inc. and its UK affiliate via Stripe Connect. By transacting on the Platform you also agree to Stripe’s Connected Account Agreement and Stripe’s own terms.

8.2 Payouts to sellers/Hosts are made to the bank account verified through Stripe Connect, net of our Commission and Stripe’s processing fee, on the payout schedule shown in your account dashboard. Failure to complete KYC checks will result in funds being held until KYC checks have been passed.

8.3 We are not a bank or payment institution in our own right; our role is limited to configuring and receiving our Commission through the Stripe Connect integration. We are not liable for delays, errors, or failures caused by Stripe, your bank, or your card issuer.

8.4 We may withhold, delay, or reverse a payout where we reasonably suspect fraud, a breach of these Terms, a chargeback, or a legal or regulatory requirement to do so.

9. Cancellations, returns and refunds #

9.1 Equipment (consumer buyers from trade sellers):
You have a statutory right to cancel most online purchases within 14 days of receipt under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, subject to the exceptions in those Regulations (e.g. certain bespoke or hygiene-sensitive items). Trade sellers must honour these rights.

9.2 Equipment (private sellers):
Statutory cancellation rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations do not apply to private (non-business) sales; any return/refund arrangement is a matter of agreement between buyer and seller, subject to the item being as described.

9.3 Bookings:
Cancellation and refund terms are set by the Host’s published policy (Section 6.3) or, if none is stated, our default policy.

9.4 Horse sales:
Because horse sales (other than via a Custom Offer) are agreed and completed off-platform, statutory distance-selling cancellation rights generally do not apply to the transaction itself in the way they would to online goods; buyers should agree sale terms, including any right to return, directly with the seller before completing the purchase.

9.5 Chargebacks and disputes:
On checkout/Custom Offer payments are handled in the first instance through Stripe’s standard dispute process; we will provide reasonable information to Stripe as required but the outcome is determined under card scheme and Stripe rules.

10. Prohibited conduct and content #

You must not, and must not permit any Listing to:

• misrepresent a horse’s age, breeding, health, passport, or history, or any item’s condition, authenticity, or provenance;
  
• offer or facilitate any sale, hire, or activity that breaches the Animal Welfare Act 2006 or any other animal welfare law;
  
• offer any horse, item, or service you do not have the right to sell or provide;
  
• list any item prohibited by law, or any activity requiring a licence you do not hold;
  
• use the Platform to circumvent our fees (e.g. inducing a buyer or customer found through the Platform to complete payment off-platform to avoid Commission), attempt to defraud another User, harass, discriminate against, or abuse another User, or attempt to scrape, reverse-engineer, or interfere with the Platform;
  
• post content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, or infringes another person’s intellectual property or privacy rights.

We may remove any Listing or content, and suspend or terminate any account, that we reasonably believe breaches this Section, without liability to you, and without prejudice to any other rights or remedies we may have.

11. Verification, trust and safety features #

11.1 Payment identity verification is performed through Stripe Connect’s KYC process as described in Section 3.2. Feedback, reputation scoring, and abuse-reporting tools are provided to help Users assess one another, but any rating, badge, or verification status is provided for information only and is not a guarantee or warranty by us as to the reliability, honesty, or competence of any User.

11.2 We may act on abuse reports at our discretion, including removing content, suspending accounts, or reporting matters to the police, RSPCA, trading standards, or other relevant authority, but we are under no obligation to investigate or resolve every report, and provide no guarantee of outcome.

12. Intellectual property #

12.1 You retain ownership of the content (photos, descriptions, videos) you upload, but grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, reproduce, and promote that content on the Platform and in our marketing (including social media and partner channels) for as long as your Listing is live and for a reasonable period afterwards for archival/legal purposes.

12.2 You confirm you own or have the right to use all content you upload, and that it does not infringe any third party’s rights.

12.3 The Platform’s own branding, design, and software belongs to us or our licensors.

13. Suspension and termination #

13.1 You may close your account at any time, subject to settling any outstanding bookings, payments, or subscription commitments.

13.2 We may suspend or terminate your account or remove any Listing, immediately and without notice, where we reasonably believe: you have breached these Terms; your conduct risks harm to a person, animal, or the Platform; you have provided false information; a payment has been reversed or disputed; or we are required to do so by law or by Stripe.

13.3 Termination does not affect any rights or obligations (including payment obligations) accrued before termination.

14. Liability #

14.1 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under English law.

14.2 Subject to clause 14.1, we are not liable for: the acts or omissions of any User, Host, or third party (including any loss arising from a horse’s health, temperament, or history, or from any Booking or hire activity); indirect or consequential loss; or loss of profits, business, or goodwill arising from your use of the Platform.

14.3 Subject to clause 14.1, our total liability to you in respect of any single claim arising from your use of the Platform is limited to the greater of £100 or the total fees paid by you to us in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim.

14.4 We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Platform.

15. Disputes between Users #

15.1 Any dispute regarding a horse sale, equipment sale, or Booking is a matter between the relevant Users. We encourage Users to attempt to resolve disputes directly in good faith.

15.2 We may, at our discretion, provide relevant transaction information, facilitate communication, or offer non-binding assistance, but we are not an arbitrator and are not obliged to resolve any dispute between Users.

15.3 Nothing in this Section affects a User’s statutory rights or their right to pursue a claim through the courts, the Financial Ombudsman Service (for payment-related complaints against Stripe, where applicable), or a relevant alternative dispute resolution scheme.

16. Changes to these Terms #

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified via the Platform or by email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after that date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

17. General #

17.1 Governing law and jurisdiction.
These Terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, save that consumers resident elsewhere in the UK may also be entitled to bring proceedings in their local courts.

17.2 Severability.
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

17.3 Assignment.
We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to another organisation; we will tell you if this happens. You may not transfer your rights or obligations without our consent.

17.4 Entire agreement.
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, and any policy referenced above, form the entire agreement between you and us regarding use of the Platform.

17.5 Contact.
Questions about these Terms should be sent via a Support Ticket.