READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS BEFORE YOU SIGN IT. In consideration of "client" (the Rider) being permitted to ride horses, receive instruction, instruct others in horsemanship, board horses and/or have horses ridden by others on premises owned by Whitney Lagace and Michael Lagace of Higganum, Connecticut and operated by Whitney Ridge Stables, LLC, located at 227 Little City Road, Higganum, Connecticut (the Premises), and in consideration of the Rider being permitted to ride horses owned or boarded by Whitney Ridge Stables, LLC, Whitney Lagace and/or Michael Lagace, all of which activities may occur at locations on and off said Premises, the Rider and his/her parent or guardian (if Rider is under 18 years of age) agree that Whitney Ridge Stables, LLC, Whitney Lagace, Michael Lagace as well as the agents, servants, employees, independent contractors or members of any of them (collectively called the Releasees) shall not be liable for, and agree to waive, discharge, and release them from, any accident, personal or bodily injury, death or property damage that may be sustained by any person or entity, including without limitation the Rider, as a result in whole or in part from above listed activities and/or being on the Premises for any purpose (collectively called the Activities). This Release includes without limitation, any accident, personal or bodily injury, death or property damage arising in whole or in part from the negligence of the Releasees. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian recognize that riding and working around horses can be dangerous due to their size and unpredictable nature. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian also understand that the Premises and other riding locations may contain uneven footing and other hazards caused by tree roots, animal burrows, erosion, low lying tree branches, rocks and other natural and man-made conditions. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian voluntarily assume all risks and dangers associated with said conditions, and release the Releasees from all liability for any accident, personal or bodily injury, death or property damage caused in whole or in part by said conditions including without limitation those resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of the Releasees. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian agree to hold harmless, defend and indemnify the Releasees from any claims, demands, or suits (including without limitation those for attorneys fees) arising in whole or in part from the Activities, including without limitation those arising in whole or in part from the negligence of the Releasees. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian represent that the Rider has medical insurance covering the Rider in the event the Rider is injured, that the Rider will continue to have such medical insurance in effect at all times, and that the Rider and his/her parent or guardian will seek reimbursement for all medical expenses solely from said insurance. The Rider and his/her parent or guardian also represent that, if he/she/they own a horse boarded or ridden on the Premises, on which they have a personal horseowners liability insurance policy and/or a mortality/major medical insurance policy covering the Riders horse, that the Rider will continue to have such insurance policies in effect at all times, and that the Rider and his/her parent or guardian will seek reimbursement for all expenses and losses solely from said insurance policies. This Release is binding on the Rider and his/her parent or guardian and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns whether or not said accident, personal or bodily injury, death or property damage is due in whole or in part to the negligence of the Releasees. The Rider will received a copy of this Release. PROTECTIVE ATTIRE AND NATURE & CHARACTER OF THE HORSE SECTION A. Protective Attire I am advised to purchase and wear a well-fitted helmet, hard hat or similar protective head gear fastened securely under the chin, while working around or riding horses, to prevent injury. I am advised always to wear hard-soled, fully enclosed shoes or boots and socks to protect feet, and long pants to protect legs while working around or riding horses. SECTION B. Nature and character of the horse. While domesticated, well-trained horses are usually obedient, docile and affectionate, it is important to understand that their survival instincts are what have allowed them to survive from prehistoric times to the present day. I am advised that horses are unpredictable by nature, with minds of their own, as are all animals both domestic and wild. The horse is often somewhat high strung or nervous by nature. Horses are extremely strong and powerful physically. Horses are extremely heavy, weighing from 600 to 1,300 pounds on the average. These characteristics deserve a human beings utmost respect. I am advised that when a horse is frightened, angry, under stress or feels threatened his instinct is to jump forward or sideways, to run away from danger at a trot or gallop of speeds up to 35 miles per hour. I am advised that if a horse is frightened or feels threatened, it may kick straight back, sideways in either direction, or even forward with either its front or hind legs with tremendous force. It may also rear up with its front legs, bite with its teeth, throw its head up or from side to side, or run directly over whatever it fears in front of it. I am advised that if a horse is frightened or feels threatened from above or on its back, it may hunch its back and buck in a way that could throw a rider to the ground with tremendous force. A fall from a horse will usually be from a height of 4 to 7 feet. I am advised that a human must always approach a horse calmly, quietly and cautiously, preferably from near its shoulder or lower neck, talking soothingly. I am advised that loud and/or sudden unexpected movements, dropping of objects near a horse, approaching vehicles or animals or people, ill-fitting equipment or physical pain can provoke a domesticated horse to react according to his natural protective instincts indicated above. I am advised that the first signs of anger or fear in a horse are the sudden tensing of the muscles of the body, possibly laying its ears flat back against its head, quickly tossing or raising its head, or sudden snorting through the nostrils accompanied by at least one other warning sign. I am advised that a horse can see independently with each eye, actually looking in one direction with one eye and another direction with the other eye, or it can focus both eyes on one object somewhere in front of it; that usually the direction the ear is pointing will tell an observer where the eye is looking on the same side, and consequently on what the horse is likely concentrating at the moment. I am advised that a horse has two blind areas around it which it cannot see. It cannot see directly behind it, nor what it is eating. This is the reason it is best to approach a horse close to the shoulder, and never to surprise a horse from the rear, or to reach first for the horses mouth. I am advised that while a horse is very sure-footed by nature, it may accidentally step on an object such as a human foot, when it is balancing itself or turning about; also that if a horse is ridden or worked on unstable ground or slippery grass or footing, it could fall down, thus injuring a rider or handler. I am advised that the above paragraphs 1 through 10 are not exclusive or exhaustive, and that individual horses may react to stimuli in unpredictable ways. I have read and full understanding of Sections A and B above | 