Equine Liability Release & Waiver (Adult)

This Equine Liability Release & Waiver ("Release") is made by the undersigned adult participant ("Participant") in favor of [FACILITY NAME], located at [FACILITY ADDRESS] ("Facility"). Participant is 18 years of age or older and is signing on Participant's own behalf. A separate parent/guardian release must be used for any participant under 18 years of age.

1. Participant Information

Participant Full Name: ______________________________

Date of Birth: ______________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________

Phone: ______________________________

Email: ______________________________

Emergency Contact Name and Phone: ______________________________

2. Activities Covered

This Release applies to Participant's presence at the Facility and participation in all equine activities there, including riding, mounted and unmounted lessons, training, handling, grooming, tacking, leading, turnout, hauling, shows, clinics, trail rides, and simply being on the premises around horses (collectively, the "Activities"), whether or not the Activities are supervised.

3. Assumption of Risk

Participant understands that horses are large, powerful, and unpredictable animals and that equine activities are inherently dangerous. Participant knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks of the Activities, both known and unknown, including but not limited to the following:

• A horse bucking, rearing, bolting, spooking, kicking, biting, striking, stumbling, falling, rolling, or lying down;
• Being thrown from, falling from, or being stepped on, crushed, dragged, or run over by a horse;
• The unpredictable reaction of a horse to sounds, movement, unfamiliar objects, other animals, or people;
• Failure, breakage, or slippage of tack, girths, stirrups, reins, saddles, or other equipment;
• Collisions with other horses, riders, vehicles, fences, gates, trees, or fixed objects;
• The actions or negligence of other horses and their riders or handlers;
• Weather, footing, terrain, and surface conditions in arenas, on trails, and in turnout;
• The negligence of the Participant or of other participants; and
• The condition of the land, facilities, or equipment.

4. Release and Waiver of Claims (Including Negligence)

In exchange for being allowed to take part in the Activities, Participant, on behalf of Participant and Participant's heirs, family, assigns, and estate, releases, waives, and discharges the Released Parties from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, and causes of action for any injury, disability, death, or property damage arising out of the Activities, INCLUDING CLAIMS CAUSED BY THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES. Participant does not release claims for the Released Parties' gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, or any liability that cannot be waived under applicable law.

The "Released Parties" are [FACILITY NAME]; its owners, members, officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, instructors, trainers, and volunteers; the owner or owners of the land on which the Facility operates; and the owners of the horses used in the Activities.

Participant intends this Release to be as broad as the law allows. If the law of the governing state requires specific language to release negligence claims — for example, California, which has no Equine Activity Liability Act — Participant expressly waives the protection of California Civil Code section 1542 and any similar law, and agrees that this Release covers claims Participant does not know or suspect to exist at the time of signing.