Prevention is first and foremost in avoiding lawsuits.
The best defense is a liability release or waiver. A liability release is simply a signed document by the participant stating that the participant is aware of the dangers of horse-related activities and, if injured, the participant will not hold the horse owner responsible for any reason. If a lawsuit is filed, a legal release is a complete defense, and the lawsuit will be dismissed. A release must be fact specific and tailored to the special needs of the horse owner. This is because liability releases or waivers are closely scrutinized by judges.