Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds (HART), hereinafter referred to as "This Stable".

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING.  Serious injury may results from your participation in equine activity.  This Stable does not guarantee youir safety.  This form must be completed by and for each volunteer.


Name and address

1. REGISTRATION OF VOLUNTEER AND AGREEMENT PURPOSE:  I, the following listed individual hereinafter known as The Volunteer, and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor, do hereby voluntarily request and agree to participate in equine activities on This Stable’s premises. As a volunteer these activities include but are not limited to – stall cleaning, water bucket/trough cleaning, cleaning cross tie areas and other common areas, walking horses to/from the barn, grooming horses, and providing hay to the horses in their stalls and pastures.



HART VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT & LIABILITY RELEASE

 

Agreement scope and territory and definitions: This agreement shall be legally binding upon me the registered Volunteer, 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 Brevard County, Florida. 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 I, ME, MY, shall herein refer to the above registered Volunteer and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor.

WARNING

Under Florida law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from inherent risks of equine activities.

  1. Activity risk classification: I understand that equine activity, which includes horse handling and 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 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 hospital days and resulting in more lasting residual effects than injuries in other activities.

  1. Nature of equine activities: I understand that no 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 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.

  2. Nature of equine activities: I understand that no 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 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. 

  3. Conditions of Nature: This Stable is NOT responsible for total or partial acts, occurrences, or elements of nature that can scare a horse, cause it to spook or react in some other unsafe way. Some examples are: thunder, lightning, rain, wind, wild and domestic animals, insects, reptiles, which may walk, run, fly near, bite and/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.
  4. Protective Headgear Warning: The Volunteer, age 18 and older, is hereby warned by This Stable that all horse handlers/riders should wear properly fitted and secured protective headgear (equestrian riding helmet), and that wearing of such headgear while working around horses, may prevent or reduce severity of some head injuries and may even prevent death happening as a result of a fall or other occurrence. All participants  under the age of 18 will be required to wear a riding helmet when leading, grooming, riding, or otherwise being near horses.
  5. Safety Rules: 

    • NO DOGS permitted on property without prior approval and always on a leash.

    • SHOES-closed toed shoes or boots must be worn in the barn, near or when riding horses

    • HELMETS-everyone must wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet while mounted and/or in the round pen.
    • MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING in designated areas only, not in or near barn.

    • RIDING is not allowed in the aisles of the barn.

    • LEAD HORSES only at a walk towards barn, horses can get frisky and kick out or pull away from the handler near the barn.
    • HANDLING HORSES-Never handle, touch or feed horses without permission from its owner-this includes all school and rescue horses.
    • CROSS TIES-only use cross ties if they are secured to breakable twine AND DO NOT LEAVE HORSES UNATTENDED WHILE CROSS TIED.
    • GRAZING HORSES must be on lead and supervised at all times.
    • STALLS-never clean stall with a horse inside the stall, and do not enter stall with a horse without prior permission from owner or staff member.

    • RUNNING, playing, and/or loud noises in or around the barn is not allowed.
    • CHILDREN under 13 years old must be supervised by a parent / adult guardian.
    • WILDLIFE AND SNAKES-leave them alone, report to staff member, remember they are wild!
    • WEATHER can be changeable, be prepared. It may be raining at your house, but not at the barn, if in doubt, please call.
    • SEVERE WEATHER - Take proper precautions when severe weather is in the area.
    • LIABILITY FORMS-everyone handling or riding horses MUST have a current signed Liability Form.

    • VISITORS must be accompanied by an adult in the barn, or have prior permission.

    • VISITORS - If you are bringing a guest they must sign a liability release and be accompanied by you at all times.

    • TOYS must be kept in play area only or they will be thrown away.
    • FUN!!! Please use common sense and report any concerns to a staff member, and enjoy being at Hidden Acres. Our rules are designed so we can have fun safely!

  6. Liability release: In consideration of This Stable allowing my participation in this activity, under the terms set forth herein, I, The Volunteer, and the parent or guardian thereof if a minor, do agree to hold harmless and release This Stable, its owners, agents, employees, officers, members, premises owners, insurers, and affiliated organizations from legal liability due to This Stable’s ordinary negligence; and I do further agree that except in the event of This Stable’s gross and willful negligence, I shall bring no claims, demands, actions and causes of action, and/or litigation, against This Stable and its associates as stated above in this clause for any economic and non-economic losses due to bodily injury, death, property damage, sustained by the and/or my minor child or legal ward in relation to the premises and operations of This Stable, to include while riding, handling, or otherwise being near horses owned by or in the care, custody and control of This Stable.

I,  HAVE READ AND DO UNDERSTAND THIS VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT AND LIABILITY RELEASE.  I UNDERSTAND THAT BY SELECTING "I AGREE" BELOW, I AM HEREBY AFFIXING MY SIGNATURE TO THIS DOCUMENT.