Participant Policies

1. Participants must wear close-toed shoes (boots preferred). Long pants are recommended if riding. Anyone wearing inappropriate clothing with obscene or offensive language or graphics will be asked to cover up. Loose or dangling jewelry such as earrings, necklaces or bracelets are not recommended and can be a safety issue due to the nature of a working farm or ranch.

2. Weather: In the case of rain, the Instructor will monitor the forecast and determine whether or not lessons will be canceled. In the case of severe weather such as extreme heat, thunderstorms, hurricanes or very windy conditions, lessons are to be canceled at the discretion of the Instructor. Lessons will also be canceled if the temperature high for the day is below 40 degrees. These lessons will not be made up.

3. Cancellations: Participants must give a minimum of 4 hours notice if they need to cancel a lesson. More time is better so we can alert the volunteers. After three lessons are missed in a session without appropriate notice, that participant will be asked to sit out of the rest of a session. *Please notify the Program Director of any conflicts with your participant's scheduled lesson time at the beginning of the Session.

4. Late Arrival: The lesson begins promptly at the designated time and will not be extended for late arrival.

5. Parents and siblings should remain on property for the duration of the lesson.

6. Confidentiality: I understand that information about the participant (diagnosis, goals, progress notes, etc will remain confidential unless the appropriate *Release Of Information Form is signed. (*This form may be obtained upon request Our volunteers are asked to sign a confidentiality policy regarding participants and what happens in lessons. By signing this form, I also agree to keep information about other BSA students confidential and if I am the parent/guardian, I will encourage the participant to do the same.

Please sign below saying that you have read the above participant policies and understand them.

OR

As a PATH International. program we follow the PATH standards in all activities at Blue Sky Acres (BSA)

Each applying participant will be assessed by an instructor to determine whether they qualify for our program. Based on the following criteria an instructor has the right to disapprove an applicant:

1. Is under the age of 6 years old.

2. If a doctor advises against equine activities then a medical release and/or medical history may be requested by the instructor at any time.

3. If the applicant falls under the PATH list of contraindications. (List can be obtained upon request)

Discharge of Participants If, at any point in the participant's enrollment at Blue Skies, the instructor believes that Equine Assisted Activities are no longer applicable to the participant, the instructor has the right to discharge them. The following are some of the factors that may lead to being considered ineligible:

1. Participant no longer benefits from Equine Assisted Activities.

2. The participant's doctor advises against any equine activities.

3. If the instructor believes the safety of the participant, horse, or volunteers is at risk.

By signing below, you acknowledge that you have read and understand all of the above policies.

OR

1) Blue Sky Acres to use and reproduce any photograph or image in its print, online and video publications of me/my child/my ward for distribution to the public for promotional printed materials, educational activities or for any other use for the benefit of the program;

2) to release Blue Sky Acres, its employees and any outside parties from all liabilities or claims that I might assert in connection with the above-described activities and

3) to waive any right to inspect, approve or receive compensation for any materials or communications, including photographs, videotapes, DVDs, website images or written materials, incorporating photos/images of me/my child/my ward.

Please sign below confirming your choice:

In the event that emergency medical aid/treatment is required due to illness or injury during the process of receiving services, or while being on the property of the agency, I authorize Blue Sky Acres to secure and retain medical treatment and transportation if needed and release client records upon request to the authorized individual or agency involved in the medical emergency treatment.

Consent Plan

Signing this gives consent to an x-ray, surgery, hospitalization, medication and any treatment procedure deemed "life saving" by the physician. This provision will only be invoked if the person below is unable to be reached.

*This document waives important legal rights. Read it carefully before signing.

I AGREE that I /my child /my ward choose to participate voluntarily in Blue Sky Acres activities as a rider, handler or spectator. I am fully aware and acknowledge that horse sports and Blue Sky Acres activities involve inherent dangerous risks of accident, loss, and serious bodily injury including, but not limited to, broken bones, head injuries, trauma, pain, suffering or death ("Harm" | fully understand that this release covers, but is not limited to, inherent risks of an equine activity, which mean a danger, or condition that is an integral part of an equine activity, including but not limited to, any of the following:

• The propensity of an equine to behave in ways that may result in injury, death, or loss to persons on or around the equine;
• The unpredictability of an equine's reaction to sounds, sudden movement, unfamiliar objects, persons, or other animals;
• Hazards, including, but not limited to, surface or subsurface conditions;
• A collision with another equine, another animal, a person, or an object;
• The potential of an equine activity participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury, death, or loss to the person of the participant or to other persons, including but not limited to, failing to maintain control over an equine or failing to act within the ability of the participant.

I AGREE that I /my child/ my ward would like to participate in the Blue Sky Acres program. I acknowledge the risks and potential risks of horse activities in and around a facility where horses are kept and farm machinery operated. However, I feel that the possible benefits to me/ my child/ my ward are greater than the risk assumed. I hereby, intending to be legally bound for myself, my heirs and assigns, executors or administrators waive and release forever all claims for damages against Blue Sky Acres, its Board of Directors, instructors, therapists, aides, volunteers, employees, and affiliated organizations for any and all injuries and/or losses I may sustain while participating in the Blue Sky Acres programs including activities occurring outside of the scope of the program itself, including, but not limited to transportation, caregiving, horse exercising etc. This release includes without limitation the risk of negligent instruction and supervision.

By signing below, I ACKNOWLEDGE that I enter into this release after having read the same, and place my signature hereto of my own free voluntary act and deed.

By signing below, I represent to Blue Sky Acres that I fully understand the contents of this document, that I do not need any further explanation, and | waive any further explanation.

I AGREE to assume all risks of injury, harm, death and property damage that may result to me and/or my child/my ward. I agree to bear any loss myself. | also specifically agree to the GEORGIA LIABILITY LAW regarding equine / farm animal activity liability: Under Georgia Law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from an inherent risk of equine activity, chapter 12, Title 4 of the official code of Georgia annotated.

ACCEPTED BY: (if under the age of 18 years old, there must be a legal guardian signature below): 

Please fill out this page which will be shared with our instructors & volunteers to get to know a little about you.