FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, M I LLER and DI LLA RD, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Nov em ber 10, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A0 81 5 . HOLCOM B v . LONG.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

M i ch ael Ho l co m

b fi l ed a ci v i l act i o n ag ai n s t Ch arl es Lo n g d / b /a Ch arl es Lo n g

Farm s (“ Lo n g ”), al l eg i n g t h a t L o n g ’ s n eg l i g en ce i n s ad dl i n g o n e o f t h e h o rs es t h at

h e o w n ed an d a fau l t y s ad d l e res u l t ed i n Ho l co m b fal l i n g fr o m th e h o rs e an d

s u fferi n g s eri o u s i n

ju ri es

. Lo n g m o v ed fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed

. Ho l co m

b n o w ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i ng t h at Lo n g

was en ti t l ed t o ci v i l i m

m u n it y u n d er Geo rg i a’ s In ju ri es Fro m E q u i n e O r Ll am a

Act i v i t i es Act 1 (“ Eq u in e Act i v i ti es Act ”) b ecau s e n o n e o f t h e ex cep t i o ns t o i m m u n i t y

o u t l i ned i n t h e s t at u t e ap p l i ed . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h in f r a , we affi rm

.

1 S ee OCGA § 4 -1 2 -1 et

s eq

.Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e n o n m o v an t

, 2 t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at

Ho l co m b an d Lo ng were acq u ai n t an ces t hro u g h t h ei r m em b ers h i p i n a l o cal ci v i c

o rg an i zat i o n

, an d Ho l co m b h ad p rev i o u s l y m en t io n ed th at he an d h i s g ran d d au g h t er

were in t eres ted i n ri d i n g t h e h o r s e s at Lo n g ’ s farm

. Lo n g ex t en d ed an i n v i t at i o n to

Ho l co m b an d hi s g ran d d a u g h t er an d, co n s eq u en t ly

, o n Ap ri l 7

, 2 01 1

, t h ey wen t to

Lo n g’ s farm t o ri d e h o r s es

. U p o n t hei r arri v al

, L o n g i nq u i red as t o t h ei r ri d i n g

ex p eri en ce, an d H o l c o m

b s t at ed t h at h e had ri d d en h o rs es o ft en as a y o u n g m an

(wh il e h i s gran d d au g h t er h ad v ery l it t le ri d i n g ex peri en ce). Su b s eq u en tl y

, Lo n g fi rs t

s ad d led a h o rs e n am ed “ El v i s ” fo r Ho l co m b ’ s g ran d d au g h t er an d t h en s ad d led a v ery

d o ci l e h ors e n am ed “ Tu m b leweed ” fo r H o l co m

b to ri d e. Nex t, h e d i rect ed Ho l co m b

an d h i s g ran d d au g h t er t o fi rs t ri d e wi th i n t h e fen ced co rral s o t h a t h e c o u l d as s es s

t h ei r res p ect iv e l ev el s o f co m p et en cy

.

Aft er ab o u t t en o r fi ft een m i n u t es

, Lo n g s aw t h at Ho lco m b an d h i s

g ran d d au g h t er co ul d h an d l e t he h o rs es rat h er wel l an d

, t herefo re, t o ld t h em t h at t h ey

co u ld r i d e o u t t o t h e p as t u re an d n earb y t rai l s

, w h i ch t h ey d i d

. H o l co m b an d h i s

2 S ee Ma r t i n v. Her ri n g t o n M i l l

, LP

, 3 1 6 G a. Ap p. 6 9 6

, 6 97 (7 3 0 SE2 d 1 6 4 )

(2 0 1 2) (“ [A] d e n o vo s t an d ard o f rev i ew ap p l i es t o an ap peal fro m a g ran t o r d en i al

o f su m m ary ju d g m en t

, an d we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n s an d

i n feren ces drawn fro m i t

, in t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m ov an t

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

2g ran d d au g h t er t h en ro d e fo r ap p ro xi m at el y on e ho u r, d u ri n g w h i ch t im e Ho l co m b d id

n o t n o t i ce an y t h in g wro n g wi t h Tu m b l eweed ’ s s ad dl e. Bu t as t h ey h ead ed t o ward t h e

t rai l s

, Ho l co m

b t u rn ed b ack ward s t o h i s l eft i n t h e s ad d l e to s ee i f h i s g ran d d au g h t er

was i m m ed i at el y b eh i nd h i m

. An d as h e d i d s o, t h e h o rs e fl ex ed i ts b o d y t o i t s l eft

,

an d t h e s ad d l e b eg an t o s l i d e to t h e ri g h t

. Th e h o rs e t hen beg an t o g al lo p

, bu t wi t h t h e

s ad d le co n t i n u in g i t s s li d e t o th e ri g h t

, Ho lco m b fel l, s t ru ck h i s h ead o n a fen ce p os t

,

an d s uffered s eri o u s i n

ju ri es

.

Th ereaft er, Ho l co m

b fi led s u i t ag ai ns t Lo ng to reco v er d am ag es fo r t h e i n ju ri es

h e s u ffered , al l eg i n g

, i n t er a li a , t h at t he acci d en t was t h e res u l t o f Lo n g ’ s fai l u re t o

re-t i g h t en t h e fro nt g i rt h

, o r ci n ch

, 3 o f t h e s ad d l e, as wel l as h i s fa i l u re t o u t i l i ze a

ci n ch h o b b l e 4 to s ecu re t h e s ad d l e. Lo n g an s wered , an d d i s co v ery en s u ed

.

In d ep o s it i o n t es t i m o ny

, Ho l co m b ’ s ex pert opine d tha t t h e acci d en t was a res u l t

o f Lo n g ’ s fai l u r e t o ad eq uat el y t i g ht en Tu m b l eweed ’ s s ad d l e. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

3 Th e fro n t ci nch i s t h e wi d e s t rap t h at fi t s u n der th e h o rs e an d at t ach es t o t h e

ri gg i ng to s ecu re t h e s ad d l e. On En g l i s h s ty l e s ad d l es

, t h i s p a r t i s m o re co m m o n l y

k n o wn as a g i rt h

. S

ee W es t ern Sad d l e G u i d e, h t t p : / /www.wes t ern -s ad d l eg u i d e.co m

/ ci n ch .h t m l (l as t v i s it ed Oct o b er 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 ).

4 Th e ci n ch h o b b l e co n n ect s t h e fro n t an d fl an k ci n ch es t og et h er. S ee W es t ern

Sad dl e Gu i d e, ht t p : / / www.wes t ern -s ad d l e-g u i de.co m / ci n ch -co n n ect i n g-s t rap .h t m l

(l as t v is i t ed Oct o b er 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 ).

3Ho l co m

b ’ s ex p ert tes t ifi ed t h at t h e fro n t g irt h o f t h e s a d d l e s h ou l d h av e b een ret i gh t en ed aft er fi v e o r t en m i n u t es o f r i d i n g b ecau s e i t ten d s t o l o o sen fo r v ari ou s

reas on s as t h e s ad d l e s et t l es o n t h e h o rs e. Ho wev er, h e d id n o t b el i ev e i t was l i k el y

t h at t h e l ack o f a ci n ch h o b bl e co nt ri b ut ed to t h e acci d en t

. In h i s o wn d ep o s i t i o n,

Lo n g ag reed t hat a s ad d l e wi ll l o o s en as a h ors e wal k s o r s weat s an d co n ced ed t h at

h e d i d no t re-ch eck Tu m

b l eweed ’ s s ad d l e at an y

p o i n t aft er Ho l co m

b b eg an ri d i n g.

On ce d i s co v ery co n cl u d ed

, L o n g fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

arg u i n g t h at th e Eq u i n e Act iv i t i es Act cl oak ed h i m wi t h ci v il i m m u n i t y an d,

t h erefo re, b arred Ho l co m b ’ s l aws u i t

. 5 Ho l c o m

b res p o n d ed

, arg u i n g t h at two o f t h e

s t a t u t e’ s ex cep t io n s t o i t s g en eral gran t of i m m u n it y ap p l i ed

, an d t hu s

, s u m m a r y

ju d g m en t was n o t warran t ed

. N ev ert h el es s

, aft er h o l d i n g a h eari n g o n t h e m at t er, t h e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Lo n g . Th i s ap p eal fo ll o ws

.

At t h e o u t set

, we n o t e t h a t i t i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed th at s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s

p ro p er “ i f t h e p l ead i n g s

, d ep o s i t i o n s

, an s wers t o i n t erro g at o ri es

, an d ad m i s s i o n s o n

fi le, t og et h er wi t h t h e affi d av i t s, i f an y

, s h o w t h at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s ue as t o an y

m at eri al fact an d t h at t he m ov i n g p art y i s en t i tl ed t o a ju dg m en t as a m at ter o f l aw.” 6

5 S ee OCGA § 4 -1 2 -1 et

s eq

.

6 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

4If s u m

m ary ju d g m e n t i s g r an t ed b y a t ri al co u rt

, i t en jo y s n o p res u m

p t i o n o f

co rrect nes s o n ap p eal

, “ an d an ap p el lat e co u rt m u st sat i sf y i t s el f d e n o v o t h at t h e

req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9-1 1-5 6 (c) h av e b een m et .” 7 An d in ou r d e n o vo rev i ew o f

a tri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we are ch arg ed wi t h “ v i ewi n g

t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o nab l e co n cl u s i on s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m t h e ev i d en ce

i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e n o n m o v an t.” 8 W it h t h es e g u id i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d,

we t u rn n o w t o Ho l co m

b ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Ho l co m

b co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co urt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e Eq u i n e

A ct iv i t i es A ct b arred hi s l aws u i t

, arg u in g th at Lo n g was n o t en t it l ed t o i m m u n i t y

b ecau s e h e p ro v i ded fau l t y t ack o r eq ui p m en t. W e d i s ag ree.

In in t erp ret in g an y s t at u t e, w e n eces s ari l y b eg i n ou r an al y s is wi t h fam i l i ar an d

b i n d i n g can o n s o f co ns t ru ct i on

. In d eed

, in co n s id eri ng t h e m ean i ng o f a s t at u t e, o u r

ch arg e as an ap p el l at e co u rt is t o “ p res u m e t h at t h e Gen eral A s s em b ly m ean t wh at i t

s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t

. ” 9 An d t o ward t h at en d

, we m u st affo rd t h e st at ut o ry t ex t

7 Co wa r t v. W id en er , 2 8 7 Ga. 6 2 2, 6 2 4 (1 ) (a) (6 9 7 SE2 d 7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0).

8 Ben ef i el d v. To mi n i ch

, 3 0 8 Ga. A p p

. 6 0 5

, 6 0 7 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 5 6 3 ) ( 2 0 1 1 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

9 Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 G a

. 1 7 0

, 1 72 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 37 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i on o m i t t ed ); s ee A rb y’s Res t a ur a nt Gr o u

p

, In c. v. McRa e

, 2 9 2

5i t s p l ai n an d o rd in ary m ean i n g

, 1 0 co n s i d er t h e t ex t co n t ex t u al l y

, 1 1 read t h e t ex t “ i n i t s

m o st n at u ral an d reas on ab l e way

, as an o rd i n ary s peak er o f t h e En g l i s h l an g u ag e

wo u l d ,” 1 2 an d s eek t o “ av o i d a co n s t ru ct i o n t h a t m ak es so m e l an g u ag e m ere

Ga. 2 4 3

, 2 4 5 (1 ) (7 34 SE2 d 5 5 ) (2 0 12 ) (s am e); Ma r ti n ez v. S t a t e

, 3 25 Ga. A p p

. 2 6 7,

2 7 3 (7 50 SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e).

1 0 S ee Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (“ To t h at en d, we m u s t affo rd t h e st at u t o ry

t ex t i t s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n om i t t ed ); S t a t e v.

Ab l e

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. 6 3 2

, 6 3 6 (7 4 2 SE2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ A ju dg e i s ch arg ed wi th

i n t erp ret i n g t h e law i n acco rd an ce wi th t he o ri g i n al an d / o r p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h e t ex t

at i s s u e (an d al l t h at t h e t ex t fai rl y i m p l i es )

. . . .”); Si n g l et ar

y v. S ta t e

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p.

5 7 0

, 5 72 (7 1 3 SE2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ In co n s t ru i n g t h es e st at u t e s

, we ap p l y t h e

fu n d am en t al ru l es o f s t at ut o ry co n s t ru ct i o n t h at req u i re u s t o co n s t ru e th e s t at u t e s

acco rd i n g t o t h ei r t erm s

, [an d ] t o g i v e w o rd s t h ei r p lai n an d o rd in ary m ean i ng

. . . .”)

(p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at io n o m i t ted ).

1 1 S ee Ar i z o na v. In t er Tr i b a l Co u n ci l o f A ri zo n a

, In c.

,

_

_ _ U.S.

_ _ _ (1 3 3 SCt

2 2 4 7

, 2 2 54

, 1 8 6 L.Ed .2 d 23 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) ( S c a li a, J .) (“ W ord s t hat can h av e m o re t h an

o n e m ean i n g are g i v en co nt en t

, h o wev er, by t h ei r s u rro u n d i n g s.”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d

ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); Dea l

, 29 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (“ [W ] e m u s t v iew t h e s t at u to ry t ex t in

t h e co n tex t i n w h ich i t ap p ears [.] ”); Hen d r y v. Hen d r y

, 2 9 2 Ga. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d

4 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (s am e); In t h e In t er es t o f L

. T

. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 0

, 59 2 (7 5 4 SE2 d 3 8 0 )

(2 0 1 4) (s am e); M

a r t i n ez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 7 3 (2 0 1 3 ) ( s a m e ) ; s ee a l s o S ch er r v.

Ma r r i o t t In t er n., In c.

, 70 3 F3 d 10 6 9

, 1 0 7 7 (7 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 3 ) (M an i o n

, J .) (“ In st at u t o ry

co n st ru ct i o n cas es

, we b eg i n w i t h t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e st at u t e i ts el f an d t h e s p eci fi c

co n tex t in wh i ch t h at l an g u ag e i s u s ed .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n om i t t ed ); OCGA

§ 1

– 3

– 1(b ) (“ In al l i n t erp ret a t i o n s o f s t at u t es

, t h e o rd i n ary s i g n i fi cat io n s h al l b e

ap p li ed t o al l wo rd s . . . .”).

1 2 Dea l

, 29 4 Ga. at 1 7 2

– 7 3 (1 ) (a); s ee Lu a n g kh o t v. S t a t e

, 29 2 G a. 4 2 3, 4 2 4 (1 )

(7 3 6 SE2 d 3 9 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e); Ma r t in ez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 7 3 (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e).

6s u rp l u s ag e.” 1 3 In s u m

, w h ere th e l an gu ag e o f a s t at ut e i s p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b le o f o n l y

o n e n at u ral an d reas on ab l e co n s t ru ct io n

, “ co u rt s m u s t co n st ru e t h e s t at u t e

acco rd i n g l y .” 1 4

W i t h reg ard t o t h e Eq u i n e Act i v it i es Act

, t h e Gen eral As s em b l y l eft l i t t l e d o u bt

as to h o w i t ex p ect ed t h i s s t at u t e t o b e co n s t ru ed

. In d eed

, t h e Act ’ s p ream b l e (OCGA

§ 4 -1 2-1 ) ex p li ci t l y

p ro v i d es : 1 5

1 3 In t h e In t er es t o

f L. T.

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 2 (p u n ct u at i o n an d c i t a t i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee a l

s o Ga

. Tr a n s mi s s i o n Co rp

. v. W or l ey

, 3 1 2 G a

. A p p

. 8 5 5

, 8 5 6 (7 2 0

SE2 d 3 0 5) (2 0 1 1) (s am e); S i n g l et a r y , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . at 5 7 2 (s am e).

1 4 Lu a n g kh o t

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 4 2 4 (1 ) ( p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at

1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (“ [I] f t h e s t at ut o ry t ex t i s cl ear an d u n am bi g u o u s

, we at t ri b ut e t o t h e

s t at u te i t s p l ai n m ean i n g

, an d o u r s earch fo r s t at u t o ry m ean i n g i s at an e n d

. ” )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); Ma rt i n ez , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 3 (2 0 1 3) (s am e).

1 5 As a p art o f an act p as s ed b y t h e Gen eral As sem bl y an d ap pro v ed b y t h e

g o v ern o r, t h e p ream

b l e o f a s t at u t e m ay p ro p erl y b e co n s i d ered by o u r co u rt s t o t h e

ex t en t t h at i t s h e d s l i g h t on t h e m ean i n g o f t he s u b s t an ti v e term s co n tai n ed i n t h e

s t at u te. S ee JIG Rea l Es t a t e, LLC v. Co u n t r ywi d e Ho me Lo a n s

, In c.

, 2 8 9 G a

. 4 8 8,

4 9 2 -4 9 3 (7 1 2 S E 2 d 8 2 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Co n cer n ed Ci t i z en s o f W i l l a co och ee v. Ci t

y of

W i l l aco o ch ee

, 2 8 5 Ga. 6 2 5

, 6 2 6 (6 8 0 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 0 9 ); A N T O N I N S C A LI A & B R Y A N

A. G A R N E R

, R E A D I N G L A W : T H E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N O F L E G A L T E X T S 2 1 8 ( 1 s t ed

. 2 0 1 2 ) (n o t i n g t h at “ [s ] o m e co u rt s an d co m m en t at o rs h av e s ai d t h at t h e p ro l o g u e [ i

. e.

,

p ream bl e t o a s t at u t e] can n o t b e i n v o k ed wh en t h e t ex t i s cl ear. Th is l i m i t at i o n i s

reas on ab l e i f i t m ean s t h at t h e p ro l o g u e can n o t g i v e wo rd s an d p hras es o f t h e

d i s p o s i t i ve t ex t i t s el f a m ean i n g t h at t h ey can no t b ear. Bu t t h e l i m i t at i o n i s

u n reas o nab l e an d erro n eo u s i f i t m ean s t h at t he p ro l o g u e can n o t b e c o n s i d ered in

d et erm i n i n g wh i ch o f v ari o us perm i s s i b l e m ean i n gs th e d i s p o s i t i v e t ex t b ears

. If t h e

p ro l o g u e i s i n d eed an ap p ro p ri at e g u i d e to m ean i n g

, i t o u g h t t o b e co n s i d ered al o n g

7T he G e ne r a l A sse m b l y reco g n i zes t h at pers o n s wh o part i ci p at e i n eq u i n e

act i v i t i es

. . . m ay i n cu r i n ju ri es as a res ul t of t h e ri s k s i n vo l v ed i n s u ch

act i v i t i es

. Th e Gen eral As s em b l y al s o fi n d s t h at t h e s t at e an d i t s ci t i zen s

d eri v e n u m ero u s eco n o m i c an d pers o n al b en efi t s fro m s u ch act i v i t i es

.

Th e Gen eral A s s em

b l y fi n d s

, d et erm i n es

, an d d ecl ares th at t hi s ch ap t er

i s n eces s ary fo r t h e i m

m ed i at e p res erv at i o n o f t h e p u b l i c p eace, h eal th

,

an d s afet y

. It is

, t h erefo re, t h e i nt en t o f t h e Gen eral As s em b ly t o

en co u rag e eq u i n e act i vi t i es

. . . b y l i m i t i n g t h e ci vi l l i ab il i ty of t h o s e

i n v o l v ed i n s u ch act i vi t i es

.

Th e Gen eral As s em

b l y t h en es t ab l i s h ed t h e l i m it s o f s u ch ci v i l l iab i li t y in OCGA §

4 -1 2 -3 (a), wh i ch , i n rel ev an t p art , p ro v i d es :

E xcep t as p ro v i d ed i n s u b s ect i on (b ) o f t h is Co d e sect io n, an e q u i n e

act i v i t y s p o n s o r, an eq u in e p ro fes s i o n a l

, . . . o r an y o t h er p ers o n

. . .

s h al l n o t be l i ab l e fo r an i n ju ry t o o r t h e d eat h o f a p art i ci p an t res u l t i n g

fro m t h e i n h eren t ri s k s o f eq u i n e act i vi t i es . . . an d , ex cep t as p ro v i d ed

i n s u b s ect i o n (b ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect io n

, n o p art i ci p a n t o r p art i ci p an t ’ s

rep res en t at i v e s h al l m ak e an y cl ai m ag ai n s t

, m ai n t ai n an act i o n ag ai n s t

,

o r reco v er fro m an eq u i n e act i v it y s p o n s o r, an eq ui n e p ro fes si o n al

, . . .

o r an y o t h er pers o n fo r i n ju ry

, l o s s, d am ag e, o r d eat h o f t h e p art i ci p an t

res u lt i n g fro m

an y of t h e i n h eren t ri s ks o f eq u i ne act i v i ti es

. . . .

wi t h al l ot h er fact ors i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e i n s t r u m en t i s cl ear. Th e fact o rs

u n d erm i n i n g i t s rel iab i l i t y affect i t s wei g h t, n ot i t s rel ev an ce”).

8In t h e cas e s u b j u d i c e

, t h ere i s n o di s p u t e t hat t h e p art ies were en g ag ed in

“ eq u i n e act i vi t i es ” as defi n ed b y t h e s t at ut e 1 6 or t h at Ho l co m b was a “ part i ci p an t ” in

s u ch act i v it i es

. 1 7 Nev ert h el es s

, wh il e ack n o wl ed gi n g t h e g en eral ap p li cab i l i t y o f

OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (a), Ho lc o m b arg u es t hat s u m

m ary ju dg m en t was n o t warran t ed

b ecau s e Lo n g p ro v i d ed fau l t y eq u i p m en t o r t ack an d

, t h erefo re, u nd er OCGA § 4 -1 2

-

3 (b ) (1 ) (A), was n o t en t i tl ed t o ci v il i m m u n i t y

.

Th e rel ev an t p art o f OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (1 ) (A) p ro v i d es :

No t h i n g i n su b s ect i on (a) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n s hal l p rev en t o r l i m i t th e

l i ab i l i t y o f an eq u in e act i v i t y s po n s o r, an eq u i n e p ro fes s i o nal

, . . . o r an y

o t h er p ers o n i f t he eq u i n e act i v i t y sp o n s o r, eq u i n e p ro fes s io n al

, . . . o r

p ers on . . . [p ] ro vi d ed t h e eq u i pm en t o r t ack

, an d k n ew o r s ho u l d h av e

k n o wn th at t h e eq u i p m en t o r t ack w as fau l ty

, an d s uch eq ui p m en t o r

t ack was fau l t y

t o t h e ex t en t t h at i t d i d cau se t he i n ju ry

. 1 8

1 6 S ee OCGA § 4 -1 2 -2 (2 ) (“ ‘ En g ag es i n an eq u in e act i v i ty ’ m ean s r i d i n g,

t rai n in g

, as s i s t i n g i n p r o v i d i n g m ed i cal t reat m en t o f, d ri v in g

, o r b ei n g a p as s en g er

u p o n an eq ui n e, w h et h er m o un t ed o r u n m o un t ed

, o r an y pers o n as s is t in g a p art i ci p an t

o r s h o w m an ag em en t .”).

1 7 S ee OCGA § 4 -1 2 -2 (1 2 ) (“ ‘ Part i ci p an t ’ m ean s an y p ers o n, wh et her am at eu r

o r p ro fes s i o n al

, wh o en g ag es i n an eq ui n e act iv i t y o r wh o en gag es i n a l l am a act i v i t y

, wh et h er o r n o t a fee i s p ai d t o p art i ci p at e i n s u ch act i v i t y .”).

1 8 OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (1 ) (A).

9An d h ere, Ho l co m b s p eci fi cal ly co n t en d s t h at Lo n g ’ s fai l u re t o re-t i g ht en t h e fro nt

g i rt h du ri n g t h e ri d e an d Lo n g ’ s p ro v i s i o n o f a s ad d l e t hat d i d n o t i n cl u de a ci n ch

h o b b l e t o co n n ect t h e fro n t an d rear g i rt hs co n s t i t u t ed p ro v id i n g “ fau l t y t ack ” wi t h in

t h e m ean i n g of t h e s tat u t e, cau s i n g t h e s ad d l e t o s l i d e o ff t h e h o rs e h e was ri d i n g

.

Ho wev er, we do n o t ag ree th at t h e t erm “ fau l t y t ack ” can fai rl y be co n s t ru ed s o

b ro ad l y

.

To b eg i n wi t h

, Ho l co m

b ’ s o wn e xpe rt ack n o wl ed ged th at ci n ch h ob b l es are n ot

al way s u sed an d s t at ed t h at h e d i d n o t t h i n k i t li k el y th at t h e l ack o f a ci n ch h o b b l e

cau s ed t he acci d en t i n t h i s i n s t an ce. Th u s

, we fi n d n o s up p ort fo r H o l co m b ’ s

arg u m en t t h at t h e l ack o f a ci n ch h o b b le in th i s cas e am o un t ed t o “ fau lt y t ack ” u n d er

t h e s t at u t e. 1 9

Fu rt herm o re, wh i l e th e ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at H o l c o m b ’s f a l l was a res u l t o f

Lo n g’ s fai l u re t o re-t i g h t en t h e fro n t g i rt h

, h e al s o s t a t e d t h at h e ob s erv ed n o t h i n g

d efect i ve ab ou t t h e g i rt h o r s ad d l e i t s el f. Co n seq u en t l y

, ev en as su m i n g t h at Lo n g ’ s

fai l u re t o re-t i g ht en t h e fro n t g i rt h cau s ed t h e acci den t

, we are n o t p ers uad ed th at s u ch

1 9 S ee Ma ys v. Va l l ey Vi ew Ra n ch , In c. , 3 17 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 3

, 1 5 0 -5 1 (2 ) (b ) (i i )

(7 3 0 SE2 d 5 9 2) (2 0 1 2 ) (h o l d in g t h at d efen d an t ’ s fai l u re t o p ro v i de qu i ck rel eas e t i e

ro p es wh en p l ai nt i ff was t ack in g u p h er ho rs e d i d no t co n s t it u t e fau l t y eq u i p m en t fo r

p u rp os es o f t h e fau l t y eq u ip m en t ex ce p t i o n t o t he In ju ri es Fro m Eq u in e Or Ll am a

Act i v i t i es Act ’ s ci v i l -i m

m u n i t y p ro v i s i o n ).

10i n act io n co ns t i t u t es “ fau l t y t ack ” wi th i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e st at u t e. Al t h o ug h we h av e

fo u n d no Geo rg i a cas e law d efi ni n g “ f a u l t y t ack ,” w e decl i ne t o co n s tru e t h at

ex cep t i o n as en co m

p as s i n g t ack t h at i s in ad eq uat el y s ecu red b u t o th erwi se i n g o o d

wo rk i n g o rd er. 2 0 In d eed

, d o i n g s o w o u l d r u n afo u l o f t h e G en eral As sem b l y ’ s

ex p res s ed d es ire o f creat i n g b ro ad i m m un i t y fo r eq u i n e p ro fes s i o n a l s en g ag i n g in

eq u in e act i v i t i es wi th n arro wl y d efi n ed ex cep ti o n s. 2 1

2 0 S ee Hu bn er v. S

p ri n g V a l l ey E q u es t r i a n Ct r

, 1 A3 d 61 8

, 6 3 1 (III) (C) (N.J

. 2 0 1 0 ) (h o l d i n g t h at fau lt y e q u i p m en t ex cep t i on i n New J ers ey E qu i n e A ct i v i ti es

Li ab i l i t y Act d i d n o t en co m p as s cav al et t i (rai l s p lac e d o n th e g ro u n d fo r t rai n i n g

p u rp os es ), wh i ch were i n g o o d wo rk i ng o rd er bu t al l eg ed l y fau l t y becau s e t h ey were

n o t s ecu red

, g iv en t h e fact t h at i n p as s i n g t he act

, t h e l e g i s l at u re p ro v i ded t h at t h e

p ro v is i o n s ex p res s i ng t h e s co p e o f t h e ri sk s as s u m ed wo ul d b e read bro ad l y i n fav o r

o f t h e faci l i t y o p erat o rs

, wh i l e t h e o b l i g at i on s o f t h e o perat o rs wo u l d b e n arro wl y

co n st ru ed ); cf

. Zu cker ma n v. Co a s t a l Ca mp s

, In c.

, 71 6 FSu p p 2 d 2 3

, 2 9 -3 3 (II) (B) (1 )

- (2 ) (D. M e. 2 01 0 ) (h o ld i n g t h at g en u i n e i ss u es o f m at eri al fact ex is t ed as t o wh et h er

t ack p ro v i d ed b y eq u i n e a c t i v i t y s p o n s o r co n s t i t u t ed fau l t y tack

, s o as t o fal l u n d er

ex cep t i o n to p ro t ect i o n p ro v i d ed b y M ai n e Eq u i n e Act i v i t i es A ct i n act i o n i n wh i ch

p l ai n t i ff al l eg ed t h at d efen d an t n eg l i g en tl y sad d l ed h er h o rs e an d fu rt h er n o t i n g t h e

l ack o f an y s u g g es t i o n t hat act w as m ean t t o rep u d i at e po s si b i l i t y o f s i m p l e

n eg li g en ce ari s i n g i n t h e co n tex t o f eq u i n e act i v i t i es ).

2 1 S ee U .S

. B a n k Na t’l As s ’n v. Go r d o n

, 2 8 9 Ga. 1 2

, 1 5 (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 5 8) (2 0 1 1 )

(“ [S] t at u t es ‘ i n p ari m at eri a,’ i .e., s t at u tes rel at in g t o t h e sam e s u b ject m at ter, m

u s t b e

co n st ru ed t o get her.” (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n om i t t ed )); Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a)

(“ [W ] e m u s t v i ew t he st at ut o ry t ex t i n t h e co n t ex t i n wh ich it ap p ears [.] ”); Hen d r y

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 3 (1 ) (s am e); In t h e In t er es t o f L. T.

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 2 (s am e); Ma r t i n ez

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 73 (s am e).

112

. Ho l co m b al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at t h e Eq u i n e

Act i v i t i es Act b arred h i s l aws u i t

, arg u i ng t hat Lo n g was n o t en ti tl ed t o i m m u n i t y

b ecau s e h e wan t o nl y

d is reg ard ed Ho l co m

b ’ s s afet y . Ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

Th i s ad d i t i o n al ex cep t i o n t o ci v i l im m un i ty

, wh i ch Ho l co m

b cl ai m s ap p li es

h ere, i s fo u n d i n OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (3 ) an d p ro v id es :

No t h i n g i n s u b s ect io n (a) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i on s h al l p rev en t o r l i m i t th e

l i ab i l i t y o f an eq u i n e act i v i t y s p o n s o r, an eq u i n e p ro fes s i o n al

, . . . o r an y

o t h er p ers o n i f t he eq u i n e act i v i t y s po n so r, eq u i n e p ro fes s io n al

, . . . o r

p ers on

. . . [c] o m

m i t s an act or o m i s s i on th at co ns t i t u t es w i l lfu l o r

wan t o n d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y of t h e p a r t i ci p an t

, an d th at act o r

o m i s s i o n cau s ed t h e i n

ju ry

. . . .

In Mu l l er v. En g l i s h

, 2 2 th i s Co u rt co n s t ru ed t h e E q u i n e Act i v i t i es A ct fo r t h e fi rs t

t i m e. An d wi t h reg ard t o t h e s t at u te’ s us e o f t h e t erm s “ wi ll fu l” an d “ w a n t o n ,” we

h el d t h at

[w] i l fu l [m i s co n d u ct ] i s b a sed o n an act u al in t en t i o n t o d o h arm o r

i n fl i ct in ju ry ; wan t o n co n d u ct i s t h at wh ich i s s o reck l es s o r s o ch arg ed

wi t h i nd ifferen ce t o t h e co n s eq u en ces as t o b e t h e eq u i v al en t i n s pi ri t t o

act u al i n t en t

. W i l fu l m i s co n d u ct

, o r w i lfu l fai l u re or refu s al to p erfo rm

a d u t y req u ired b y s t at u t e, i s m o re th an n eg l i g en ce o r ev en g ro s s

n eg l ig en ce; i t in v o l v es co n d u ct of a cri m i n al or q uas i -cri m i n al n at u re,

2 2 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 2 (4 7 2 SE2 d 4 4 8 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

12t h e i n t en t i o nal d o i n g o f so m et h i n g

, ei t her wi t h t h e kn o w l ed g e t hat i t i s

l i kel y t o r e s u l t i n s eri o u s i nju ry

, o r wi t h t h e wan t o n an d reck l es s

d i s reg ard o f i t s p ro b ab l e co n s eq u en ces

. 2 3

Here, as p r e v i o u s l y n o t ed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at Ho lco m b fel l fro m

Tu m b l eweed as a res u lt o f th e s ad d l e’ s fro n t g i rt h l o o s e n i n g

, ren d eri n g t h e s ad d l e

unstab le. Ad di t i o n al l y

, Ho l co m b ’ s ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at Lo n g s h o uld ha ve r e

- tighte ne d

t h e s ad d l e d u ri n g Ho l co m b ’ s ri de. An d al t h o u g h Ho l co m b t es ti fi ed t hat Lo n g

ad m i t t ed t o h im th at h e no t i ced t h e s ad d l e b eg i n n i n g t o l o o s en w h i l e Ho l co m b ro d e

i n t h e p as t u re, s uch ev id en ce— at m o s t —wo u l d es t ab l i s h L on g ’ s n eg l i g en ce o r

p erh ap s g ro s s n eg li g en ce. Bu t n eg l i g en ce d oes “ n o t s ho w cri m i n al o r q u as i-cri m i n al

co n du c t

, r eck les s n es s

, o r i n d i fferen ce t o t h e co n s eq u en ces s o as t o am o u n t to

ev i d en ce of wi ll fu l o r wan t o n di s reg ard fo r t h e s a f e t y o f t h e p art ici p an t .” 2 4

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t e r r i n ru l i n g t h at Lo n g w as en t i t l ed t o ci v i l

i m m u ni t y u n d er OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (a). 2 5

2 3 Id

. at 6 7 6 (2 ) (c) (ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d Ad ams v. Ha r e

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p . 6 0 5 , 6 0 9 (2 ) (b ) (5 3 6 SE2 d 2 8 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ).

2 4 M u l l er

, 2 21 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 8 (2 ) (c) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ad a ms

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p . at 6 09 (2 ) (b ).

2 5 S ee Ad a ms

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 0 9 (2 ) (b ) (h ol d i n g t h at fo rm er o wn er’ s al l eg ed

fai l u re t o d i s cl o se h o rs e’ s d an g ero us b eh av io r d i d n o t co n s t it u t e wi l l fu l an d wan t o n

133

. Ho l co m b fu rt her co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i n g t h at n o g en u i n e

i s su e o f m at eri al fact ex i s ted as t o wh et h er t he l ack o f a c i n c h h o b b le p ro x i m at el y

c a u s ed th e acci den t

. Ho wev er, i n l i g h t o f o u r h o l d i ng i n Di v i s i on 1

, s u p r a

, t h i s

co n ten t i o n i s a n o n s t art er.

As p rev i o u s ly n o t ed

, OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (1 ) (A) p ro v id es t h at no t h i n g in

OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (a) p rev en ts o r l i m it s l i ab i l i t y i f t h e eq u in e act i vi t y s p on s o r, eq u i n e

p ro fes s i on al

, o r p ers on “ [p ] ro v i d ed t h e eq u i pm en t o r t ack

, an d kn ew o r s h o u l d h av e

k n o wn th at t h e eq u i p m en t o r t ack w as fau l t y

, an d s u ch eq ui p m en t o r t ack was fau l t y

t o t h e ext en t t h a t i t d i d ca u s e t h e i n j u r y .” 2 6 W h i l e th e l as t p a r t o f t h i s s u b s ect i o n

req u i res a s h o wi n g o f p ro x i m at e cau s e, s u ch a s h o w i n g i s pred i cat ed o n fi rs t

es t ab l i s h in g t h at t h e tack i n q ues t i o n was fau l t y

. Gi v en o u r h o l d in g t h at Ho l co m b

fai l ed to s h o w t h at t h e lack o f a ci n ch h o b bl e co n s t i t u t ed “ f a u l t y t a ck ” wi t h i n t h e

m ean i n g o f t h e s t at ut e, we n eed n o t ad dres s t h i s i s su e. 2 7

d i s reg ard fo r p l ai n t i ff’ s s afet y w i t h i n t he m ean i n g o f OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (3 )); Mu l l er

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 67 7-7 8 (2 ) (c) (h o l d i n g t hat d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct i n ri d i n g a h o rs e

wi t h a k n o wn p r o p en s it y t o ki ck d i d n o t co ns t i t u te wi ll fu l o r w an t o n di s reg ard fo r

p l ai n t i ff’ s s afet y ).

2 6 OCGA § 4 -1 2 -3 (b ) (1 ) (A) (em p h as i s s u p p li ed ).

2 7 In rev i ewi n g t h e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o rd er, we reco g n i ze t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

fo cu s ed o n wh et h er Ho l co m b es t ab l i sh ed t h at t h e l ack of a ci n ch ho b b l e p ro x i m at el y

14Ju d

g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Mi l ler , J., co n cu r

.

cau s ed th e acci d en t rat h er t h an wh et h er t h e l ack o f a ci n ch h o bb l e co n st i t u t ed fau l t y

t ack o r eq u i p m en t

. Nev ert h el es s

, “ [s ] u m m ary ju d g m en t m ay b e affi rm ed i f i t i s ri g ht

fo r an y reas o n.” Jo n es v. Bd

. o f Reg en t s o f t he Un iv. S

ys

. o f Ga

. , 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5

, 7 7

(1 ) (5 85 SE2 d 1 38 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

15