B. AGREEMENT SCOPE AND TERRITORY AND DEFINITIONS This agreement shall be legally binding upon me the registered student, and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor, my heirs, estate, assigns, including all minor children, and personal representatives; and it shall be interpreted according to the laws of the state and county of THIS STABLE'S physical location. Any disputes by the rider shall be litigated in, and venue shall be the county in which THIS STABLE is physically located. If any clause, phrase, or word is in conflict with state law, then that single part is null and void. The term "HORSE" herein shall refer to all equine species. The term "HORSEBACK RIDING" herein shall refer to riding or otherwise handling of horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, whether from the ground or mounted. The terms "STUDENT and/or RIDER" shall herein refer to a person who rides a horse mounted or otherwise handles or comes near a horse from the ground. The terms "I", "ME", "MY" shall herein refer to the above registered student rider and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor.
C. ACTIVITY RISK CLASSIFICATION I UNDERSTAND THAT: Horseback riding is classified as RUGGED ADVENTURE RECREATIONAL SPORT ACTIVITY, and that there are numerous obvious and non- obvious inherent risks always present in such activity despite all safety precautions. According to NEISS (National Electronic Injury Surveillance Systems of United States Consumer Products) horse activities rank approximately 64th among the activities of people relative to injuries that result in a stay at U.S. hospitals. Related injuries can be severe requiring more than hospital days and resulting in more lasting residual effects than injuries in other activities.
D. NATURE OF THIS STABLE'S SCHOOL HORSES I UNDERSTAND THAT: THIS STABLE chooses its school horses for their calm dispositions and sound basic training as is required for use for STUDENT RIDERS, and THIS STABLE follows a rigid safety program. Yet, no riding horse is a completely safe horse. Horses are 5 to 15 times larger, 20 to 40 times more powerful, and 3 to 4 times faster than a human. If a rider falls from horse to ground it will generally be a distance of from 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet, and the impact may result in injury to the rider. Horseback riding is the only sport where one much smaller, weaker predator animal (human) tries to impose its will on, and become one unit of movement with, another much larger, stronger prey animal with a mind of its own (horse) and each has a limited understanding of the other. If a horse is frightened or provoked it may divert from its training and act according to its natural survival instincts which may include, but are not limited to: Stopping short; Changing directions or speed at will; Shifting its weight; Bucking; Rearing; Kicking; Biting; or Running from danger.
E. RIDER RESPONSIBILITY I UNDERSTAND THAT: Upon mounting a horse and taking up the reins the rider is in primary control of the horse. The rider's safety largely depends upon his/her ability to carry out simple instructions, and his/her ability to remain balanced aboard the moving animal. I agree that the rider shall be responsible for his/her own safety, including that of an unborn child, if the rider is pregnant. Pregnant women should ride horses only under the advice of their physician. THIS STABLE advises pregnant women not to ride horses.
F. CONDITIONS OF NATURE AND INSPECTION OF PREMISES I UNDERSTAND THAT: THIS STABLE is NOT responsible for total or partial acts, occurrences, or elements of nature that can scare a horse, cause it to fall, or react in some other unsafe way. SOME EXAMPLES ARE: Thunder, lightning, rain, wind, wild and domestic animals, insects, reptiles, which may walk, run, or fly near, or bite or sting a horse or person; and irregular footing on out-of-door groomed or wild land which is subject to constant change in condition according to weather, temperature, and natural and man-made changes in landscape. The rider and parent or legal guardian have inspected THIS STABLE'S facilities and are satisfied that all premise conditions are reasonably safe for rider's intended purpose, usage and presence upon THIS STABLE'S PREMISES.
G. SADDLE GIRTHS/NATURAL LOOSENING I UNDERSTAND THAT: Saddle girths (saddle fasteners around horse's belly) may loosen during a ride. If a rider notices this he/she must alert the riding instructor as quickly as possible so action can be taken to avoid slippage of saddle and a potential fall from the animal.