Terms of Service

1. Introduction & Acceptance

Welcome to The Equine Directory. These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you and The Equine Directory ("we", "us", or "our") governing your access to and use of our mobile application, website, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account, downloading our app, or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

The Equine Directory operates a two-sided marketplace connecting horse owners and riders ("Riders") with equine service professionals ("Providers"). We are not a party to any service agreement entered into between Riders and Providers.

2. Definitions

"Platform"

The Equine Directory mobile app (iOS and Android), website, and all related tools, dashboards, and services.

"Rider"

A user who registers as a horse owner, rider, or barn manager to discover and book equine services.

"Provider"

A user who registers to list and offer equine services, including farriers, stables, veterinarians, and feed/supply businesses.

"Listing"

A service profile created by a Provider describing their offering, pricing, and availability.

"Booking"

A confirmed request by a Rider for a service from a Provider, facilitated through the Platform.

"Subscription"

A recurring paid plan (Pro or Enterprise) purchased by a Provider to access premium Platform features.

"Commission"

A percentage-based fee deducted from completed Booking payments and retained by The Equine Directory.

"User Content"

Any text, photos, reviews, messages, or other material uploaded or submitted by users to the Platform.

3. Eligibility & Account Registration

3.1 Age Requirements

You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account and use the Platform. By registering, you represent and warrant that you are 18 or older. We do not knowingly allow users under 18. If we discover a user is under 18, we will terminate their account immediately.

3.2 Account Creation

To access most Platform features, you must create an account by providing accurate, current, and complete information, including your name, email address, and (for Providers) business details. You must keep this information up to date.

You may register using your email address or through supported third-party sign-in methods (such as Apple Sign In or Google Sign In). When using third-party sign-in, the terms of that provider also apply.

3.3 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to:

• Use a strong, unique password and not share it with others;
• Notify us immediately at support@equinedirectory.com if you suspect unauthorized access;
• Log out of shared or public devices after use.

We are not liable for any loss resulting from unauthorized use of your account unless caused by our negligence.

3.4 One Account Per Person

Each individual may maintain only one Rider account. Providers may maintain one account per legal business entity. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or bans is prohibited.

4. Account Deletion

You have the right to delete your account at any time, free of charge.

4.1 How to Delete Your Account

You can delete your account through any of the following methods:

• In-App: Go to Profile → Settings → Account → Delete Account and follow the on-screen confirmation steps.
• Email: Send a deletion request to privacy@equinedirectory.com from the email address associated with your account.
• Web: Visit our account management page at equinedirectory.com/account and select "Delete my account."

4.2 What Happens When You Delete

Upon account deletion:

• Your profile, listings, saved favorites, and personal information will be permanently deleted within 30 days;
• Any active Subscriptions will be cancelled at the end of the current billing period (no pro-rata refunds for the remaining period unless required by law);
• Active or pending Bookings will be cancelled and any held funds returned per our refund policy in Section 10;
• Reviews you have written will be anonymized but may remain on the Platform as they form part of the public rating record;
• We may retain certain data as required by law (e.g., transaction records for tax and financial compliance) for up to 7 years. See our Privacy Policy §8 for details.

4.3 Provider Account Deletion

Providers deleting their accounts must ensure all confirmed Bookings are completed or properly cancelled before initiating deletion. Attempting to delete an account with unresolved active Bookings may delay processing until those Bookings are resolved.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You must not:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information in your account, listings, or communications;
• Impersonate any person, business, or entity;
• Post content that is defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, obscene, or violates any applicable law;
• Use the Platform to solicit or accept payments outside of our official booking system to avoid commissions;
• Scrape, crawl, or extract data from the Platform using automated tools without our written permission;
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts or our systems;
• Transmit malware, viruses, or other harmful code;
• Use the messaging system for spam, unsolicited marketing, or any purpose unrelated to a service inquiry;
• Manipulate the review system, including submitting fake reviews or pressuring users to modify or remove reviews;
• Engage in price-fixing, market allocation, or other anti-competitive conduct with other Providers.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate this policy, with or without notice, at our sole discretion.

6. Rider Terms

6.1 Free Access

Browsing, searching, messaging Providers, and booking services is completely free for Riders. You only pay the Provider for services rendered; The Equine Directory does not charge Riders any fees, commissions, or subscriptions.

6.2 Accuracy of Information

When making a Booking, you agree to provide accurate information about your horse(s), the service required, your location, and any special requirements. Inaccurate information that causes a Provider additional work, costs, or safety concerns may result in additional charges from the Provider.

6.3 Rider Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• Ensuring your horse is safe and accessible for the Provider at the agreed time and location;
• Maintaining appropriate insurance for your horse and property;
• Communicating any known hazards, behavioral issues, or medical conditions relevant to the service;
• Paying the Provider promptly for services rendered in accordance with the agreed pricing.

6.4 Verification Disclaimer

While we verify Provider credentials at the time of listing approval, we cannot guarantee the ongoing accuracy of all credentials or the quality of every service performed. Riders are encouraged to review Provider profiles, read verified reviews, and conduct their own due diligence before booking high-value or sensitive services such as veterinary care.

7. Service Provider Terms

7.1 Provider Eligibility & Verification

To list on the Platform, Providers must:

• Be a legitimately operating business or sole trader in the equine services industry;
• Provide valid credentials as applicable to their service category (e.g., farrier certification, veterinary license, facility ownership documentation);
• Maintain any licenses, certifications, and insurance required by applicable state and local law;
• Pass our listing review process before going live.

Submitting false credentials is grounds for immediate and permanent removal from the Platform and may be reported to relevant licensing authorities.

7.2 Listing Accuracy

Providers are solely responsible for the accuracy of their listings, including service descriptions, pricing, availability, and geographic coverage. Listings must accurately represent the services offered and must not be misleading. We reserve the right to edit, suspend, or remove any listing that we determine is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of these Terms.

7.3 Provider Independence

Providers are independent contractors, not employees, agents, or partners of The Equine Directory. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, or franchise relationship. Providers are solely responsible for their taxes, insurance, employment obligations, and compliance with applicable law.

7.4 Provider Obligations on Bookings

When a Rider makes a Booking request, Providers agree to:

• Respond to all Booking requests within 24 hours;
• Honor confirmed Bookings unless an emergency or force majeure prevents service;
• Provide advance notice of cancellations in accordance with the cancellation policy they have set;
• Deliver services as described in their listing and any agreed scope communicated via the messaging system.

7.5 Provider Web Dashboard

A lightweight web dashboard for managing listings, analytics, and bookings is scheduled to launch in Q3 2026. Its availability is subject to change, and access will be governed by these Terms unless separate terms are provided at launch.

8. Bookings & Transactions

8.1 How Bookings Work

Riders initiate a Booking by selecting a Provider and requested service through the Platform. The Provider then accepts or declines the request. A Booking is only confirmed once the Provider explicitly accepts it, and both parties receive a confirmation notification.

8.2 Payment Processing

Payments for services may be processed through the Platform's integrated payment system or arranged directly between Riders and Providers, depending on the Provider's settings. Where payments are processed through the Platform:

• Payment is collected from the Rider at the time of Booking confirmation or at time of service, depending on Provider settings;
• Funds are held securely and released to the Provider after successful service completion;
• The applicable commission is deducted before disbursement.

Payments processed outside the Platform are solely the responsibility of the Rider and Provider. The Equine Directory assumes no liability for payment disputes arising from off-platform transactions.

8.3 Disputes Between Riders and Providers

The Equine Directory may, at its discretion, provide mediation support for Booking disputes, but is not obligated to do so and is not liable for the outcome of any service agreement. We encourage parties to resolve disputes directly and in good faith.

9. Subscriptions & Billing

9.1 Provider Plans

Providers may choose from the following plans:

*Standard commission rate for Starter plan is disclosed at checkout. Rates may be updated with 30 days notice.

9.2 Billing Cycle

Subscriptions are billed monthly in advance on the anniversary of your subscription start date. If you upgrade or downgrade mid-cycle, the change takes effect at the start of the next billing cycle, and you retain access to your current plan's features until then.

9.3 Payment Methods

We accept major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and other payment methods as made available in the app. Subscriptions purchased through the Apple App Store or Google Play are governed by that platform's billing terms in addition to these Terms.

9.4 Failed Payments

If a payment fails, we will retry the charge up to three times over a 7-day period and notify you by email. If payment remains unsuccessful after all retries, your Subscription will be downgraded to the Starter plan and your Pro/Enterprise listings beyond the Starter limit will be temporarily deactivated until payment is resolved.

9.5 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change Subscription pricing at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' written notice (by email and in-app notification) before any price change takes effect for existing subscribers. Continued use of the Subscription after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the new price.

9.6 In-App Purchases (App Store & Google Play)

When you purchase a Subscription through Apple's App Store or Google Play, billing, renewal, and cancellation are managed by that platform. To cancel or manage an App Store subscription, visit your iPhone's Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. For Google Play, visit the Google Play app → Subscriptions. Refunds for App Store and Google Play purchases are subject to Apple's and Google's respective refund policies.

10. Cancellations & Refunds

10.1 Subscription Cancellation

You may cancel your Subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; you retain access to Subscription features until that date. No pro-rata refunds are issued for the unused portion of a billing period, except where required by applicable law (e.g., EU/UK consumer rights regulations).

To cancel, go to Profile → Settings → Subscription → Cancel Plan, or cancel through the App Store / Google Play as applicable.

10.2 Booking Cancellations by Rider

Riders may cancel a confirmed Booking subject to the Provider's stated cancellation policy. Cancellation timelines and any applicable fees are set by each Provider and displayed on their listing before Booking confirmation. The Equine Directory is not responsible for cancellation fees charged by Providers.

10.3 Booking Cancellations by Provider

Providers who repeatedly cancel confirmed Bookings without adequate reason may have their listings suspended or their account terminated. Providers must honour their stated cancellation policies consistently.

10.4 Refund Eligibility

Where payments are processed through the Platform:

• If a Provider cancels a confirmed Booking, the Rider is entitled to a full refund;
• If a Rider cancels within the Provider's free-cancellation window, a full refund is issued;
• If a Rider cancels outside the free-cancellation window, the Provider's cancellation fee applies and the remainder (if any) is refunded;
• In the event of a documented Provider no-show, the Rider is entitled to a full refund.

Refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method.

10.5 Subscription Refunds

Subscription fees are generally non-refundable. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for genuine billing errors. Contact billing@equinedirectory.com within 14 days of the charge if you believe a billing error occurred.

11. Reviews & Ratings

11.1 Verified Reviews Only

Reviews may only be submitted by Riders who have completed a confirmed Booking with the Provider. Reviews must be submitted within 14 days of the confirmed service date. This ensures that all ratings on our Platform reflect genuine, first-hand experiences.

11.2 Review Standards

Reviews must be honest, factual, and relate to the service provided. Reviews must not contain:

• Defamatory, discriminatory, or harassing content;
• Personal information about the Provider or their staff;
• Promotional content for competing services;
• Content unrelated to the service experience.

11.3 Provider Responses

Providers may post a single public response to any review. Providers may not request that Riders remove or modify reviews, offer incentives for reviews, or post false or misleading responses.

11.4 Review Integrity

We do not edit ratings. We may remove reviews that violate our content standards or are determined to be fraudulent. Attempting to manipulate the review system — through fake accounts, coordinated reviews, or coercion — is a serious violation that may result in permanent account termination.

12. User Content

12.1 Your Ownership

You retain ownership of all content you submit to the Platform, including profile photos, listing images, review text, and messages. By submitting User Content, you grant The Equine Directory a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, display, reproduce, distribute, and adapt that content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform.

12.2 Content Standards

All User Content must comply with our Acceptable Use Policy (Section 5). You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to all content you submit, and that it does not infringe any third-party intellectual property or privacy rights.

12.3 Our Right to Remove Content

We reserve the right to remove any User Content that we determine, in our sole discretion, violates these Terms, our Community Rules, or applicable law — without prior notice.

12.4 Messaging

The Platform's messaging system is provided solely for service-related communication between Riders and Providers. Using the messaging system for spam, marketing unrelated to a booked or potential service, harassment, or soliciting off-platform payments is prohibited.

13. Intellectual Property

The Equine Directory name, logo, app design, software, and all Platform content created by us (excluding User Content) are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. All rights are reserved.

You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our Platform or content without our express written permission. Permitted uses include:

• Using the Platform for its intended purpose on your personal device;
• Sharing links to public Platform content;
• Downloading the app from official app stores.

If you believe your intellectual property rights have been infringed on our Platform, please contact us at legal@equinedirectory.com.

14. Disclaimers

We specifically disclaim all warranties including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that:

• The Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from bugs or viruses;
• Search results or Provider recommendations will be accurate or meet your particular needs;
• Any Provider listed is currently licensed, insured, or in good standing with relevant professional bodies;
• Services booked through the Platform will meet your expectations.

Equine services involve inherent risks, including risks of injury to horses, handlers, and property. The Equine Directory is a discovery and booking platform only; we are not responsible for the outcome of any services provided by independent Providers.

15. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, The Equine Directory and its officers, employees, directors, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of revenue, profits, or business opportunities;
• Injury to or death of any horse;
• Property damage arising from a service booked through the Platform;
• Loss of data or unauthorized access to your account;
• Any action or inaction of a Provider or Rider.

Our total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising from or related to these Terms or the Platform will not exceed the greater of: (a) the total fees you have paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100 USD.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain liability exclusions. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the minimum extent permitted by applicable law.

16. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Equine Directory and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of the Platform in violation of these Terms;
• Any service you provide or receive through the Platform;
• Your User Content;
• Your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights;
• Any misrepresentation you make regarding your identity, credentials, or qualifications.

17. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

17.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

17.2 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute process, you agree to first contact us at legal@equinedirectory.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will try to respond and work toward a resolution within 30 days.

17.3 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms or the Platform will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, or, if you prefer, via video conference. The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding.

17.4 Class Action Waiver

You and The Equine Directory each waive the right to a trial by jury and the right to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or representative action. You may only bring claims against us in your individual capacity.

17.5 Exceptions

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm, including for intellectual property infringement. Claims of $1,000 or less may be brought in small claims court.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, our services, or business practices. When we make material changes, we will notify you by:

• Sending a notification within the app;
• Emailing the address associated with your account;
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

If you continue to use the Platform after the effective date of updated Terms, you are deemed to have accepted the changes. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and delete your account.

19. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• General inquiries: support@equinedirectory.com
• Legal & compliance: legal@equinedirectory.com
• Billing & subscriptions: billing@equinedirectory.com
• Privacy & data requests: privacy@equinedirectory.com

We are a US-based company. If you are a consumer in the European Union or United Kingdom, you may also have access to your local consumer protection authority and data supervisory authority.