Terms & Conditions

Introduction & Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to EquiLink! EquiLink is operated by Mizar & Alcor Inc. ("EquiLink," "we," "us," or "our"), a company registered in Canada. We provide a global mobile platform that connects the equestrian community. By creating an account or using the EquiLink app/website (collectively, the "Platform"), you (the user) agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms apply to all users of EquiLink, including riders, horse owners, service providers, event organizers, brands, and others accessing the Platform. If you do not agree, please do not use EquiLink. By accessing or using EquiLink, you confirm that you are at least 13 years old (or any higher minimum age in your jurisdiction for using online services). If you are under 18, you affirm that a parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf. Business users (those offering services or events) must be 18 or older. We may update these Terms from time to time; we will notify you of material changes (for example, via email or in-app notification), and continued use of EquiLink after updates means you accept the new Terms.

About EquiLink – Our Services

EquiLink is a platform connecting the equestrian world. We provide a marketplace and community where:

• Riders and Horse Owners can find and book equine services, discover and register for events, and connect with providers for their needs.
• Service Providers (trainers, farriers, vets, etc.) can list their services, reach new clients, manage bookings, and even hire help for their business.
• Event Organizers can list equestrian events (shows, clinics, competitions), sell tickets or accept entries, and recruit volunteers or staff.
• Brands & Retailers can feature products, run promotions, and connect with the equestrian community (e.g. find brand ambassadors).
• Welfare Organizations & NGOs can share educational resources and receive reports of horse welfare concerns via the Platform.

EquiLink's core features include a Business Directory for discovering equine businesses, an Events section for finding and booking event tickets, an Opportunity Board for jobs/collaborations, Service Listings with booking capabilities, Product Listings with external links, and a Knowledge Hub for educational content. EquiLink facilitates connections and transactions between users, but we are not a provider of the underlying services or events. When you book a riding lesson or buy an event ticket via EquiLink, you are entering a direct agreement with the service provider or organizer. EquiLink is not a party to those contracts; we serve as an intermediary to process bookings and payments. We do not employ service providers or represent event organizers, and (aside from our role in processing payments) we do not oversee the performance or safety of the services, products and events offered. Users are responsible for evaluating and selecting the individuals or businesses they engage with on the Platform.

Account Registration & Security

To use certain features, you must create an EquiLink account. When registering, provide accurate, current information about yourself (or your business, if applicable). You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials, and for all activities that occur under your account. Do not share your password or allow others to use your account. If you suspect unauthorized access, notify us immediately. You agree to keep your information up-to-date (including contact info and payment details) so we can communicate with you and process transactions. Each user should have only one account, except as expressly permitted (for example, if you have a personal rider account and a separate business profile, as our system allows). We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we suspect are used fraudulently or illegally.

User Responsibilities & Acceptable Use

We want EquiLink to remain a safe, respectful, and trustworthy community. By using the Platform, you agree to:

• Abide by all applicable laws and regulations. For example, if you offer services through EquiLink, you must have any licenses or certifications required by law for those services in your jurisdiction.
• Use EquiLink only for its intended purpose. Do not misuse the Platform for unauthorized or unrelated purposes. For instance, do not use EquiLink to send spam, advertise unrelated products, or solicit other users for multi-level marketing schemes.
• Treat others with respect and courtesy. Harassment, hate speech, bullying, or abusive behavior has no place on EquiLink. Do not use derogatory language or slurs; do not threaten or intimidate others.
• Refrain from posting illegal, harmful, or inappropriate content. This includes content that is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or encourages illegal acts. Content that involves animal abuse or unsafe practices is strictly prohibited – we are an equestrian community that values horse welfare.
• Not engage in fraudulent or deceptive practices. Do not misrepresent yourself or your offerings. For example, do not claim false credentials, and do not advertise a service or event with misleading information. If you are a rider/owner, do not make bookings or requests under false pretenses.
• Respect intellectual property rights. Only upload photos, text, logos, or other content that you have the right to use. Do not infringe copyrights, trademarks, or other IP rights of others.
• Avoid security violations. Do not attempt to hack, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts. Do not distribute viruses, worms, or any software intended to harm or alter the Platform or its users' devices.
• No scraping or automated use. You may not data-mine or scrape our Platform or use bots without our prior written permission.

These guidelines are further detailed in our Community Guidelines & Acceptable Use Policy, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference. We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these rules or suspend/terminate any account engaging in prohibited conduct, as detailed in the Community Guidelines section below.

Fees, Payments, and Bookings

EquiLink enables paid transactions such as booking services (e.g. lessons, training sessions) and purchasing event entries or tickets through the Platform. When you (as a rider or attendee) make a booking or purchase via EquiLink, you agree to pay the price displayed, which is set by the service provider or event organizer. EquiLink will charge your provided payment method (credit card, debit card, or other available payment option) at the time of booking, unless stated otherwise. All charges include any applicable taxes, which providers are responsible for including in their listed prices as required.

EquiLink charges a platform service fee on transactions to sustain our Platform. Currently, this platform fee is 8% of the transaction amount. This fee is typically taken out of the amount paid (i.e. the service provider/organizer receives 92% of the booking price) – riders pay the listed price, and providers receive the net after fees. In some cases, we may also charge a small processing fee to the buyer (rider) for certain transactions or high-cost payments, and we will disclose any such fee at checkout before you confirm a booking. By confirming a booking, you authorize EquiLink (or its payment processor) to charge your selected payment method for the total amount.

Payment Processing: Payments on EquiLink are handled by third-party payment processors such as Stripe, with support for payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay. When you make or receive payments, you are also agreeing to the payment processor's terms of service and privacy policy (for example, Stripe's Connected Account Agreement for providers). EquiLink does not store full credit card numbers – sensitive payment details are securely transmitted and stored by our payment processor. We may from time to time change or add payment processing partners. Note: If you use Apple's in-app purchase (for certain subscription or digital features), Apple's payment terms will apply to those transactions as required by Apple's App Store rules.

Booking Confirmation: Once you submit a booking request and payment, the service provider or organizer will typically have to confirm the booking (unless our system provides instant booking for that listing). You may receive a confirmation in-app and/or by email. The moment a booking is confirmed, an agreement is formed directly between you and the provider/organizer. EquiLink's role is to facilitate the booking and handle payment processing on behalf of the provider. We act as a limited payment agent for the provider to collect your payment and then remit it to the provider (minus our fees), so payment to EquiLink is considered payment to the provider. Providers are responsible for delivering the services or holding the event as described.

Cancellations and Refunds: If you need to cancel a booking or are otherwise seeking a refund, please refer to our Refund & Cancellation Policy (which is incorporated here by reference) for detailed conditions. In general, if you (as a rider) cancel a service booking within the allowed cancellation window (e.g. a certain number of hours or days before the appointment), you may be entitled to a refund as described in that policy. If you cancel late or do not show up, you may forfeit some or all of the amount paid. If a service provider or organizer cancels the booking, you will receive a full refund. EquiLink may facilitate these refunds through our payment processor back to your original payment method. Please note that refunds are not instant; while we process them promptly, it may take 5–10 business days for your bank or card issuer to post the refund. If you booked through a mobile app store (e.g. via an in-app purchase on Apple iOS for a digital item), the app store's refund policies may apply (for instance, Apple may handle refunds for in-app purchases directly). We want you to have a great experience, so if any issues arise, you can also contact EquiLink support and we will do our best to help within the bounds of our policies.

Subscriptions & Paid Features

EquiLink offers optional paid subscription plans for business users (service providers, event organizers, and other professionals) to enhance their presence on the Platform. The two main plans are Business+ and Business Premium. These subscriptions are month-to-month or annual (you choose the billing cycle) and come with added features and benefits:

• Business+ – for $25 USD per month (or $250 USD per year if paid annually), Business+ subscribers get a favorable platform fee structure (currently 0% on bookings) and other perks that make it easier to manage and promote your services. Business+ may also include tools such as enhanced listing customization or priority in certain search results, as we develop the Platform. Details of current benefits are provided in the Business Agreement.
• Business Premium – for $50 USD per month (or $500 USD per year if paid annually), Premium subscribers receive all Business+ benefits plus extra features like analytics and a "featured" business profile. Premium users can access insights about how their listings are performing (e.g. views, clicks, bookings analytics) and enjoy greater visibility – for example, we may showcase Premium profiles at the top of relevant search results or tag them as featured, making them stand out. This plan is ideal for businesses seeking maximum exposure and data.

Subscription Billing: Subscription fees are charged automatically on a recurring basis (each month or year, depending on your plan). By subscribing, you authorize us to charge your saved payment method at the start of each billing period. You can cancel your subscription at any time via your account settings. If you cancel, you will retain access to the subscription features until the end of the current paid period, and then the subscription will not renew. We do not typically offer prorated refunds for mid-period cancellations, so if you cancel in the middle of a month or year, you will not receive a refund for the unused portion (except where required by law or if you are eligible for a refund under a special promotion or trial). If you subscribe through an app store (Apple App Store or Google Play), the subscription is tied to your app store account and their payment terms apply – you may need to cancel through the app store's subscription management, and any refund requests may need to be directed to them per their policies. We reserve the right to adjust subscription pricing or features, but any changes will not affect you until the next renewal and we will provide advance notice so you can cancel if you do not agree to the new terms.

Listing Boosts and Promotions: EquiLink may offer additional paid features such as one-time listing "boosts" for visibility. For example, a business or event organizer can boost a listing for 7 days for a fee (currently $5) to get increased exposure in the app (boosted listings might appear in a special section or get highlighted to more users). Such boosts are entirely optional. Fees for boosts are charged at purchase and are non-refundable once the boost has been applied, even if you later edit or remove the listing (or if it expires before the 7 days due to the event date passing, etc.), unless the boost failed to deliver due to a technical issue on our side. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes from purchasing a boost or other promotional feature, but we will deliver the promised visibility (e.g. your listing will be marked as "Boosted" or shown to more users in the designated period). We also reserve the right to reject or remove a boosted listing (or any content) that violates our terms or guidelines; if we remove a boosted listing for a policy violation, the boost fee will not be refunded. Please use boosts responsibly and in line with our content rules.

User Content and License

When you upload or post content on EquiLink (for example, profile information, service listings, event descriptions, photos, reviews, comments, or posts in the Knowledge Hub), you retain ownership of your content but you grant EquiLink a license to use it. Specifically, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, use, reproduce, modify, create derivative works of, distribute, publish, and publicly display your content for the purposes of operating, developing, and promoting the Platform. This license ends when you delete your content or terminate your account, except to the extent your content has been shared with others and they have not deleted it, or it was used in promotional materials already produced. For example, if you post a photo in your business listing, we may display it to users searching for services; if you later remove the photo, we will stop showing it, but if it was featured in an EquiLink promotional blog post or social media highlighting great providers, that usage may continue. We will never sell your user-provided content to third parties without your permission; the license is only to allow us to run the Platform. You also give other users of EquiLink a right to access and use your content in accordance with the intended functionality of the Platform (for instance, riders can view details of your service listing and save it or share it with a friend, and service providers can read the reviews you publish about them).

You are responsible for the content you provide. You warrant that you have all necessary rights to upload the content and that doing so does not violate any third-party's rights or any laws. EquiLink is not responsible for user content; however, we may moderate and remove content that we find violates our policies or is reported by others. We employ a combination of automated checks and human review for trust and safety. For example, we may remove or edit listings that include hate speech or graphic violence, or we may remove user reviews that contain personal attacks or profanity in violation of our guidelines. We also might edit obvious typos or formatting issues for clarity (though we do not substantially alter user reviews or posts without permission). If you believe content on the Platform infringes your intellectual property or other rights, please contact us (see Contact section below) with details, and we will investigate and respond in accordance with applicable law (such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for copyright claims).

Equestrian Activities and Assumption of Risk

Important: By using EquiLink, you acknowledge that equestrian activities (including horseback riding, handling horses, attending horse events, etc.) carry inherent risks. Horses are large, powerful animals and even with the best training and precautions, accidents and injuries can occur. EquiLink does not supervise or control the conditions of any stables, arenas, or facilities, nor the behavior of horses or participants. Any arrangements made through our Platform (such as taking a riding lesson or attending a horse show) are undertaken at your own risk. You agree that you understand the risks involved in equine activities and assume all risks (including the risk of injury, death, or property damage to yourself, others, or your property) arising from any interaction you have that is facilitated through EquiLink. While we care about your safety and strive to partner with reputable providers and organizers, EquiLink cannot guarantee your safety and is not liable for any injuries or accidents that occur in the course of equine activities arranged through our Platform, to the fullest extent permitted by law. We encourage all users to exercise good judgment: wear appropriate safety gear (helmets, etc.), ensure horses are suitable for your skill level, and only engage professionals with proper qualifications. If you are a service provider or organizer, it is your responsibility to maintain appropriate insurance and safety standards; EquiLink does not provide insurance for you.

Proprietary Rights – EquiLink's IP

All rights in the Platform and its content (except for user-provided content) are owned by EquiLink or our licensors. This includes the EquiLink name and logo, our software, the design, functionality and compilation of content on our app/website, and all text, graphics, images, and code that we or our partners provide. These are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You agree not to copy, distribute, modify, or create derivative works based on any of our intellectual property without our prior written consent. You are granted a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to use EquiLink for your personal or internal business use (according to these Terms), but you do not acquire any ownership in our IP, and you may not use the EquiLink name or logo in any way not permitted by us. For example, you cannot use "EquiLink" in the name of your own app or service, and you cannot scrape our listings to create a competing database. If you want to reference EquiLink or use our brand assets for some project, please contact us for permission.

Privacy

Your privacy is very important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and share information about you. By using EquiLink, you consent to those data practices as described in the Privacy Policy. In brief, we collect certain personal information when you use the Platform (like profile info, content you post, and usage data) and we use it to provide and improve the service, in compliance with laws such as GDPR, UK GDPR, and CCPA. We also use third-party services for payments and analytics (e.g. Stripe, Mixpanel) that process data on our behalf. Our Privacy Policy details these and your rights regarding your data (such as access or deletion rights). If you have questions about privacy, you can contact us at the contact info provided in the Privacy Policy.

Third-Party Services & Links

EquiLink may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services. For example, business listings might include external links to a provider's own website for product sales, or the Platform might integrate a mapping service to show event locations. Additionally, as noted, we integrate payment processing (Stripe/Apple/Google) and analytics (Mixpanel) behind the scenes. Third-party sites and services are not under our control, and we are not responsible for their content or any harm or losses arising from them. Use caution when visiting external links – those websites will have their own terms and privacy policies. Any integrations (like payment) are provided to facilitate your use of EquiLink, but we do not guarantee and are not liable for the acts or omissions of those third parties. If you have an issue with a third-party service (for example, a payment dispute), we will try to assist but ultimately you may need to resolve it with them.

Termination of Use

You may stop using EquiLink and/or delete your account at any time. We'll be sorry to see you go, but you can request account deletion via the app or by contacting support. Keep in mind that if you have pending transactions (upcoming bookings or events you're hosting), you should manage or cancel those before deleting your account to avoid leaving others in the lurch. Deleting your account will remove your profile and generally your content from public view, though some data will be retained as necessary for our legitimate business or legal purposes (see Privacy Policy for details on data retention).

EquiLink, in its discretion, may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform (or certain features) if we believe you have violated these Terms, the law, or any other applicable policy (such as the Community Guidelines or Business Agreement), or if you engage in behavior that we determine is harmful to the community or to EquiLink. We may also temporarily suspend accounts to investigate suspected misconduct. In most cases we will give you notice of the issue and a chance to respond or correct the behavior, but for serious violations we may deactivate or terminate an account immediately. If your account is terminated due to breach of Terms or misconduct, you may lose any content or profile info associated with the account, and you will not be entitled to any refunds for any subscriptions or fees paid (in fact, we may retain such amounts as damages, where appropriate, to offset harm caused by your actions). You may also be prohibited from re-registering on EquiLink. If we terminate your account in error, we will work with you to reinstate it. EquiLink also reserves the right to terminate the Platform or any part of it, or to terminate any user's access for any reason or no reason at our sole discretion (though in the case of non-cause termination, we'd provide notice and refund any prepaid amounts for services not delivered).

Disclaimers

Use at Your Own Risk: EquiLink strives to provide a useful and reliable Platform, but we cannot guarantee that every listing or user is legitimate, safe, or high-quality. We do not conduct full background checks on users or guarantee their identity or qualifications (though we may verify certain information for business users as described in the Business Agreement). Any opinions or content expressed by users are their own and do not reflect ours. The Platform, and all content and services provided via EquiLink, are provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranty of any kind. To the maximum extent allowed by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that any particular results will come from using EquiLink. For example, we do not promise that by having a Business+ subscription you will actually receive a certain number of leads or clients – that depends on many factors outside our control. We do not warrant the quality or safety of any third-party services (like the actual riding lesson or event experience you get via a booking). EquiLink is not liable for the actions or omissions of the people or businesses using our Platform. We are not responsible if a provider cancels a lesson last-minute, or if an event is not run to your satisfaction, though we will enforce our policies (such as refund requirements) in such cases to the best of our ability.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above disclaimers may not apply to you. In such cases, EquiLink's warranties shall be limited to the minimum extent permitted by applicable law.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, EquiLink (and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates) shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

• your access to or use of (or inability to access/use) the Platform;
• any conduct or content of any user or third party on the Platform, including defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of other users;
• any content obtained from the Platform; or
• unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content.

In no event shall EquiLink's total liability for claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform exceed the greater of $100 USD or the amount you paid to EquiLink in the past six months (if any). We intend this as a reasonable limitation of liability, reflecting that we are a startup and the Platform is provided at relatively low cost to users. If you are dissatisfied with EquiLink or hurt by something that happens through it, your best remedy is to stop using the Platform. We are not financially responsible for things beyond our control.

Important: Certain laws (for example, some country's consumer protection laws) might not allow the limitation of liability for personal injury or for intentional misconduct or gross negligence, etc. We do not exclude or limit liability where it would be illegal to do so – for instance, EquiLink does not limit its liability for its own willful misconduct or where we have a legal duty (e.g. in some places, liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence cannot be disclaimed). However, to the extent those laws do not apply, you agree to this limitation of liability.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless EquiLink Inc. and its affiliates, and their directors, officers, employees, and agents, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that arise out of or relate to: (a) your use of the Platform, (b) your violation of these Terms or of any law or regulation, (c) your content or interactions with other users (for example, any claims made by a third party that your content infringed their rights, or a claim by someone you provided services to that they were harmed due to your negligence), or (d) your violation of any third-party rights. We reserve the right to handle our legal defense as we see fit, including choosing our counsel, and you agree to cooperate with us in the defense of any claim.

Dispute Resolution & Governing Law

We hope to resolve any issues informally, but if a dispute arises between you and EquiLink, please contact us to discuss a resolution. In the unfortunate event we cannot resolve a dispute amicably, the following provisions apply:

• Governing Law: These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Canada (province of incorporation of Mizar & Alcor Inc.), without regard to its conflict of law principles. However, if you are a consumer residing outside Canada, you may be entitled to the protection of the mandatory consumer protection provisions of your local consumer protection law; in such cases, nothing in these Terms affects your rights under those laws.
• Arbitration Agreement: Except for disputes that qualify for small claims court and except as noted below regarding certain injunctive relief, you and EquiLink agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform shall be settled by binding arbitration. Class action and jury trial are waived. This means you are waiving your right to a trial by jury and waiving your right to participate in any class action. The arbitration will be administered by a neutral arbitration provider (such as the American Arbitration Association, "AAA") and conducted in English. You may choose to have the arbitration conducted by telephone, based on written submissions, or in person in the county where you live or another mutually agreed location. The arbitrator will have the authority to award the same damages and relief that a court could, including injunctive and declaratory relief if appropriate. The arbitrator will issue a written decision with the findings and conclusions on which the award is based. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court that has jurisdiction.
• Exceptions: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within that court's jurisdiction. In addition, either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of proper jurisdiction to prevent (or stop) infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property or confidential information.
• Costs of Arbitration: Each party will be responsible for paying any filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees in accordance with the arbitration provider's rules, except that EquiLink will pay those fees if your claim is for $10,000 or less, unless the arbitrator finds your dispute frivolous or brought for an improper purpose.
• Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending us a written notice of your decision to opt out at 235 ch du Cap aux Rets, Baie Saint Paul, G3Z 1C1, Qc, Canada within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. If you opt out, neither you nor EquiLink can require the other to participate in arbitration.
• Enforceability: If the class action waiver is found to be unenforceable in a particular case, then the entirety of the arbitration agreement shall be null and void in that case. If any other part of the arbitration agreement is found to be unenforceable, that part shall be severed and the remainder enforced.

(The above dispute resolution terms may sound complex, but essentially: Canadian law applies, and most disputes should be arbitrated individually, not in court, with some small exceptions.)

Miscellaneous

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, along with any referenced policies (Community Guidelines, Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, Business Agreement if applicable, etc.), constitute the entire agreement between you and EquiLink regarding your use of the Platform, and supersede any prior agreements or understandings (whether written or oral) relating to the same subject matter. Any additional or different terms you propose (for example, in an email or chat) are rejected and will not apply unless we expressly agree in writing.
• No Waiver: If we do not enforce a provision of these Terms, it does not mean we waive our right to do so later. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by an authorized representative of EquiLink.
• Severability: If any part of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that portion shall be construed in a manner to reflect, as nearly as possible, the original intent of the parties, and the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer any of your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, or by operation of law or otherwise, and your continued use of the Platform signifies your agreement to that assignment.
• Relationship: You and EquiLink are independent contractors. These Terms do not create any agency, partnership, joint venture, employment, or franchise relationship. You are not authorized to make any commitments on our behalf, and vice versa.
• Contact Information: If you have any questions about these Terms or need to reach us for any reason, please contact us at support@equilink.com. Our mailing address is: Mizar & Alcor Inc., 235 ch du Cap aux Rets, Baie Saint Paul, G3Z 1C1, Qc, Canada (Attn: Legal). (Note: Address provided for correspondence. EquiLink is operated by Mizar & Alcor Inc., a Canadian company, and may also have operational offices in other locations.)

Thank you for being part of EquiLink. We appreciate your trust and are excited to help connect the equestrian community in a safe and positive way. Happy riding and networking, and please abide by these Terms to keep EquiLink a great place for everyone!