Horse Facilities Council StandardsThere are thousands of people involved in the horse industry each year. The riding programs that service these people have a responsibility to provide safe, high quality service. It is important that there be an accepted standard of equine professionals throughout Ontario.
While compliance with these standards cannot guarantee the safety or competence of any riding facility or program, it will prove that the facility is committed to safety, education and animal welfare. The Ontario Equestrian Federation Horse Facilities Council cannot guarantee that compliance with these standards will guarantee no accidents, injuries or litigation.
Site Accreditation Program Minimum Safety Standards
Bill 12 - Horse Riding Safety Act of Ontario
If you operate a commercial riding establishment (lesson stable, trail riding facility, or boarding stable) then Bill 12 applies to you and your clients. On June 28, 2001, after first being introduced to the Ontario Legislature in December of 2000, the Horse Riding Safety Act, 2001 passed its third and final reading with all-party support and a unanimous vote for approval.
Bill 12 requires all riders under the age of 18 riding a horse at a commercial facility to wear 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; hard soled footwear with a heel of no less than 1.5 centimetres and/or safety stirrups (breakaway or hooded) as well as tack properly fitted on the horse. The Bill has made amendments to the Highway Traffic Act that make it an offense for anyone under the age of 18 to ride on a road, highway or trail without proper safety equipment. Ninety days after receiving Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Bill 12 will become law. Facilities found to be in contravention of the law can be fined up to, but not more than $5,000.
The unfortunate death of 10 year old Elizabeth Hader at Wagon Wheel Ranch in April 1999 strongly affected Thornhill MPP Tina Molinari and motivated her to introduce the Horse Riding Safety Act in order to help increase the safety of young horseback riders in our province. It is believed that an approved helmet and proper footwear may have prevented Hader's death.
Although Bill 12 only addresses riders under the age of 18 and also excludes competitions, MPP Tina Molinari, the Ontario Equestrian Federation and the Association of Riding Establishments of Ontario (now known as the OEF Horse Facilities Council)believe that it is only a matter of time before this legislation is made stronger by people coming forward to lobby for amendments.
It is believed that there are thousands of commercial riding facilities in Ontario and over 100,000 horses available to the general public for use in lessons or trail rides. Any and all efforts to ensure the safety of Ontario youth is a common goal of the equine community; Bill 12 is an enormously positive step in our continuing objective to create a horse industry in Ontario that demands safety, quality care, and accountability.
Last updated 2008/06/26