Privacy & Family Policy

At HobbyHorse Academy, we are committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting the personal information you share with us through our website and app. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your data, including additional measures for users under 18 to comply with child-focused data protection regulations.

 

1. Information We Collect

When using our platform, we may collect the following personal information:

Personal Information:

    • Email address, mailing address, and mobile number.

    • Confirmation that a parent or guardian gave permission, for users under the age of digital consent in their country (13 to 16, see our Community Guidelines), and for all purchases by users under 18.

App Permissions:

We request certain permissions to enable features, including:

    • Camera: For uploading media or participating in activities requiring image capture.

    • Storage: To allow users to upload, download, and save files within the app.

Automatically Collected Data:

    • Non-personal data such as app usage statistics, crash reports, and device information to enhance the user experience.

 

2. Use of Collected Information

We collect and use personal information to:

- Fulfill service requests and provide a tailored user experience.

- Notify users of service updates, new features, or relevant offers.

- Improve our platform through data analysis and feedback.

- Ensure child safety by moderating content and interactions.

We do not sell or rent personal information. All data is used solely for the purposes outlined in this policy.

 

3. Ads and Monetization

    • HobbyHorse Academy shows no third-party ads. No advertising networks are integrated into our platform and we never use your data for advertising. Between posts and in stories we show our own promotions only: our clothing shop, the Academy membership, the monthly photo contest, the stable and the Ambassador program. Paying members do not see shop or membership promotions.

 

4. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with the following third-party services, which may collect and process data according to their own privacy policies:

    • Stripe 
    • Amazon SES
    • Better Messages
    • The Events Calendar
    • Wordfence Security
    • Site Kit by Google
    • Google Translate
    • WooCommerce
    • Elementor
    • GamiPress
    • Flying Pages
    • WPManageNinja LLC products (FluentCommunity, FluentCRM, FluentForms, FluentSMTP)

    • Please refer to their respective privacy policies for more information.

We ensure all third-party integrations comply with relevant privacy regulations for child safety and data security.

 

5. Data Retention

    • Personal data is kept for as long as your account exists. When you delete your account (Menu, then Delete account), your profile and personal data are deleted, at the latest within 30 days, except data we must keep by law (for example invoices, kept as long as tax law requires) and security logs (kept up to 2 years). Copies in our secure backups are overwritten over time.

    • For users under 18, additional safeguards are in place to minimize data retention and prevent unauthorized access.

 

6. User Rights

As a user of our platform, you have the following rights concerning your personal data:

    • Access: Request details of the personal information we hold.

    • Correction: Request corrections to incorrect or incomplete information.

    • Deletion: Request the deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations.

    • Restriction: Request limitations on how your data is processed.

    • Objection: Object to the use of your data for specific purposes.

    • Portability: Request to transfer your data to another provider.

For assistance with any of these rights, contact us at [email protected].

7. Children’s Privacy

We take additional steps to ensure the privacy and safety of children:

- Parental Consent: Members under the age of digital consent in their country (13 to 16, see our Community Guidelines) may use the platform only with the permission of a parent or guardian, and all purchases by members under 18 need this permission.

- Moderation: All user-generated content (e.g., posts, chat messages) is actively moderated to prevent inappropriate behavior or content.

- Limited Data Collection: We minimize data collection for children and never collect sensitive information such as payment details directly from users under 18.

- Compliance with Laws: We comply with COPPA (U.S.) and GDPR (EU) regulations to protect children’s privacy.

8. Data Security

We implement advanced security measures to protect your personal data:

    • Encryption: All data is sent over an encrypted connection (HTTPS). Passwords are stored only in scrambled (hashed) form, and card details are handled by Stripe and never stored by us.

    • Access Control: Restricted access to personal information based on user roles.

    • Regular Audits: Frequent reviews of data protection measures to prevent breaches.

9. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in regulations or platform features. Users will be notified of significant updates through email or in-app notifications.

10. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Address: STUDIO MERLIN, SImončičeva ulica 2, 8210 Trebnje, EUROPE - SLOVENIA

Email: [email protected]

11. App Features and the Data They Use

Updated 24 October 2026.

  • Age and country for face photos: the first time you share a photo where a face is clearly visible, we ask your birth year and country once. We use them only to apply the photo age rule of your country (13 to 16 years, see our Community Guidelines). They are saved with your account and are not shown to other members.
  • Face check on your device: before a photo is uploaded, your own phone or computer checks it for faces. This check happens only on your device. The photo is not sent anywhere for it and no face data is saved. If you are under the age for your country, faces are covered with a blur or a heart before the photo is posted.
  • Parent approval: if a member asks a parent to allow their face on photos, we send one email to the address the member types in. We save that email address, the parent’s answer, the date and time, a scrambled (hashed) IP address and the browser name, as proof of the parent’s decision. The parent can withdraw the approval at any time with the link in the confirmation email.
  • Translation: when you choose a language or tap “See translation”, the text on the page is sent to Google Translate to be translated. Please never write private information in posts, comments or messages.
  • Messages: chat messages are saved on our server. You can edit, delete and pin messages. Before a message is sent or edited, it is checked against a list of words that are not allowed. Reported messages can be seen by moderators.
  • Photo contest: contest photos are visible to all members, together with their share of hearts. Before a contest photo is saved, hidden photo data such as the location (EXIF and GPS) is removed. Winners receive coins and a badge on their profile.
  • Stories, events and posts: stories are visible to members, and a reply to a story is sent as a private message. Members can suggest events; the team checks them before they are shown.
  • Coins, XP, daily quests and the stable: we use your activity in the app (likes, comments, posts, finished lessons, claimed rewards, unlocked horses) to run daily quests, coins, XP, badges and the stable.
  • Ambassador program: if you apply, we save the usernames you give us (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube), the video links you send, their public view numbers, your promo code and how often it is used in our shop, and your points and vouchers. To count views we read the public video page or YouTube’s public data. Your public username may be shown as an Ambassador in the app.
  • Moderation: moderators can block (ban) accounts that break the rules. A blocked account cannot use the community until it is unblocked; its data is kept. We keep a note of who blocked the account and when.

Family Policy

Hobby Horse Academy Family Policy

At Hobby Horse Academy, we are committed to providing a safe, educational, and enjoyable platform for users of all ages, especially children and families. Our Family Policy ensures compliance with Google's Family Policy requirements while fostering a secure environment for young users and their parents. Below is our detailed policy:

1. Target Audience

Hobby Horse Academy is designed to:

    • Engage children, teenagers, and families interested in hobby horse activities.

    • Provide a safe community for children (with the permission of a parent or guardian), teenagers and adults to learn, interact, and take part in hobby horse competitions and training programs. In the United States, members must be at least 13 years old.

Members under the age of digital consent in their country (13 to 16, see our Community Guidelines) need the permission of a parent or guardian to create an account and take part. Purchases and the Ambassador program need this permission for all members under 18.

2. Appropriate Content

We ensure that all content on our platform is:

    • Age-appropriate: No content involving violence, explicit language, sexual material, or sensitive themes.

    • Educational: Training materials and videos are designed to teach skills in a fun and safe way.

    • Engaging and Family-Friendly: Activities and challenges promote learning, creativity, and collaboration.

Our platform strictly prohibits:

    • Sharing of explicit, violent, or inappropriate user-generated content.

    • Any form of harassment, bullying, or hate speech.

3. Advertisements and Monetization

If ads are displayed on the platform, we ensure:

    • Compliance with Google's Families Ads Program:
        • Promotions are pre-screened and appropriate for children.

        • No ads for alcohol, gambling, or other age-restricted content are permitted.

    • Transparency in Purchases:
        • All purchases (e.g., academy membership) are clearly labeled and require explicit consent from the user or their guardian.

        • No gambling or cash rewards are included. Coins, XP, badges and stable horses are just for fun and have no cash value.

4. User-Generated Content and Moderation

We value community interaction and ensure a secure environment through:

    • Content Moderation:
        • All posts, chats, and other user-generated content are actively monitored using automated filters and human moderators.

        • Inappropriate or harmful content is promptly removed.

    • Reporting Tools:
        • Users can report inappropriate behavior or content using a simple and accessible tool within the app.

    • Blocking Features:
        • Users can block others to prevent unwanted interactions.

5. Parental Controls and Consent

Parental Consent:
Required for members under the age of digital consent in their country (13 to 16, see our Community Guidelines) before account creation, and for members under 18 before purchases. By creating an account or making a purchase, users under 18 confirm that they have obtained parental or guardian consent. This confirmation is given by agreeing to our Terms & Conditions during the account registration process, specifically by checking the acceptance box before account creation.

Restricted Chat Features:
Parents or guardians can request chat restrictions at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Upon request, we can limit a child's chat interactions to approved friends or fully disable chat features.

6. Data Privacy

Hobby Horse Academy complies with all applicable data privacy regulations, including:

    • Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the U.S.

    • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.

We ensure:

    • Minimal data collection for users under 18.

    • No sharing of children’s data with third parties without explicit parental consent.

    • Transparent privacy policies for all users.

7. Educational and Community Focus

Hobby Horse Academy is primarily an educational platform, offering:

    • Interactive courses on hobby horse training and skills development.

    • Community challenges and competitions to foster a sense of teamwork and achievement.

8. Safety and Anti-Bullying Commitment

To create a safe and positive environment, we:

    • Promote kindness and respect in all community interactions.

    • Prohibit harassment, bullying, and inappropriate behavior.

    • Actively enforce these rules with a dedicated moderation team and automated tools.

9. Accessibility

We aim to make our platform accessible to users of all abilities and backgrounds by:

    • Offering multiple languages for courses and interactions.

    • Ensuring the website and app comply with accessibility standards.

10. Regular Updates and Reviews

To maintain compliance and improve the user experience:

    • Our Family Policy is reviewed regularly to align with evolving standards and regulations.

    • Users and parents are notified of significant updates to the policy.

Contact Us

For questions or concerns about our Family Policy, please contact us at: Email: [email protected]

Address: STUDIO MERLIN, Simončičeva ulica 2, 8210 Trebnje, SLOVENIA - EUROPE

We are committed to fostering a safe, family-friendly community and welcome your feedback to enhance our platform.