The undersigned (hereinafter referred to as "Rider"), being of legal age or signing in conjunction with a parent or legal guardian if not of legal age, desires to participate in cross-country horseback riding, competitive trail riding, polo OR other related equine activities with Great Meadow Foundation 501(c)(3) not for profit., (“GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION”) and being fully aware of the risk of injury and dangers inherent in the riding and handling of horses, and the EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS NATURE of riding cross-country over steep and rough terrain, hereby elects voluntarily to participate in said activities, and does hereby willingly enter into this Release, Waiver & Indemnity Agreement.
THEREFORE, In consideration of being permitted to participate in any equine activity at GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION, RIDER knowingly and expressly waives RIDER’S rights to sue GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION, it’s officers, directors, volunteers, members, employees, agents, successors, and heirs and assigns, for any injury, death, loss, or damage caused to RIDER or to RIDER’S property, and RIDER agrees to assume all risks inherent in riding or otherwise coming in contact with horses, including, without limitation, the risks of injury, death, loss, or damage to rider or to rider’s property. RIDER acknowledges that RIDER has been given notice of the risks inherent in and intrinsic dangers of equine activities, including (i) the propensity of an equine to behave in dangerous ways which may result in injury, harm, or death to persons on or around them; (ii) the unpredictability of an equine’s reaction to such things as sounds, sudden movement, unfamiliar objects, persons, or other animals; (iii) certain hazards such as surface and subsurface conditions; (iv) collisions with other animals or objects; and (v) the potential of a participant acting in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, such as failing to maintain control over the equine or not acting within the participants ability, and RIDER expressly agrees to assume all such risks and waives all rights to sue for injuries caused by such risks. This waiver and express assumption of risks shall specifically apply to RIDER and any and all minor children and/or wards of RIDER, in accordance with the terms of the code of Virginia, title 3.2, chapter 62 – equine activity liability, and shall be construed to comply with all exculpatory terms of the code of Virginia, title 3.2, chapter 62 – equine activity liability.
If RIDER is a minor or otherwise under legal disability, this agreement shall be signed by RIDER’S parent or legal guardian. By signing, the parent or legal guardian agrees (i) to waive the parent’s, guardian’s, and RIDER’S rights to sue the parties named in the immediately preceding paragraph; (ii) to assume, on behalf of the parent, guardian, and rider the risks set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, in addition to all the other risks of riding or otherwise coming into contact with horses; and (iii) to indemnify and hold harmless GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION, it’s officers, directors, volunteers, members, employees, agents, successors, and heirs, and assigns from any loss, claim, suit, or judgement resulting from any injury, death, loss, or damage sustained or claimed by RIDER (or RIDER’S personal representative), and further to indemnify GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION, it’s officers, directors, volunteers, members, employees, agents, successors, and heirs, and assigns from any and all costs of defending such claims, including attorney’s fees.
It is expressly agreed by RIDER and any parent or guardian whose signature appears on this document that this release, waiver and indemnity agreement shall be governed and construed as being sufficient to satisfy the assumption of risk and waiver requirements necessary to relieve equine activity sponsors and equine professionals from liability under the code of Virginia, title 3.2, chapter 62 – equine activity liability, and that GREAT MEADOW FOUNDATION is covered by the provisions of title 3.2 chapter 62 of the code of Virginia.
This release, waiver, and indemnity agreement shall be governed and construed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of where any injury or loss shall occur. In the event that any portion of this release, waiver, and indemnity agreement shall be declared unenforceable, such declaration shall not affect the remaining terms of this document, which shall survive intact.
RIDER must wear protective headgear at all times while riding or otherwise coming in contact with horses, and expressly assumes the risk of injury resulting from failure to do so and/or from selecting headgear which does not adequately protect against injury.
