Welcome – Please Read

By booking a session with Equine Bodywork Norfolk, you agree to our Terms & Conditions. These cover important information about our services, your responsibilities as a horse owner, payment and cancellation policies, and our professional scope. We take every care during bodywork sessions, but you acknowledge that treatment is carried out within our professional limits and does not replace veterinary care. Please read the full Terms & Conditions below before booking.​​​​

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1. Practitioner Qualification & Scope of Practice

I hold training and certifications appropriate to equine musculoskeletal and manual therapies and maintain relevant professional insurance. Bodywork will be provided within the scope of my training and competence. I will not perform any techniques that exceed my qualifications. Manual bodywork is not a veterinary service and does not replace veterinary diagnosis, care, or treatment. 

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2. Purpose of the Service & Client Understanding

The purpose of bodywork is to support musculoskeletal function and welfare. Results vary by individual horse and are not guaranteed. If bodywork does not achieve the desired outcome, veterinary care should be sought. 

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3. Client Disclosure & Responsibility

Clients must disclose all known or suspected medical, behavioural, lameness, and welfare issues regarding their horse/pony prior to or at the time of booking. Failure to disclose material information may result in contraindications being overlooked and could have welfare consequences. 

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4. Contraindications & Veterinary Referral

If a horse is currently under veterinary care for an acute or chronic condition, until a veterinary referral/consent is provided, bodywork cannot proceed. If, during a session, I reasonably believe the horse requires veterinary investigation, I may recommend referral. Where serious welfare concerns arise, I may share relevant information with the veterinary surgeon without prior client consent in the best interests of the horse’s health and safety. (This does not extend to routine reporting without a welfare-based rationale.)

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A list of contraindications to bodywork can be found here. By signing your consent, you confirm that you have checked through this list and that to the best of your knowledge, none apply.

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5. Confidentiality & Data Protection

Client and horse information collected through intake forms, bookings, reports, and communications will be treated as confidential. Data will not be shared with third parties except as required by law or in the exceptional welfare circumstances described above. Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection principles and is typically held for 7 years following the date of the last session provided.

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6. Consent for Treatment & Ongoing Sessions

By signing the intake form and submitting it, the client confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these Terms & Conditions, and that they consent to equine bodywork being carried out on their horse/pony.  This consent is required before I can carry out any assessment/relevant bodywork and remains valid for future sessions unless the client expressly withdraws it. Booking or attending subsequent sessions is taken as continued consent under these Terms.

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7. Bookings, Payment & Cancellation

a. Bookings are confirmed upon agreement of a mutually acceptable date and time and any required payment or deposit (if applicable).
b. Payment is due either on the date of the session in cash, or alternatively an invoice can be sent along with your session notes, to allow you to pay by bank transfer within 5 subsequent days.
c. Clients must give at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule; failure to do so may result in a cancellation fee as a contribution to the time, travel, and administration costs incurred. 

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8. Reports & Communication

After each session, a written report summarising observations, techniques used, and recommendations will be provided. Reports are delivered for the purpose of supporting the horse’s ongoing musculoskeletal health and communication with other professionals involved in the horse’s care.

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9. Images & Media

I will not use photos, videos, or other media of the horse or the property for promotional or public purposes without the client’s express consent. 

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10. Limitation of Liability

 

While every care will be taken during equine bodywork sessions, the therapist cannot accept liability for any unforeseen injury, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, or complications that may occur during or after treatment. The owner acknowledges that all work will be carried out with due care, within the therapist’s professional scope, and in accordance with current industry standards. By booking a session, the owner accepts responsibility for disclosing relevant health information about their horse and agrees that the therapist cannot be held liable for outcomes beyond their control.

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To the maximum extent permitted by law, Kate Thornton Equine Sports & Remedial Bodywork shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage arising from the service, including but not limited to loss of performance, animal welfare outcomes, or financial loss. Nothing in these Terms shall exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by proven negligence.

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11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England & Wales.