Arizona Equine Activity Statute

ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES
TITLE 12. COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 5. LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS
ARTICLE 3. PERSONAL ACTIONS

§ 12 553. Limited liability of equine owners and owners of equine facilities;  exception;  definitions

 A. An equine owner or an agent of an equine owner who regardless of consideration allows another person to take control of an equine is not liable for an injury to or the death of the person if:

 1. The person has taken control of the equine from the owner or agent when the injury or death occurs.

 2. The person or the parent or legal guardian of the person if the person is under eighteen years of age has signed a release before taking control of the equine.

 3. The owner or agent has properly installed suitable tack or equipment or the person has personally tacked the equine with tack the person owned, leased or borrowed.  If the person has personally tacked the equine, the person assumes full responsibility for the suitability, installation and condition of the tack.

 4. The owner or agent assigns the person to a suitable equine based on a reasonable interpretation of the person's representation of his skills, health and experience with and knowledge of equines.

 B. Subsection A does not apply to an equine owner or agent of the equine owner who is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

 C. An owner, lessor or agent of any riding stable, rodeo ground, training or boarding stable or other private property that is used by a rider or handler of an equine with or without the owner's permission is not liable for injury to or death of the equine or the rider or handler.

 D. Subsection C does not apply to an owner, lessor or agent of any riding stable, rodeo ground, training or boarding stable or other private property that is used by a rider or handler of an equine if either of the following applies:

 1. The owner, lessor or agent knows or should know that a hazardous condition exists and the owner, lessor or agent fails to disclose the hazardous condition to a rider or handler of an equine.

 2. The owner, lessor or agent is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

 E. As used in this section:

 1. "Equine" means a horse, pony, mule, donkey or ass.

 2. "Release" means a document that a person signs before taking control of an equine from the owner or owner's agent and that acknowledges that the person is aware of the inherent risks associated with equine activities, is willing and able to accept full responsibility for his own safety and welfare and releases the equine owner or agent from liability unless the equine owner or agent is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

Enacted in 1994; Subsections C and D added in 1998.

Reviewed by AAHS in March 2001.

Our Pet Policy

All of us at Queen Valley Mule Ranch love Mules, donkeys horses, dogs, cats, and other companion animals—and we understand why many people like to take their pets with them when they travel.  Because of the size of Queen Valley Mule Ranch, the presence of mules and donkeys, the magnitude of the training environment and restrictions imposed by our insurance company, dogs and other companion animals cannot be permitted at Queen Valley Mule Ranch.  Attendees will not be permitted to bring dogs or other pets into the ranch.  We strongly encourage you to leave your pet at home and make other arrangements for your pet's care rather than keeping it in your vehicle in the parking lot at the ranch.

Note:  Queen Valley Mule Ranch will comply with federal, state, and local laws pertaining to service dogs and will grant access for these animals in accordance with all applicable laws.

If you want to visit with us about this please contact us at steve@muleranch.com.

This policy may apply to our clinics nationwide please contact each host for more information.