Terms of Service

Welcome to Equimeta. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Equimeta website, platform, and all related features (collectively, the "Service"), including the marketplace, Barn, Pro Insights, Horse Profiles, Competition Data, editorial content, AI-powered features, document generation tools, the Affiliate Program, and the Pro Network. By accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use the Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, browsing listings, or otherwise using Equimeta, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or an in-app notice. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance.

2. Eligibility and Accounts

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or use the Service. By registering, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement.

You are responsible for keeping your account credentials confidential and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your profile information up to date. You may sign in with an email/password or a supported social login provider.

You may not create more than one account, transfer your account to another person, or use another person's account without their authorisation.

3. Subscription Plans and Fees

Equimeta offers six subscription tiers across two tracks — Individual and Professional. Features available at each tier are described on the Pricing page.

Individual Tracks

• Explorer (Free): Unlimited marketplace browsing, advanced search and filters, favourites and shortlists, a free marketplace account, community profile tools, and Basic Barn access. No payment method required.
• Insider: $99 every 3 months (effective $33/month) or $300/year (effective $25/month, ~24% off vs. quarterly). Everything in Explorer, plus Premium Barn (unlimited horses), saved searches and alerts, smart match alerts, enhanced show and pedigree lookups, PPE and hauler coordination, and deep-dive report tools.
• Competitor: $199 every 3 months (effective $66.33/month) or $600/year (effective $50/month, ~25% off vs. quarterly). Everything in Insider, plus full competition history, show-day tools for your own horses, faster meds and notes workflows, and deep research analytics with EPR, RQS, and CDS performance metrics.

Professional Tracks

• Professional: $30/month or $25/month when billed annually (two months free). An enhanced directory profile with a Verified badge and reviews, quote requests and basic messaging, and location display on the public profile.
• Professional Plus: $60/month or $50/month when billed annually (two months free). Everything in Professional, plus unlimited active listings, a seller dashboard with analytics, and a lead management inbox. A 14-day free trial is available for new Professional Plus subscribers.
• Professional Elite: $100/month or $83.33/month when billed annually (two months free). Everything in Professional Plus, plus the ability to accept paid Pro Insight requests, an earnings dashboard with payouts, the ability to set your own rate and availability, reviews and ratings on your public profile, priority support, and access to the Affiliate Program. A 14-day free trial is available for new Professional Elite subscribers.

Feature Add-ons

Certain features may require one-time fees or add-on payments, including Pro Insights and selected premium actions. Details and pricing are on the Pricing page.

Subscriptions are billed in advance on a recurring monthly or annual basis via Stripe. Subscription fees are non-refundable except where required by applicable law. You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings or via the Stripe Customer Portal; your access will continue until the end of the current billing period.

We reserve the right to change subscription prices at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' notice of any price increase before it affects your existing subscription.

4. Marketplace Rules

Equimeta provides a platform for buyers and sellers of horses, equipment, trailers, trucks, and property to connect and transact. The following rules apply to all marketplace activity:

• Accurate representation: Sellers must provide truthful, complete, and current information about every listing, including the horse's health history, known behavioral issues, soundness, ownership status, and any encumbrances (liens, registration disputes, etc.). Omission of material information is considered misrepresentation.
• Prohibited listings: You may not list stolen property, counterfeit items, or otherwise engage in fraudulent activity. Horses with undisclosed health conditions or behavioral issues that materially affect their value or safety must not be misrepresented as sound or problem-free.
• Professional conduct: All communication between buyers and sellers must remain respectful. Harassment, threats, hate speech, or spam will result in immediate account suspension.
• One listing per horse: Each horse may have only one active listing at a time. Duplicate listings for the same horse are not permitted.
• Listing limits: Listing availability varies by subscription tier. Current included listing capacity is described on the Pricing page.

5. The Deal Flow

When a buyer sends an inquiry on a listing, a Deal is created. Deals progress through eight stages:

1. Inquiry
2. Pricing Discussion
3. In-Person Visit
4. Pre-Purchase Exam (PPE)
5. Final Pricing Agreement
6. Hauling Arrangements
7. Payment
8. Hauling Complete

Only the seller may advance a deal from one stage to the next. The buyer receives a push notification when the seller advances the deal. The agreed price is formally recorded at the Final Pricing Agreement stage; this is the price used to calculate marketplace fees and initiate the Stripe Checkout.

Equimeta is not a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers. We provide the platform and facilitate payment processing, but we are not responsible for ensuring that either party fulfils their obligations after a deal is agreed.

During a deal, Equimeta may display information about or provide connections to third-party services, including but not limited to veterinary pre-purchase examinations, equine insurance, and equine transport. These services are provided by independent third parties. Equimeta does not provide, arrange, underwrite, guarantee, or assume liability for any insurance coverage, transport or hauling arrangements, or veterinary opinions facilitated through the platform. Transport estimates shown within a deal are approximate and provided for informational purposes only.

Equimeta facilitates the generation of transaction documents (such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and pre-purchase waivers) as a convenience to the parties. This does not constitute the provision of legal advice. Users should review all documents carefully and consult a qualified attorney before executing any agreement. By applying an electronic signature through the platform, you acknowledge that your signature is legally binding under the E-SIGN Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001).

Holding deposits. At any point during the Pricing Discussion, In-Person Visit, Pre-Purchase Exam, or Final Pricing Agreement stages, either party may propose a holding deposit setting an amount, a balance due date, and refund conditions. If the other party accepts, Equimeta auto-generates a Deposit Addendum that both parties must e-sign before the deposit can be paid. The deposit is processed by Stripe as a direct charge on the seller's connected account; the remaining balance is charged at the Payment stage with the deposit credited against it. Refund conditions are the contractual responsibility of the buyer and seller as recorded on the signed addendum and are not enforced by Equimeta. Refunds, when due, are issued by the seller through Stripe.

6. Marketplace Transaction Fees

Equimeta charges a platform fee on completed marketplace transactions, split symmetrically between buyer and seller:

• Buyer fee: Tiered fee added to the agreed price at checkout: 3% on the first $10,000, 2% on the next $40,000, and 1% above $50,000 (minimum $1).
• Seller fee: The same tiered fee schedule is deducted from the agreed price at payout (minimum $1).
• Sold Offline transfer fee: Optional flat fee for ownership registration and records transfer when a sale closes outside Equimeta ($99 standard, $49 for Professional Plus/Elite subscribers).

Example: For a horse sold at an agreed price of $25,000, each side pays a $600 fee under this schedule. The buyer pays $25,600 and the seller receives $24,400 before any agent commissions.

Transaction fees are non-refundable once a Stripe Checkout session has been completed, except in cases of verified fraud or as required by law. Stripe's own processing fees are separate and borne by Equimeta; no additional Stripe fees are passed on to users beyond the tiered schedule (minimum $1) described above.

Holding deposit fee handling. When a deal uses a holding deposit, the same tiered platform fee applies in total. The buyer fee and seller fee are split proportionally between the deposit charge and the balance charge so that the combined platform fee equals what would have been charged on a single payment, within rounding. Both legs are processed as direct charges on the seller's connected Stripe account and the application fee on each leg is taken at the time the leg clears.

The Sold Offline transfer fee covers records continuity and ownership registration only. It does not include the full Deal Room payment workflow (signed agreement, Stripe-processed payment, document exchange) or in-deal coordination features.

Currency and cross-border transactions: All marketplace transactions are processed in United States Dollars (USD). Equimeta supports cross-border transactions between the United States and Canada. If your bank account is denominated in a currency other than USD, your bank or payment provider may apply currency conversion fees and exchange-rate markups when you make a payment or receive a payout. These fees are set by your financial institution and are outside Equimeta's control.

7. Seller Obligations and Stripe Connect

Before a buyer can initiate a Stripe Checkout on your listing, you must complete Stripe Connect (Express) onboarding. During onboarding, Stripe — not Equimeta — collects your identity documents, bank account details, and tax information directly. Equimeta stores only a boolean flag indicating that your Stripe account is active.

You are solely responsible for:

• Complying with all applicable tax laws and reporting obligations on amounts you receive through Equimeta;
• Ensuring that you have the legal right to sell any horse or item you list;
• Delivering the horse or item as described and agreed in the deal.

Equimeta may issue an IRS Form 1099-K or equivalent tax documentation as required by applicable law and will provide data to tax authorities as legally required.

8. Buyer Fund Verification

Buyers may optionally verify their available funds using Stripe Financial Connections. This process links a bank account and confirms that a balance above a chosen threshold is available. Upon verification, a "Verified Buyer" badge appears on your deal card visible to the seller. The seller is never shown your account number, routing number, or actual balance — only the badge and the verified threshold amount (e.g., "Verified above $15,000").

Fund verification is optional and does not obligate you to complete a purchase. Equimeta does not store your bank account credentials.

9. Pro Insights and the Pro Network

Pro Insights allows users to request a professional written analysis of a marketplace listing or pre-purchase exam (PPE) materials from a verified equestrian professional ("Pro"). Pros are independent contractors who set their own availability and, in some cases, their own rates.

• Lotto Insights ($19.99): Your request is assigned to a randomly selected, available Pro. The Pro receives 80% of the fee ($15.99); Equimeta retains 20% ($4.00).
• Select-a-Pro: You choose a specific Pro from the directory. The Pro sets their own rate; Equimeta retains 20% and the Pro receives 80%.
• PPE Second Opinion: During a deal, either the buyer or seller may request a Pro Insight review that includes attached PPE documents, videos, or exam results. The Pro receives access to these materials for the purpose of producing their analysis.

Disclosure: Pro Insights reviews are paid services. The Pro is compensated for their analysis. Reviews represent the independent professional opinion of the individual Pro and do not constitute a veterinary diagnosis, warranty, guarantee, or endorsement by Equimeta regarding the horse's condition, value, soundness, or suitability. Users should not rely solely on a Pro Insight as a substitute for an independent veterinary examination.

Community AI Analysis: Equimeta may offer an automated AI-generated analysis on listings ("things we like / things to consider"). When available, this analysis is informational only and does not constitute professional advice or a warranty of any kind. See Section 12 (AI-Powered Features) for additional terms.

Insight fees are non-refundable once a Pro has submitted their review.

Pro Profiles and the Pro Directory: Pros who are accepted into the Pro Network receive a public professional profile in the Pro Directory. This profile may display your business name, location, specialties, expertise description, transaction review ratings, and review count. By joining the Pro Network, you consent to this information being displayed publicly. Equimeta may also display professional profiles sourced from third-party data; individuals may claim and manage these profiles through a verification process.

10. Transaction Reviews

After a deal is completed, participants may leave ratings and reviews for the other parties involved in the transaction, including the buyer, seller, veterinarian, farrier, hauler, trainer, boarding facility, insurance agent, or other agent. Reviews consist of a 1–5 star rating. Each reviewer may submit only one review per reviewee per transaction.

Reviews are aggregated and displayed on professional profiles and may be visible to other users in future deals (for example, when selecting a veterinarian or hauler). By submitting a review, you represent that it is truthful and based on your genuine experience. Equimeta reserves the right to remove reviews that are abusive, defamatory, or appear to be fraudulent.

Equimeta does not verify the accuracy of user-submitted reviews and is not responsible for decisions made in reliance on review ratings.

11. The Barn (Private Horse Records)

The Barn is a private horse-management tool. Records you add — including performance records, health notes, bloodline information, training history, genetic test results, photos, videos, and documents — are visible only to you and are never displayed to other users unless you explicitly convert a Barn record into a marketplace listing.

The Equine Universe bloodline feature uses the sire and dam names stored in your Barn records to identify relatives and descendants in our broader database. To use this feature, the sire and dam names you enter must be accurate.

12. AI-Powered Features

Equimeta uses artificial intelligence in several areas of the platform. By using the Service, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• AI Search: When you use the marketplace search bar, your search query may be sent to a third-party AI provider (currently OpenAI) to parse natural-language queries into structured search filters (e.g., discipline, breed, gender, price range, location). Equimeta sends only the search text; no personal data is included in these requests.
• Listing Enrichment: When a listing is published, its description and details may be processed by a third-party AI model to extract structured information that improves search relevance and discovery. AI-extracted data is presented as-is and may contain errors; Equimeta does not manually verify AI-generated summaries.
• Registry enrichment (public web): For some horses, Equimeta may send the horse's name, breed, registration hints, and short text retrieved from public web pages to a third-party AI model to draft registry profile text and structured highlights. This content is informational, may be wrong or incomplete, and is not manually verified; sources are retained for operational review only.
• Community AI Analysis: Equimeta may display an AI-generated summary on listings highlighting positive attributes and potential considerations. This analysis is informational only and does not constitute professional advice, a veterinary opinion, or a warranty of any kind.

AI outputs are not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or error-free. You should not rely solely on AI-generated content when making purchasing, breeding, or health-related decisions. Equimeta is not liable for any decision made in reliance on AI-generated content.

13. Horse Profiles, Competition Data, and Registry

Equimeta maintains public horse profiles that may include competition history, show results, earnings, performance ratings (such as EPR, CDS, and RQS scores), pedigree information, and organization registrations (e.g., AQHA, APHA).

Competition data is sourced from publicly available records and third-party data providers. Performance ratings are calculated by Equimeta's proprietary algorithms based on available data. Equimeta does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of competition data, performance ratings, or registry information. These records may be incomplete, outdated, or contain errors. Users should verify all competition and registration claims independently.

Users may submit comments on horse profile pages. Comments must be truthful and respectful. Equimeta reserves the right to remove comments that are abusive, defamatory, misleading, or that violate these Terms, and users may report inappropriate comments for review.

14. Sale Price Disclosure

Equimeta offers an optional sale price disclosure feature. When a transaction is completed, the final sale price may be displayed publicly on the horse's profile — but only if both the seller and the buyer independently consent to disclosure. The seller indicates their consent when creating the listing, and the buyer indicates their consent at checkout.

If either party does not consent, the sale price will not be disclosed. Once disclosed, the sale price becomes part of the horse's public record on the platform. Consent to price disclosure cannot be withdrawn after the transaction has been completed and the price has been published.

15. Tools and Calculators

Equimeta provides informational tools including a Cost-to-Own Calculator, Transport Estimator, Discipline Quiz, and Pro Earnings Calculator. All output from these tools is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Estimates, projections, and recommendations are approximate and may not reflect actual costs, earnings, or outcomes in your specific circumstances.

Equimeta is not liable for any financial decision or action taken in reliance on the output of these tools.

16. Content, Writers, and Editorial

Equimeta publishes editorial content including articles, educational guides (such as genetic test information), and learning resources. This content is produced by Equimeta staff, approved contributors, or sourced from publicly available information.

Individuals may apply to become approved writers through the writer application process. Accepted writers may publish articles that appear on the platform. All editorial content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary, medical, legal, or financial advice.

Genetic test educational pages provide general guidance on common equine genetic conditions. This information should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian or equine geneticist.

17. Reporting and Moderation

Users may report listings, horse profile comments, or other content they believe violates these Terms or applicable law. Reports are reviewed by Equimeta's team and may result in content removal, warnings, or account suspension at our sole discretion.

Users may also submit horse profile deletion requests. Such requests are reviewed by Equimeta and processed in accordance with our content policies.

Equimeta is not obligated to monitor all content on the platform but reserves the right to review, edit, or remove any content at any time without notice.

18. Verification and Data Disclaimer

Equimeta may display verification badges on listings where a seller has provided supporting documentation (such as registration papers or show records) that was reviewed at the time of listing. These badges indicate only that documents were provided and reviewed at listing time. They do not constitute a warranty or guarantee by Equimeta regarding the current health, soundness, behavioral status, or true ownership of any horse.

Show results, bloodline data, performance ratings, and other third-party information displayed on the platform are sourced from publicly available records and may not be complete or current. Equimeta does not guarantee the accuracy of this data.

Buyers are strongly advised to commission an independent pre-purchase examination (PPE) by a licensed veterinarian and to conduct their own due diligence before completing any transaction.

Aggregated data and analytics: By using the Service, you agree that Equimeta may use listing data, transaction data, competition records, search activity, and other platform usage data in aggregated or de-identified form for internal analytics, product improvement, market research, and to produce aggregate market statistics (such as pricing trends, breed popularity, and regional demand). This aggregated data does not identify individual users and may be published or shared with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for details.

19. The Affiliate Program

The Equimeta Affiliate Program is available exclusively to users with an active Professional Elite subscription. Participation requires a separate application and Equimeta's written approval. Additional program-specific terms, including payout verification, attribution, marketing restrictions, indemnity, and liability limits, are available at Affiliate Program Terms.

• Commissions: Paid as a one-time amount on the first paid invoice for a referred subscription. Current commission amounts: $50 per Insider quarterly referral, $150 per Insider annual referral, $100 per Competitor quarterly referral, $300 per Competitor annual referral, $30 per Professional monthly referral ($150 annual), $60 per Professional Plus monthly referral ($300 annual), and $100 per Professional Elite monthly referral ($500 annual). Affiliates whose referred users include 10 or more new paying subscriptions in a calendar month also receive a $250 performance bonus for that month. The referred user receives a matching discount on their first invoice via a promotional code. Commissions are earned only on the first paid invoice of a new user who has not previously held an Equimeta account. Renewals, plan upgrades by existing members, and referrals of users who have previously registered do not qualify.
• Payouts: Commissions are paid via bank transfer or PayPal. A 14-day hold period applies to all commissions to allow for cancellation, chargeback, and refund resolution before payment is made. If the referred subscription is cancelled or refunded inside the hold window, the commission is voided.
• Independent contractor status: Affiliates participate as independent contractors and are solely responsible for reporting and paying any taxes on commissions earned.
• Advertising restrictions: Affiliates may not run paid advertising (Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, or similar) that targets Equimeta's brand name, branded keywords, or any confusingly similar variations.
• Rate changes: Equimeta may modify commission rates or program terms with at least 30 days' notice to active affiliates.
• Termination of affiliate status: Your Professional Elite subscription must remain active for you to participate. If your subscription lapses or is cancelled, your affiliate status is suspended automatically.

20. Intellectual Property

Equimeta and its licensors own all intellectual property rights in the Service, including software, design, trademarks, and editorial content produced by Equimeta staff and contributors.

By posting content on Equimeta (including listing photos, videos, descriptions, Barn records, horse profile comments, and transaction reviews), you grant Equimeta a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to store, display, reproduce, and distribute that content within the Service and in connection with our marketing activities. You retain ownership of your content and may delete it by removing the relevant listing, Barn record, or comment.

You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to the content you post and that it does not infringe any third party's intellectual property rights.

21. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings, reviews, comments, or communications;
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users;
• Submit false or malicious reports against other users or their content;
• Manipulate transaction reviews or ratings through coordinated or fraudulent activity;
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to extract data from the Service without our written consent;
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to access the source code of the Service;
• Attempt to circumvent any access controls, rate limits, or security measures;
• Use the Service in violation of any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation;
• Engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Service or the servers and networks connected to it.

22. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Equimeta and its officers, directors, employees, 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, arising from:

• Your use of, or inability to use, the Service;
• Any transaction conducted through the platform, including disputes over the condition, soundness, ownership, delivery, or return of a horse or other item;
• Any inaccuracy in listing information, verification badges, show results, competition data, performance ratings, bloodline data, registry information, or AI-generated analysis or enrichment;
• Any reliance on transaction reviews, ratings, Pro Insight opinions, or tool/calculator outputs;
• Any third-party services facilitated through a deal, including veterinary examinations, insurance coverage, hauling arrangements, or document templates;
• The acts or omissions of any third-party service provider, including payment processors, authentication providers, AI service providers, video hosting platforms, or advertising networks;
• Any data loss or corruption arising from system failures or security breaches beyond our reasonable control.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the greater of (a) the total subscription fees you paid to Equimeta in the 12 months preceding the claim or (b) $100 USD.

23. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Service at any time, without prior notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms, engaged in fraudulent activity, or if required to do so by law. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately.

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Closing your account does not entitle you to a refund of any prepaid subscription fees.

24. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Arbitration agreement: Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Service shall first be submitted to good-faith negotiation between the parties for a period of at least thirty (30) days. If the dispute is not resolved through negotiation, it shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator in the State of Michigan. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class action waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted on an individual basis and not as part of any class, consolidated, or representative action.

Exceptions: Either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Michigan to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights or confidentiality obligations.

Small claims: Notwithstanding the above, either party may bring a claim in small claims court if the claim falls within that court's jurisdictional limits.

25. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at legal@equimeta.co.