Disclosures and Warnings
Serious injury may result from horseback riding.
Riverdale Farms (herein referred to as "The Farm") does not guarantee the safety of its guests.
This is an agreement and covenant to release The Farm, ALL OF THEIR AGENTS, its officers, employees, servants, agents and volunteers from liability to the activity including, but not limited to, care of horses, and activities with horses including jumping, hunting, dressage. eventing, cross country, riding lessons, trial riding and other similar activities. This shall include all guests of the herein signed participant who are on the property.
You are releasing valuable and important rights by signing this document and it is critical you read and understand the terms of this release, by signing this release you are stating that you understand its terms and agree thereto.
Each participant who engages in horseback riding or other equine activities expressly assumes the risk of engaging in said activities and assumes legal responsibility for injury, loss, or damage to person or property resuming from said equestrian activities.
I hereby agree to the following:
1. I agree to read this release and will ask any questions I may have until I certify, by signing this form, that I understand the terms and conditions hereof and I agree to such terms and conditions.
2. In consideration for my being allowed on the property and/or to participate in horseback riding, I, for myself and my heirs, assigns, and personal representatives, do hereby covenant not to sue and do hereby release The Farm and its officers, employees, servants, agents and volunteers from ALL liability and waive any claim for damages arising from any cause whatsoever in that I assume all risks related to all equestrian activities referenced herein or in which I participate at or through The Farm, including property damage.
3. I hereby covenant to indemnify and hold The Farm, and its officers, employees, servants, agents and volunteers, or any other person harmless of damage or injury cause by my horse or myself due to my riding or the action of my horse and as part of any equestrian activity described herein.
4. I understand that equestrian sports are extremely dangerous. There is a high probability that I may fall or otherwise have an accident that will injure me severely. I understand that many people have been killed engaging in equestrian sports. I specifically assume full responsibility for such possibility.
5. I understand that the physical facilities, such as jumps, the tack which I use to ride a horse, and ALL physical facilities used with equestrian sports can contribute to an accident causing injury or death. I covenant that I will inspect to my full satisfaction all such facilities and I will assume all responsibility for patent and latent defects of other involvements of such physical facilities in any accident causing injury or death. I covenant that I am capable and competent to conduct an inspection of the physical facilities.
6. I understand horses, even the most tame, are inherently dangerous as they shy, buck, or otherwise act unpredictably in a manner which may cause accidents, injury, and death. I covenant that I am competent to ride horses in the equestrian sport in which I am engaging and I assume full and total responsibility for the horse I am riding, bystanders, other horses and other riders.
7. I understand that if a lawsuit is taken against The Farm, and its officers, employees, servants, agents and volunteers and prevail in that lawsuit that I will pay all attorney fees, court costs, and other litigation costs incurred by The Farm its officers, employees, servants, agents and volunteers, and in defending such a lawsuit.
A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR RISKS OF ENGAGING IN HORSEBACK RIDING
Horseback riding is an inherently dangerous activity involving significant elements of risk including, but not limited to, serious bodily injury, permanent trauma, paralysis and even death. Horses, irrespective of their previous behavior or characteristics, may act or react unpredictably based upon instinct, fright, or lack of proper control by the rider. I understand that the following describes some, but not all, of the risk, dangers or conditions inherent in horseback riding: (1) the propensity of a horse to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, or death to persons around them; (2) the unpredictability of a horse’s reaction to sounds, sudden movements, and unfamiliar objects, persons, other animals, or other things; (3) certain hazards such as surface and subsurface conditions; (4) collisions with other horses or objects including the ground, fences, gates, trees, or other obstacles; (5) a falling horse landing on its rider; (6) being stepped on, kicked, trampled or bitten by a horse; (7) hanging up or otherwise becoming entangled in the stirrups, reins, or other gear; (8) the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, such as failing to maintain control over the animal or not acting within his or her ability.
B. PARTICIPANTS RESPONSIBILITY
I understand that I have the sole responsibility for knowing the range of my own ability to manage, care for, and control a particular horse, and I understand that it is my duty to act within the limits of my own ability to maintain reasonable control of the particular horse or horses at all times, to head all posted warning to ride in an areas or in facilities designated by the horseman, and to refrain from acting in a manner that may cause or contribute to the injury of anyone. I am physically and mentally capable of participating in horseback riding. I will not use or be under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs while participating in horseback riding.
C. EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY
I expressly assume the risk and legal responsibility for injury, loss, or damage to me or my property that result from participation in horseback riding or any other activity offered by The Farm. I agree to assume full responsibility for the risks identified herein as well as those risks not specifically identified. I expressly assume full responsibility for property damage and personal injury or accidents of every type and degree including, but not limited to, sprains, torn muscles and/or ligaments, fractured or broken bones, eye damage, cuts, scrapes, contusions, paralysis, neck and/or spinal injuries, shock, and death, and any resulting expenses.
D. AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
I hereby authorize any medical treatment deemed necessary in the event of any injury to me while participating in horseback riding. I either have appropriate insurance or, in its absence, agree to pay all costs for medical services as may be incurred on my behalf.
E. PROTECTIVE GEAR OFFERING
Protective headgear shall be worn by all riders without exception and I agree to wear protective headgear. In addition to protective headgear, PROTECTIVE VESTS are REQUIRED for ALL participants on the Cross Country Course along with MEDICAL ARM BANDS without exception and I agree to wear protective vests and medical arm bands.
If any provision of this agreement is found to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdictions or by an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators, all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. I HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS STATED HEREIN AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON ME (AND THE MINOR CHILD OR CHILDREN WHOM I HAVE CUSTODY) AND OUR HEIRS, ASSIGNS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND ESTATES.