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Pennsylvania
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Annotated Currentness. Title 4 P.S. Amusements. Chapter 13.
Equine Activity.
Citation: PA ST 4 P.S. § 601 - 606
Citation: 4 P.S. § 601 - 606
Summary: These statutes comprise Pennsylvania's Equine Activity
Act, which sent into effect on February 21, 2006. Under the
law, liability for negligence shall only be barred where knowing
voluntary assumption of risk is proven in a particular case.
However, the Act provides immunity only where a sign that
states, "You assume the risk of equine activities pursuant
to Pennsylvania law," is conspicuously posted on the
premises in two or more locations.
Statute in Full:
§ 601. Scope
This act shall apply to an individual, group, club or business
entity that sponsors, organizes, conducts or provides the
facilities for an equine activity as defined in this act.
§ 602. Immunity
(a) Assumption of risk.--As to those within the scope of this
act, liability for negligence shall only be barred where the
doctrine of knowing voluntary assumption of risk is proven
with respect to damages due to injuries or death to an adult
participant resulting from equine activities.
(b) Equine activities.--For the purposes of this act, immunity
shall apply where an equine is utilized in the following manner:
(1) Equine training, teaching, riding instruction, shows,
fairs, parades, competitions or performances which involve
breeds of equine participating in an activity. This paragraph
shall include, but not be limited to, dressage, hunter and
jumper shows, Grand Prix jumping, three-day eventing, combined
training, rodeos, reining, cutting, team penning and sorting,
driving, pulling, barrel racing, steeplechasing, English and
Western performance riding and endurance and nonendurance
trail riding. This paragraph shall also include Western games,
gymkhana, hunting, packing, therapeutic riding and driving
and recreational riding.
(2) Equine or rider and driver training, teaching, instruction
or evaluation. This paragraph includes clinics, seminars and
demonstrations.
(3) Boarding equines, including normal daily care.
(4) Breeding equines, whether by live cover or artificial
insemination.
(5) Inspecting, riding or evaluating an equine belonging to
another by a purchaser or agent, whether or not the owner
of the equine has received anything of value for the use of
the equine or is permitting a prospective purchaser or a purchaser's
agent to ride, drive, inspect or evaluate the equine.
(6) Recreational rides or drives which involve riding or other
activity involving the use of an equine.
(7) Placing, removing or replacing of horseshoes or the trimming
of an equine's hooves.
(8) Leading, handling or grooming of an equine.
§ 603. Signing
This act shall provide immunity only where signing is conspicuously
posted on the premises on a sign at least three feet by two
feet, in two or more locations, which states the following:
You assume the risk of equine activities pursuant to Pennsylvania
law.
§ 604. Equine propensity
Evidence of viciousness of the equine shall not be required
before a possessor of an equine shall be subject to liability
for harm.
§ 605. Effect on other laws
This act shall not affect common law or any statute for the
protection of the user of the equine. In no event shall this
act apply to any matter involving a motor vehicle covered
by 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to financial responsibility)
or a successor act or to any non-equine-related activity or
entity.
§ 606. Construction
The immunity provided for by this act shall be narrowly construed.
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