Breakaway Youth Ranch

READ CAREFULLY AND COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS BEFORE SIGNING. PLEASE FILL OUT ONE FORM PER INDIVIDUAL VISITING THE RANCH AND PLEASE PRINT CAREFULLY.

A. REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANT AND AGREEMENT PURPOSE: I, the following listed individual, hereinafter known as the “PARTICIPANT”, and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor, do hereby voluntarily agree to participate in all STABLE activities including horse riding as a student of this STABLE, and that if I ride a horse provided by THIS STABLE, I will do so for instruction purposes.

B. AGREEMENT SCOPE AND TERRITORY AND DEFINITIONS: This agreement shall be legally binding upon me the registered PARTICIPANT, 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 of Montana and Jefferson County. This agreement is intended to be valid and binding at all times now and in the future when THIS STABLE permits me (directly or indirectly) to enter THIS STABLE’S property, be on THIS STABLE’S property, be near any horse, receiving riding and / or training instruction or guidance from its associates and / or when I ride and /or train and / or am near horses on or off of THIS STABLE’S property. Any disputes by the PARTICIPANT shall be litigated in, and venue shall be Jefferson County. This agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as the law permits. If any clause, phrase or word is in conflict with state law, then that single part is null and void. The term “HORSE” and “EQUINE” herein shall refer to all equine species. The terms “I”, “WE”, “ME”, “MY” , shall herein refer to the above registered participant and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor.
C. INHERENT RISKS / ASSUMPTION OF RISKS: I/WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: Horseback riding is classified as RUGGED ADVENTURE RECREATIONAL SPORT ACTIVITY and that risks, conditions, and dangers are inherent in (meaning an integral part of) horse/equine/animal activities/stable activities, regardless of all feasible safety measures which can be taken, and I agree to assume them. The inherent risks include, but are not limited to any of the following: The propensity of an animal to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, death, or loss to persons on or around the animal; the unpredictability of an equine’s reaction to sounds, sudden movements, unfamiliar objects, persons, or other animals; Hazards, including, but not limited to, surface or subsurface conditions; A collision, encounter and / or confrontation 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, harm, death or loss to the participant or to other persons, including, but not limited to, failing to maintain control over an equine and / or failing to act within the ability of the participant. Horses are 5-15 times larger, 20-40 times more powerful, and 3-4 times faster than a human. If a participant falls from horse to ground it will generally be at a distance of from 3.5 to 5.5 feet, and the impact may result in harm to the participant. Horseback riding is an activity in which one much smaller, weaker, predator animal (the human) tries to impose its will on, and become one unit of movement with, another much larger, stronger prey animal that has a mind of its own (the 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; Spinning around; Changing directions and / or speed at will; Shifting its weight; Bucking, Rearing; Kicking; Biting; and / or Running from danger. I also acknowledge that these are just some of the risks and I agree to assume others not mentioned above. I am not relying on THIS STABLE to list all possible risks for me.
D. CONDITIONS OF NATURE WARNING, UNFAMILIAR AND SUDDEN SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND MOVEMENTS WARNING AND INSPECTION OF PREMISES: I / WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT : The participant may be taking part in a “WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE” that may be hazardous to people. I/WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT the meaning of “WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE” is defined as the pursuit of activity in a natural and / or wild and / or rugged and / or uncultivated area or region, as of forest and / or hills and / or mountains and / or plains and / or wetlands, which would likely be uninhabited by people and inhabited by wild animals of many types and species to include, but not limited to, mammals, reptiles, and insects, which are not tame, may be savage and unpredictable in nature and also wandering at their will. I / WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: THIS STABLE is NOT responsible for total or partial acts, occurrences, or elements of nature and / or sudden and / or unfamiliar sights, sounds and / or sudden movements that can scare a horse, cause it to fall, or react in some other unsafe way. SOME EXAMPLES ARE: Thunder, lightening, 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. I also acknowledge that these are just some of the risks and I agree to assume others not mentioned above. I am not relying on THIS STABLE to list all possible conditions for me. The participant and parent or legal guardian have inspected THIS STABLE’S facilities and are satisfied that all premise conditions are reasonably safe for this participant’s intended purpose, usage and presence upon THIS STABLE’S premises.
E. CARRY-ON OBJECTS WARNING AND SHARP, LOUD NOISES WARNING: I/WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: When approaching, mounting and riding horses, I must not carry loose items that may fall or blow away or flap in the wind or bounce or make sharp or loud, noises, the action of which may scare horses causing them to react in unsafe ways. SOME EXAMPLES ARE: Cameras, cell phones, hats not securely fastened under chin, toys, purses. When near or riding a horse, participants must not make sharp or loud noises, such as whistling or screaming or yelling, the sound of which may scare horses causing them to react in unsafe ways.
F. SADDLE GIRTH LOOSENING WARNING: I / WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: Saddle girths (fastener straps around the horse’s belly) may loosen during riding. Riders must alert the nearest attendant of any girth looseness so action can be taken to avoid saddle slippage and the potential for the rider to fall from the horse.
G. PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR / HELMET WARNING AND OFFERING: I/WE AGREE THAT: I, for myself and on behalf of my child and / or legal ward have been fully warned and advised by THIS STABLE that protective headgear/helmet, which meets or exceeds the quality standards of the SEI CERTIFIED ASTM STANDARD F 1163 Equestrian Helmet, should be worn while riding and / or driving and / or training and / or being near horses, and I understand that the wearing of such headgear/helmet at these times may reduce severity of some of the wearer’s head injuries and possibly prevent the wearer’s death from happening as the result of a fall and other occurrences. I / WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: THIS STABLE has offered me, and my child and / or legal ward if applicable, protective headgear/helmet that meets or exceeds the quality standards of the SEI CERTIFIED ASTM STANDARD F 1163 Equestrian helmet. I am not relying on THIS STABLE and / or its associates to check any headgear/helmet or headgear/helmet strap that I may wear, or to monitor my compliance with these suggestions at any time now or in the future.
H. LIABILITY RELEASE: I/WE AGREE THAT: In consideration of THIS STABLE allowing my participation in this activity, under the terms set forth herein, I, the participant, for myself and on behalf of my child and / or legal ward, heirs, administrators, personal representatives, or assigns, do agree to release, hold harmless, and discharge THIS STABLE, its owners, agents, employees, officers, directors, representatives, assigns, members, owners of premises and trails, affiliated organizations, and insurers, and others acting on their behalf (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “ASSOCIATES”), of and from all claims, demands, causes of action and legal liability, whether the same be known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, due to THIS STABLE’S and / or IT’S ASSOCIATE’S ordinary negligence or legal liability; and I do further agree that except in the event of THIS STABLE’s gross negligence and / or willful and / or want on misconduct, I shall not bring any claims, demands, legal actions and causes of action, against THIS STABLE and IT’S ASSOCIATES as stated above in this clause, for any economic and non-economic losses due to bodily injury and / or death and / or property damage, sustained by me and / or my minor child or legal ward in relation to the premises and operations of THIS STABLE, to include while riding, driving, training, handling, or otherwise being near horses owned by me or owned by THIS STABLE, or in the care, custody or control of THIS STABLE, whether on or off the premises of THIS STABLE, but not limited to being on THIS STABLE’S premises.
I. PHOTO RELEASE: I/WE RELEASE: all rights to photos taken of you or the above mentioned for future use by Breakaway Youth Ranch, it’s staff, founders, and/or Board of Directors in ranch publications, videos, books, newsletters, etc.
J. SAFETY AGREEMENT: I/WE AGREE: to stay out of all barns, paddocks, corrals, tack-rooms, and all other non-office related buildings, while waiting for horse related or other activities, or while waiting for a participant.
K. EQUINE ACTIVITY LIABILITY ACT (EALA) WARNING OR LANGUAGE: I/WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: I have reviewed this state’s EQUINE ACVTIVITY LIABLITY ACT WARNING OR LANGUAGE, a copy of which is attached hereto, and incorporated as if fully set forth herein. INSTRUCTION TO SIGNERS: DO NOT SIGN UNLESS A COPY OF THE EALA WARNING OR LANGUAGE IS ATTACHED TO THIS AGREEMENT.
L. MEDICAL INSURANCE: I/WE AGREE THAT: Should medical treatment be required, I and / or my medical insurance company shall pay for ALL such incurred expenses.

*Legal Guardians do not include babysitters or friends of the family, unless that individual has been named guardian by a legal process, signed notes are not considered “legal.”