For Riders that are self-funded. This includes riders who will be applying for Jumpstart and Kidsport grants.

This allows time for the riders to settle in, use the washroom if needed, and get their safety equipment on.

If you are unable to attend a class, it is important that you call us at least 2 hours before your scheduled class time so that we can cancel our dedicated volunteers. Many of our volunteers live a considerable distance from the barn and travel at their own expense to attend your class. Our volunteers give us their valuable time. There would not be a therapeutic riding program without our volunteers. Please show them your respect and appreciation by notifying us as early as possible if you are unable to attend a class.

If you arrive late for class, you may be unable to ride that day. It is unfair to your riding partners to have to wait for your arrival. Furthermore, your volunteers will have been sent home, and your horse untacked and put out to pasture.*If you know that you are going to be late call us to avoid missing your class if possible. No refunds will be given for late or missed classes.

If classes are cancelled by CVTRS due to scheduling issues or poor weather conditions, the fee for that day will be credited to your account or refunded to you.

CVTRS clients are under strict supervision and although every effort will be made to avoid an accident, NO LIABILITY can be accepted by any of the organizations concerned including the BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS, AGENTS, OR ASSIGNS and anyone associated with the COMOX VALLEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING SOCIETY, and THE COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT in the event of any accident occurring. There are inherit dangers, hazards and risks (collectively “risks”) associated with equine activities and injuries resulting from the “risks” are a common occurrence. The “risks” of “equine activities” mean those dangerous conditions which are an integral part of equine activities, including but not limited to:

1. The propensity of any equine to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm or death to persons on or around them and to potentially collide with, bite or kick other animals, people or objects.

2. The unpredictability of an equine’s reaction to such things as sounds, sudden movements, tremors, vibrations, unfamiliar objects, persons or other animals and hazards such as subsurface objects.

3. The potential of participants behaving in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to themselves or others, including failing to act within their abilities to maintain control over an equine.

SEIZURES New clients with a prior history of seizures who are applying for admission to CanTRA accredited center’s must, at the time of application, have been seizure-free for 6 months on medication OR for one year without medication

Exception: Clients that experience ‘absence’ seizures (seizures that do not affect balance, posture or tone) would be permitted to ride if they always have a leader to control the horse and a sidewalker to ensure safety in the case of an absence seizure while riding. Riders with absence seizures may not ride independently. The above criteria also applies to all riders with a history of seizures, participating in a therapeutic riding program .

In the case where a rider with no history of seizures experiences a one-time seizure or seizure-like event, the rider will be required to discontinue riding until they have been approved by the centre’s medical committee to re-enter the program. If the centre does not have a medical committee, then the decision for a rider to return will be made by the Executive Director/ Managing Director (and/or the Head Instructor). This decision can only be made once the appropriate investigation and paperwork have been completed:

1. Documentation from the doctor must be provided to the centre, stating an opinion as to whether the episode was or was not a seizure.

2. If the doctor deems it a seizure, the same waiting period would apply as for a rider new to the program (see above).

3. If the doctor feels it was not a seizure, the rider may return to lessons as usual.

A. AGREEMENT SCOPE AND TERRITORY AND DEFINITIONS – This agreement shall be legally binding upon me the registered RIDER, and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor, my heirs, estate, assigns, including all minor children, and personal representatives. The term “HORSE” herein shall refer to all equine species. The term “HORSEBACK RIDING” or “RIDING” herein shall refer to riding or otherwise handling of horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, whether from the ground or mounted. The term “RIDER” shall herein refer to a person who rides a horse mounted or otherwise handles or comes near a horse from the ground. The terms “I”, “me”, “my” shall herein refer to the above registered rider and the parents or legal guardians thereof if a minor.

B. ACTIVITY RISK CLASSIFICATION – Horseback riding is classified as RUGGED ADVENTURE RECREATIONAL SPORT ACTIVITY , in that there are numerous obvious and nonobvious inherent risks always present in such activity despite all safety precautions. Related injuries can be severe, requiring more hospital days and resulting in more lasting residual effects than injuries in other activities.

C. NATURE OF RIDING HORSES – 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 rider falls from a horse to ground it will generally be at a distance of from 31/2 to 51/2 feet, and the impact may result in injury to the rider. Horseback riding is the only sport where on much smaller, weaker predator animal (human) tries to impose its will on, and become on unit of movement with, another much larger, stronger prey animal with a mind of its own (horse) and each has a limited understanding of the other. 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.

D.CONDITIONS OF NATURE - CVTRS is NOT responsible for total or partial acts, occurrences, or elements of nature that can scare a horse, cause it to fall, 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.

E. INPSECTION OF PREMISES – RIDER and/or LEGAL GUARDIAN has inspected CVTRS’s facilities and trails and is satisfied that all premises conditions are reasonably safe for RIDER’S intended purpose, usage and presence upon the CVTRS premises.

F. ACCIDENT/MEDICAL AND PERSONAL LIABILITY – Should medical treatment be required, I and/or my own accident/medical insurance company shall pay for all such incurred expenses.

G. PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR WARNING – I have been fully warned and advised by CVTRS that the RIDER must wear protective headgear (riding helmet), and that the wearing of such headgear while mounting, riding, dismounting, and otherwise being around horses, may prevent or reduce severity of some head injuries and even prevent death from happening as the result of a fall or other occurrence.

H. LIABILITY RELEASE – In consideration of CVTRS allowing my participation in this activity, under the terms set forth herein, I, the RIDER, and the parent or guardian thereof if a minor, do agree to hold harmless and release CVTRS, its owners, agents, employees, officers, members, premises owners, insurers, and affiliated organizations from legal liability due to CVTRS ordinary negligence; and I do further agree that except in the event of CVTRS’s gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct, I shall not bring any claims, demand, legal actions and causes of action, against CVTRS and/or its associates, for any economic and non-economic losses due to bodily injury, death, property damage, sustained by me and/or my minor child or legal ward in relation to the premises and operations of CVTRS, to include while riding, handling, or otherwise being near horses owned by or in the care, custody and control of CVTRS.

For valuable consideration given and which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby grant to the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society permission to take or have taken, still and moving photographs and films including television pictures of our son/daughter/ward and consents and authorizes the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society its advertising agencies, news media and any other persons interested in the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society and it’s work, to the use and reproduce the photographs, films and pictures to circulate and publicize the same by all means including without limited the generality of the foregoing, newspapers, television media, papers, presentations and clinical material. With regard to the foregoing material, no inducements or promises have been made to us/me to secure our/my signature(s) to this release other than the intention of the Comox Valley Riding Therapeutic Riding Society to use or be used such photographs, films and pictures for the primary purpose of promoting and aiding the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society and it works.

Due to the nature of the work at the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society it is understood that instructors and trained volunteers will need to physically assist the majority of riders in one or more of the following areas and it is understood that this is part of the therapy/recreation sessions to which parents and riders have consented. A. When mounting, dismounting or riding a horse, B. It may be necessary to lift a rider onto the horse, to correct posture by placing hands at the front or back of the trunk, or to correct leg and hand positions, C. During riding sessions it may be necessary to quickly physically remove a rider from the group, due to behavioral or other concerns, and that this is done for the well-being of all concerned. This may involve two staff members lifting a rider. D. Any bodily contact provided by the trained staff or personal care workers is in the interest of providing a safe and fun environment for the rider, and will be undertaken with the utmost discretion.