Terms & Conditions of Employ Equine

1. These terms and conditions were published on 30th June 2020 and apply to all bookings made on or after that date. They are the basis of your legally binding contract between you and Employ Equine. You must read them carefully and make sure you understand them.

2. All applications are made to Employ Equine referred to in this document as “Employ Equine”, “we” or “us”. You are referred to as “you”, “I”, “the participant” and “the applicant”. When we refer to the payment of money we mean the time when the money is actually in our account. Payment is not made simply when an uncleared cheque/ bank transfer is offered to us.

3. All applicants for our programmes are bound by these terms and conditions. As an applicant, you are personally bound by these terms and conditions when you agree to them following your acceptance. If you are under 18 at the time of booking a parent or next of kin must also sign to agree.

4. You accept that any written information supplied to you, or anything we have told you about the programme you have applied for has been given to you in good faith and is based on what we knew and believed to be correct when we published the written material or told you what we said.

5. Employ Equine provides a pathway to real work for real pay in the horse industry. Our programme offers an aspect of tourism but you gain a job and the preparation for working for a paying employer. This experience is interactive and requires effort, focus, commitment, application and full engagement with tasks your course leaders, employers and co-workers present to you.

6. By taking part, you must be prepared to commit to engaging to the best of your ability, to working safely and paying due attention when been instructed.

7.By signing this document you, as a participant in the Employ Equine programme, acknowledge understanding of and accept the following general terms and conditions.

Our Responsibility to You

8. We are responsible to you for ensuring that programme arrangements are as we described they would be in our written material and in any conversations we have with you, and are of a reasonable standard.

Applications, Bookings and the Payments you must make

10. After you have applied for our programme we shall tell you whether or not your application has been successful as quickly as possible. We shall try to tell you in the same week as you made the application but cannot guarantee that we will. If your application is not successful we will let you know as quickly as possible.

11. A confirmed place on a programme is called “a booking” in these terms and conditions.

12. We currently ask for an interview and application deposit. This payment will be deducted from the full price of your programme and is not an extra charge.

13. There are occasions when the initial payment may vary. Initial payment details will be clear at the time of booking.

14. You must pay your final payment three months before departure (or at time of booking, if booking is within six months of departure). This payment can be made at any time prior to the three month deadline but not after. There are occasions where the final payment date may be set closer to departure. This will be made clear on your payment schedule.

Requirement on acceptance:  

15. When you are offered a place by Employ Equine, you will be sent an initial acceptance letter and access to restricted password protected pages on our website.  

16. This and following acceptance information is an integral part of your booking with Employ Equine. This information gains you access to key details about the programme and information you need to provide, but also to important information regarding your health and safety overseas.

17. You will be notified by email when information is required from you and you must attempt to provide this information as soon as you can. You may be refused continuation with the programme at any stage if you do not provide the necessary information requested from you.

18. We will have provided you with the information that you require for your trip. You are required to read the information carefully before departure. If we do not believe that you have read the information, we reserve the right to cancel your trip and terminate your contract with us.

You Cancelling, not Paying or Changing your Dates

19. If you do not pay any of the payments on time we reserve the right to regard your application as cancelled and to offer your place on the programme to someone else. We may terminate the booking and do not have to refund to you the payments made to date.

20. If you really have to cancel your application or your booking, you can. You must tell us in writing. However, if you do, you will not be refunded the deposit or any of the instalments you have made. Once you have cancelled we are entitled to treat them as at an end. If you change your mind you will have to make a fresh application.

21. If you need to change your dates there maybe a fee to do this and the amount of this fee will be passed on to you.

Us Cancelling

22. We shall not cancel your booking unless we have to for reasons which are beyond our reasonable control.

23. If we have to cancel your booking for reasons which are beyond our reasonable control not less than fourteen days before the planned date of your departure (not counting the day of departure) we will refund you any programme fees that you have paid but no more.

Your Financial Protection if booking through Oyster Worldwide

24. In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992” all applicants booking with Employ Equine are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of our partners at Oyster Worldwide.You will either be covered by our ATOL or by IPP when booking with Oyster Worldwide.

25. For applicants that flight are booked through Oyster Worldwide, the ATOL number is 9598

1. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from Oyster Worldwide, you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.

2. Oyster Worldwide will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where Oyster Worldwide are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you).You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).

3. If Oyster Worldwide are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme.You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against Oyster Worldwide, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable).You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.

26. If Oyster Worldwide do not organise your flights you will receive financial protection through their bond with IPP (International Passenger Protection).

1. There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This insurance is only valid for packages booked that DO NOT include flights.

2. Consumer aware:Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. – This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Oyster Worldwide Ltd. If you have booked and/ or paid direct to a Travel Agent for a holiday with Oyster Worldwide Ltd please request proof of how the booking is secured as this will not be covered by IPP Ltd in this instance.

3. This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. For further information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk

Insurance, Disclaimer and Limits of our Liability. PLEASE READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY

27. We shall maintain professional indemnity insurance in respect of all our obligations to you.

28. Before you depart on your programme you must have taken out adequate insurance to cover personal accident, medical and hospital expenses and the costs of repatriation. This insurance must also cover cancellation, curtailment, personal luggage, legal expenses, personal liability, medical and emergency travel (including helicopter evacuation). That insurance must cover you for all the time you are on your programme and, we recommend for the entire length of your working holiday visa should you decide to stay this long. We reserve the right to ask you to prove to us that you have taken out this insurance. We also reserve the right not to allow you on the programme if you cannot prove that to us.

29. You should not undertake activities precluded by your insurance.

30. We strongly recommend that you take out full, comprehensive, personal travel insurance to cover such things as the loss, damage or theft of personal possessions and the costs of your emergency return back to your home country as well as cover for foreign office advice against travel. You may also wish to consider insuring against the risk of you not being able to pay either the first, second or final payments, or the booking or programme being cancelled either by us or by you.

31. We recommend that you take out your insurance cover before you book your flights or pay Employ Equine your final instalment, whichever is sooner. This is your responsibility and Employ Equine will not remind you to do this.

32. If you have to make a claim on your insurance policy you must make it to your insurers. We are not responsible for any excess on your insurance cover and for any shortfall in cover.

33. Once you have left orientation, a contract is made between you and your employer directly. Employ Equine are not responsible for your insurance cover, health, safety or for injury or loss when you start employment or thereafter,

34. We are not liable to you or any third party for any inadequacy in insurance cover you take out or for the loss or theft of your personal property. Under no circumstances or at any time shall we lend you money.

35. You acknowledge and accept that this programme involves a degree of personal risk to life and limb. You recognise that they are, potentially, dangerous or have dangerous elements to it. You accept all the risks involved in making such programmes. We, our representatives and employees are not responsible for your personal health and safety when you are on a programme. We, our representatives and employees are not liable to you in any way whatsoever for any personal injury or damage to property or loss of life that may be caused either to you or by you when you are on the programme (including any travelling to or from a programme). If any claim is made against us, our representatives or employees in respect of any such personal injury or damage to property or loss of life caused to you or by you, you or your personal representatives agree to indemnify and hold us harmless in respect of such a claim.

36. We, our employees and representatives are not liable or responsible to you for (a) any failure to perform or delay in performance of our obligations under this Agreement or (b) any loss or damage or personal injury or death caused by (i) Act of God or (ii) outbreak of hostilities, riot, acts of war, acts of terrorism or civil disturbance or (iii) the act of any government or authority (including the revocation of any licence or consent including Visas) or (iv) bad weather, fog, fire, explosion, flood, pandemics, border closures or (v) industrial action of any kind, strike, lock-out, malicious damage, criminal activity of any kind including theft, mechanical breakdown or failure by suppliers or contractors or (vi) your own act or omissions or (vii) the acts or omissions of a third party not connected with us and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or (viii) any cause or circumstance whatsoever which is beyond our reasonable control or we could not have foreseen even with due care.

37. We do not promise that what we have informed you in our printed material or in other way is true and accurate in every respect. However, we believe it is true and accurate in every respect. Every care is taken in the preparation of our written materials and what is said to you by us; however, events may suddenly change and where that is beyond our control we cannot accept liability for that.

38. We do not exclude liability to you for any fraudulent misrepresentation.

39. The limit on damages recoverable by you from us as a result of our failure to perform this Agreement is limited to the total of the deposit (or first payment) and the second and final instalments that you paid.  

Safety during Employ Equine programme activities

40. I acknowledge that some of the activities in which I will be involved in whilst at the Employ Equine farm have the potential to be dangerous. Activities undertaken will include, but not be exclusive to, riding horses, working on foot and on horseback with cattle and other livestock and using other farm and general tools and machinery. I understand that some of this will be under direct supervision and at other times indirect supervision.

41. I will not hold Employ Equine staff, their instructors or any fellow Employ Equine participants responsible for any accident or accidental injury, however caused.

42. I agree that I will take part in these activities of my own free will.

43. I undertake to ask / seek explanation of operation and safety issues if I am uncertain at any time. I undertake to use safety equipment provided at all times and to ask for appropriate equipment to be available for my use.

44. I have been advised that appropriate clothing for normal farm and equine work in Australia is work shirts and polo shirts, a broad-brimmed hat or cap, riding pants/jeans and working/riding boots. I undertake to dress appropriately for training and work activities. I understand that these may be available to purchase on my arrival to the programme.

Health and Fitness

45. You are responsible for making sure you are physically, mentally and emotionally fit before starting your programme.

46. You must complete a medical declaration form honestly and fully detailing any previous physical or mental medical issues at the time of booking. We reserve the right to ask for a doctor’s letter to be provided before confirming your booking.

47. You must disclose to us any pre-existing medical conditions. We do not want to stop you from participating on the programme but want to be able to assist you. If you fail to disclose any pre-existing medical condition, that then affects you on the trip, you will be liable for any extra costs involved.

48. If you are ill while you are abroad you must consult your host for local medical assistance and, where appropriate, notify your insurers. We will offer what assistance we can but the ultimate responsibility for ensuring your health and well-being rests with you.

49. If you take prescription medication, it is your responsibility to bring sufficient supplies, store them appropriately and ensure that you are taking the appropriate dose.

50. You have been advised and acknowledge that it is your responsibility to protect exposed skin from sun and to keep yourself well hydrated.  

Passports and Visas

51. We shall advise you on the visa you may need. However, you are personally responsible for completing the application forms and obtaining these documents on time including making any personal attendances at embassies or government departments. Please remember that embassies decide whether or not a visa is issued, not us. We are not responsible for any unsuccessful application for a passport or visa or any delay in obtaining one.

52. You are responsible for ensuring that your passport is valid and in date for the duration of your trip, including any extra time as dictated by your destination’s passport policy.

You will be asked to sign further requirements once you have enrolled onto the programme. These will be sent to you.