Landowner liability – and the understanding of it – can be a critical factor in horse access to property. Liability is determined on a state-by-state basis and in most states is governed by two sets of laws: Activity Statutes and Recreational Use Statutes.
Learning about horse activity and recreational use statutes
Landowner liability can be a critical factor in horse access to property and since liability is determined on a state-by-state basis it is important to know about your area.
In the past, this information has been hard to gather and difficult to interpret. Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) recognized a need to clarify the process and assembled an in-depth resource showing both sets of laws for each state.
The Directory of Equine Activity and Recreational Use Statutes provides a single source to view and compare the statutes by state. ELCR and other organizations had gathered this information before, but as the laws changed, the documents quickly became outdated.
Because this site provides live links to the statutes themselves, the information will remain dynamic and up-to-date. In addition to the live links, the Directory provides a small amount of analysis.
Details are provided by state, including whether or not charging a nominal fee will impact a landowner’s liability and whether specific language is required on signage.
ELCR has provided this information for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Please consult an attorney in your state for specific interpretation and guidance on matters relevant to equine activity and recreational use statutes.
The Directory of Equine Activity and Recreational Use Statutes can be viewed at https://elcr.org/statestatutes/.
About the Equine Land Conservation Resource
The Equine Land Conservation Resource builds awareness of the loss of lands available for horse-related activities and facilitates the protection and preservation of those lands. We work to ensure America’s equine heritage lives on and the emotional, physical and economic benefits of the horse-human relationship remains accessible.
ELCR serves as an information resource and clearinghouse on issues related to conserving horse properties, land use planning, land stewardship/best management practices, trails, liability and equine economic development. For more information about the ELCR or call (859) 455-8383.