How it works:

You have the opportunity to ride safe, well-trained horses with a variety of disciplines on days agreed between you and the club owners.

Initially, you pay a joining fee (although this will be waived if you join during 2007!) and an annual membership fee. 

You then pay the ‘horse hire’ fee for the days that you use the horse (please see the ‘2007 Price List’ for details).

After a trial period (of up to four weeks), we will have a discussion and you will decide on which day(s) of the week you would like to ride. 

During the trial period, all riding must be supervised by our qualified instructors (either in the school or on hacks).

After the trial period is complete you can ride unsupervised, providing that you hold either the BHS Stage 2 qualification (or higher), or you have had an assessment by a qualified instructor who expresses that your riding is at a Stage 2 level (or higher)

FAQs:

What if I do not hold the BHS Stage 2 qualification and my riding is not of BHS Stage 2 level.  Can I still become a member of the Equi-Time Share Club?

Of course you can! 

You can ride the horse on your selected day(s), but will just need to arrange hacks and lessons with our qualified instructors. 

You will see from the price list that, as a part of the Equi-Time Share Club package, the pricing for escorted hacks and lessons is incredibly reasonable.

What do I get for my money?

By paying the joining fee, annual membership and horse hire fees:

Also included in the price, we provide:

What is not included? 

Our Instructor is currently taking the course, and transport charges will be somewhere in the region of £1 - £2 per mile.

When are the fees payable?

All fees are payable monthly in advance.  All prices quoted are subject to review at any time.

Is there any way that I can I reduce my fees?

Yes! If you would like to earn vouchers towards your monthly bill, you can help with (by arrangement with Clara);

and much more!!

Can I bring my own Instructor?

You can use our excellent, highly qualified instructors or you can bring in your own outside instructor (subject to the conditions shown below).

Outside Instructors must be registered, qualified, insured and approved by the Equi-Time Share Club owners. 

Also, as use of the school and / or jumping paddock will be provided by the Equi-Time Share Club, a charge will be levied for use of these facilities by your outside instructor (by arrangement with the Equi-Time Share owners). 

If using our instructors, all facilities are provided free of charge.

What if the horse gets injured whilst in my care?

The freehold ownership of the horse remains with the owners of the Equi-Time Share Club, who have insurance, which covers the cost of any injuries to the horses.

We strongly advise that club members take out their own rider insurance.

What happens if the horse goes lame or is sick?

Unfortunately, horses going lame or getting sick are some of the perils of horse ownership.

However, if the horse is lame / sick on your chosen day(s) of the week, we will do our utmost to offer you an alternative horse. 

If this is not possible or in the rare circumstance that the horse is unavailable for you to ride for any period of time; we will waive the horse hire fees after one month. 

The owners of Equi-Time Share Club believe it is of utmost important to keep the horse that you will be using well trained and fit. 

Therefore, the owners reserve the right to use the horse for training on your chosen day. 

If this was to occur, the owners would endeavour to provide you with an alternative horse to ride or arrange with you a suitable day when the horse will be available for you to use.

What about the horse’s welfare?

Our horses are well loved and cared for and are given a minimum of one day off per week (the centre does not open on Mondays).

As a member of the Equi-Time Share Club, we ask you to consider the welfare and well being of the horses at all times, for example - not riding for six hours without a break!!

Will there be a social side to the club?

Of course!  Apart from getting to meet lots of like-minded ‘horsey people’, you will also get the chance to join us on exciting monthly trips to lots of ‘horsey’ places.

If there is anywhere in particular that you have always wanted to visit, please let us know and we’ll try to incorporate your idea in to our plan of excursions - all suggestions are very welcome!

Already in the pipeline we have:

Can I bring a guest to ride the horse on my chosen day(s)?

Prior to agreeing whether or not your guest would be allowed to ride the horse on your chosen day(s); for health, safety and insurance reasons, all guests must undertake an assessment lesson with our instructor.

Can I bring my dog with me to the centre?

Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we cannot allow you to bring dogs to the centre.

What happens if I am not available to ride on my specified day?  or 

What happens if I would like to take the horse to a show, which does not fall on my specified day?

In either of these situations; you would need to speak with the owners of Equi-Time Share Club or with the member who rides on the day that you would like, and discuss the possibility of swapping days (any requests to change days must be requested at least one week in advance).