Horse Riding Safety Act, 2001
Original: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01h04
S.O. 2001, CHAPTER 4
Consolidation Period: From June 29, 2001 to the e-Laws currency date.
No amendments.
Definitions
1. In this Act,
“horse” means any animal of the equine species that is over 14.2 hands in height and does not include a pony; (“cheval”)
“horse riding establishment” means a business that provides horses for hire for riding or to be used in providing instruction in riding whether the horses are ridden on the grounds of the establishment or elsewhere; (“établissement d’équitation”)
“operator” includes a person and an individual in charge of running a horse riding establishment either through having overall control of the establishment or being in charge of the daily running of the establishment; (“exploitant”)
“person” includes a corporation, association and partnership. (“personne”) 2001, c. 4, s. 1.
Responsibility of establishment
2. (1) No owner or operator of a horse riding establishment shall permit any rider under the age of 18 years to ride any horse boarded by the rider in the stables of the establishment or transported by the rider to the establishment unless the rider has and is correctly using the following equipment in the manner that it was designed to be used:
1. A helmet that meets current standards for equipment designed and manufactured for use while riding horses as established by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), the British Standards Institute (BSI) or the European Safety Standards.
2. Hard soled footwear with a heel of no less than 1.5 centimetres.
3. Tack properly fitted on the horse. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (1).
Same
(2) No owner or operator of a horse riding establishment shall permit any rider under the age of 18 years to ride any horse hired out by the establishment, unless the rider has and is correctly using the equipment described in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of subsection (1) in the manner that it was designed to be used. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (2).
Availability of equipment
(3) Every owner or operator of a horse riding establishment shall ensure that the equipment described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1) is available for hire at reasonable rates. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (3).
Exception
(4) An owner or operator of a horse riding establishment is not in contravention of subsection (1) or (2) if the rider does not have the equipment described in paragraph 2 of subsection (1) but is equipped with properly functioning and sized hooded stirrups, safety stirrups designed to prevent the rider’s foot from passing through or becoming wedged in the stirrups, or stirrups designed to break away when the rider falls from the horse. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (4).
Same
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to riders participating in horse shows or competitions. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (5).
Regulations
(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,
(a) exempting from any requirement of this section,
(i) any class of owners or operators of horse riding establishments, or
(ii) any class of horse riding establishments; and
(b) prescribing conditions for the exemptions. 2001, c. 4, s. 2 (6).
Penalty
3. Every person who contravenes section 2 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $5,000. 2001, c. 4, s. 3.
4. Omitted (amends or repeals other Acts). 2001, c. 4, s. 4.
5. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 2001, c. 4, s. 5.
6. Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 2001, c. 4, s. 6.
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