Cancellation and withdrawal
This page explains why the statutory fourteen-day right of withdrawal does not apply to a stay with us, which cancellation terms apply instead, and why cancellation insurance is a sensible precaution.
No fourteen-day cooling-off period, and why not
With most distance purchases, consumers have fourteen days to change their mind. That cooling-off period does not apply to leisure services supplied on an agreed date or during an agreed period. What we offer, a Friday-to-Friday stay with accommodation and riding, falls within that exception.
This follows from:
- article 16(l) of Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights;
- article L221-28, 12°, of the French Code de la consommation.
The reasoning behind the exception is practical: we hold a place and a horse for you on a fixed date. If you cancel at short notice, that week is almost impossible to fill again. This is why we work with cancellation terms rather than a cooling-off period.
We think it matters that you know this before you book, so this information also appears with the quotation form and in your booking confirmation.
How to cancel
Cancellations are made in writing, by email to info@oosting-horseriding.com. Please include your name, the dates booked and the number of people. We send you confirmation of the cancellation together with the final statement.
What determines the percentage is the date we receive your message, not the date you sent it. If your message reaches us at a weekend or on a public holiday, the date of receipt applies.
Cancellation charges
| When you cancel | Amount due |
|---|---|
| More than 8 weeks before arrival | 25 per cent |
| 8 to 4 weeks before arrival | 50 per cent |
| Less than 4 weeks before arrival | 100 per cent |
The percentages apply to the total price for the participants who cancel. If only part of your party cancels, the scale applies to those people only; the others keep their booking.
If you have already paid more than the amount due at the time of cancelling, we refund the difference within thirty days to the account the payment came from. If you have paid less, we send you an invoice for the difference.
An alternative to cancelling: let someone else go
If you cannot come but someone else can take your place, let us know. Provided that person meets the participation requirements in our terms and conditions, such as riding ability, age and weight, and we agree, you can transfer your place. That is almost always cheaper than cancelling.
Moving to a different week is also open to discussion. We cannot guarantee it, because the number of places and horses is limited, but we will always look at what is possible.
If we have to cancel
If we have to cancel a stay, for instance because of illness or force majeure such as extreme weather or a government measure, you can choose between an alternative date and a refund of what you paid for that stay. We refund within thirty days.
We do not reimburse travel costs you have already incurred, such as flights or train tickets. Travel or cancellation insurance is the right instrument for that.
Take out cancellation insurance
We recommend taking out cancellation insurance, preferably at the time of booking, because most insurers apply a short window in which you can sign up. Cancellation insurance normally covers the amount you still owe us if a covered reason, such as illness or an accident, prevents you from coming.
In addition, participants must hold valid liability and travel insurance of their own. Before you travel, check whether your policy covers horse riding and trail riding abroad: not every insurer includes this as standard.
Questions or a complaint
If you are unsure whether something counts as a cancellation, or you disagree with a statement, please contact us at info@oosting-horseriding.com. If we cannot reach agreement together, as a consumer you may refer the dispute free of charge to a médiateur de la consommation. No standing mediator has been appointed at this time; as soon as you raise a complaint that we cannot resolve together, we will appoint a médiateur de la consommation and send you their name and contact details. The full complaints procedure is set out in clause 14 of our terms and conditions.