Rules of Play

1. Members must be at least 13yrs old or have written parental consent before they are allowed to join.

2. Each member may only have one(1) account on SS, double playing and multiple accounts will result in seizure of all assets, horses and deletion of your accounts.

3. Religious, political, and anti-slaughter debates are strictly prohibited. We want to keep our forums peaceful, so please avoid topics that could cause conflict with other members.

4. Crude and foul language is strictly prohibited, violators will be banned from SS for life.

5. All members are expected to respect each other and themselves. Anyone found harassing other members will be banned. Depending on the seriousness of harassment, violators could be reported.

6. Above all we want our members to have fun and enjoy themselves. Feel free to use your imagination and express yourselves in all parts of SS.

Guidelines

Member's are welcome to purchase land and facilities whenever they want, they are also welcome to take any of the exams through the University.

Finances

In real life we all need money to live, whether it be for necessities, for frivolous wants, hobbies, or our horses! Thus all members of SS have their own private account here in the bank where they can keep track of all their personal and business related finances. If you are a member but don't have an account please go to the create account page and fill out the necessary information.


All members begin with $250,000.00 and receive a paycheck every two weeks based on their status in the game.

If you have any problems or see anything out of the ordinary with your account please let me know by emailing me at dressagediva@zoho.com and I will look into the issue as soon as I can!

Money Matters

All transactions take place through the EquiBank, SS semi-automated banking system. An initial amount will be deposited in your bank account during activation. Players can login to check their accounts and manage their finances at any time.

Players also get a fixed salary every two weeks. The value of this salary is determined by the number of posts each member has made, and payments are made every second Friday.

Players are required to pay taxes on facilities and for each breeding performed. Taxes on facilities are determined by the size of facility, whether or not the player has a loan. Taxes on breeding are based on a sliding scale. Players may receive a 5% discount on their taxes by passing the Barn Manager and/or Breeder exams.

Breeding taxes apply every time a player breeds a foal. They come to $750.00 per breeding.

Stable taxes are paid when your stable is approved, and once a year thereafter (jan 1st). They are calculated to be 5% of your facilities' worth.

Tests

Passing tests gives players advantages in game play. Each test must be passed with a 80% score.

Passing the breeders test lowers the breeding tax to 5%.

Passing the barn manager test exempts players from the stables tax.

Passing the vet test allows players to perform veterinary services on their own stock.

Passing the trainers test qualifies players to train the horses of other members and charge them for this service.

Credits

There are three kinds of credits in SS: horse credits, activity points and adoption.

Additional credits can be earned through participation in the AMI program.

Horse credits can be used to create or import horses, these credits can also be traded in for adoption credits at a ratio of three adoption credits per horse or dog credit.


Adoption credits are used to adopt animals from the Humane Society.

Activity points are handed out randomly to all members for their participation on the forums. At the end of each month the player with the most points will be rewarded in cash. For more info visit the rules page on the main website.

Time And Aging

SS operates on real time, which means one year in real life equals one year in SS.

All animals age one year on January 1st.

All horses are automatically expire at the age of 30, Players may choose to for this to happen sooner by selecting the 'Retire' option on the animal's EUID. This decision cannot be reversed.

Horses may be speed aged once as long their new birth year does not conflict with their parent's ages or the birth year(s) of other offspring. Speed aging cannot be reversed.

Establishments

The word "establishment" is a general term used in SS to describe stables, businesses, registries and associations. All players are encouraged to create their own establishments at any time during game play. Each type of establishment has its own guidelines and must to be approved before being listed in the game's directory.




Stables

Stables are the living spaces for the horses of SS. There are two kinds; private and public or boarding. Some may even offer mini-barns for rent to other players.

Players are required to purchase facilities for stables. Just like in real life, facilities are expensive. You will either have to learn how to conserve your money or take out a loan with the EquiBank.

Stables must have a working website that meets SS guidelines for websites as well as include a listing of current facilities and of current stock.



Associations & Registries

Associations, registries and clubs are establishments that offer activities to players who share a common interest. They may be breed, type, or discipline specific. Association may be opened at any time, provided there is suitable interest, and must hold semi-regular shows.

Associations, registries and clubs must be unique to their specific interest and no two may share the same interest.

Associations, registries and clubs may have their own national championships, point systems, titles and awards.



Shops & Businesses

Businesses are establishments in which members offer goods or services for a fee, like a tack store or a design service.

Facilities for stables may be purchased from the Land Trust Co. Facilities may be sold back to the Land Trust Co. for a portion of their original cost, or they can be sold to other members of WES for a reasonable price. This being said, all shops and businesses MUST have their own bank accounts within the EquiBank.



*For information on how to open an establishment, go to the Establishment forum and read the 'opening an establishment' thread.

Managing Horses

All animals must be registered with Equine Universal Identification (EUID) to exist. Registration numbers must be available before an animal can be sold or bred.

Animals may not share a name with a real life horse or dog, unless the real life animal is owned by a player. No two animals in SS may share a name. If necessary, names may be changed and the animal in question may retain his or her records.

SS encourages players to provide their animals with real life lineage.

All animals must reside at an approved facility within two weeks of creation, importation or being bred. Care should be provided to animals on a regular basis. This includes providing feed, veterinary care and visits to the farrier if applicable.

Importing & Exporting

1. Importing animals is different than creating them in that imported animals must exist in another game, or in all-sim, prior to being brought into SS. In order to be imported, there must be proof that said animal already exists and the animal must meet the same requirements as a created animal. Upon importation, animals must have their show records converted to SS point scale.

2. Exporting is the removal of an animal from SS. Exporting may only be performed by the current owner, and requires the written permission of the original owner. Expectations will be made on a case by case basis.

Players may not import animals into the game for sale purposes. If a player wishes to sell an animal outside of SS to another player the animal must be sold outside the confines of the game and then imported by his new owner. Animals may be exported for sale if they meet the requirements for exportation.

Breeding Your Animals

1. Only the owner of a mare may enact a breeding. This player is also responsible for paying the breeding tax.

2. Mares must be at least three years old to be bred.

3. A mare can only have one foal for each year. The one exception to this rule is embryo transfer. Since a surrogate dam is being used, the foal may have the same birth year as another foal from the same dam. Donor mares may not donate more than three times per year.

4. A stallion can not be bred until he is at least two years of age. Foals resulting from a breeding to a stallion must be at least two years younger than the sire.

5. There is a one week (7 days) gestation period in SS

Auctions, Sales & Purchasing

Every animal must have an EUID number to be bought or sold. If a player buys an unregistered animal, they will not be able to use it in the game unless he or she has the appropriate credits available. It is the buyer's responsibility to make the animal is registered. To verify an animal's status, simply search the EUID.

Once an animal is sold, the seller has two weeks to transfer it to the new owner. Only sellers can transfer animals.

Once a check is cashed for the sale of a horse, the original owner has no claim to the horse. Sales contracts are welcome, and most members will abide by them out of common courtesy, but they are not binding within WES. Imported animals will be held to any contracts entered in outside of SS.

General Website guidelines

Any website affiliated with SS must display a visible disclaimer on each page. The disclaimer must indicate that the website is part of a simulated (fake, pretend) game. A link back to SS is encouraged but not required. Websites submitted for approval should be polished and professional. Content should be proofread for spelling and grammatical errors and all images and links must be working.

Websites hosted on Ex page, Myspace, Live Journal or on a forum-based site will not be approved!
We suggest a freehost like Geocities, Freewebs, Newsites, Webnodes, Ucoz, or Freeservers.

Using Images & Photographs

The use of photographs to depict sim animals is encouraged if permission to use the image has been obtained from the appropriate source. Credit should be displayed below the photograph or on a separate acknowledgments page.

If a player neglects to obtain permission or provide credit for an image, SS will not be held responsible for the consequences of violating this rule.

Any player may use the same photos as another member if they wish, provided permission has been granted to both members, however this is not recommended as it leads to confusion.

Players are permitted to sell photographs to each other only if they hold the proper copyright.

Returning To SS

Players are welcome to return to SS provided they left the game in good standing. All players, aside from those listed below, must begin as again as if they were a new player upon returning. Rejoining players may not take back animals they gave away before leaving.

Players in bad standing or who have been expelled will not be permitted to return to the game except under certain circumstances and will be subject to a zero tolerance policy.