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12-553. Limited liability of equine owners and owners of equine facilities; exception; definitions

A:  An equine owner or an agent of an equine owner who regardless of consideration allows another person to take control of an equine is not liable for an injury to or the death of the person if:

1. The person has taken control of the equine from the owner or agent when the injury or death occurs.
2. The person or the parent or legal guardian of the person if the person is under eighteen years of age has signed a release before taking control of the equine.
3. The owner or agent has properly installed suitable tack or equipment or the person has personally tacked the equine with tack the person owned, leased or borrowed. If the person has personally tacked the equine, the person assumes full responsibility for the suitability, installation and condition of the tack.
4. The owner or agent assigns the person to a suitable equine based on a reasonable interpretation of the person’s representation of his skills, health and experience with and knowledge of equines.

B:  Subsection A does not apply to an equine owner or agent of the equine owner who is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

C:  An owner, lessor or agent of any riding stable, rodeo ground, training or boarding stable or other private property that is used by a rider or handler of an equine with or without the owner’s permission is not liable for injury to or death of the equine or the rider or handler.

D:  Subsection C does not apply to an owner, lessor or agent of any riding stable, rodeo ground, training or boarding stable or other private property that is used by a rider or handler of an equine if either of the following applies:

1. The owner, lessor or agent knows or should know that a hazardous condition exists and the owner, lessor or agent fails to disclose the hazardous condition to a rider or handler of an equine.
2. The owner, lessor or agent is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

E:  As used in this section:

“Equine” means a horse, pony, mule, donkey or ass.

“Release” means a document that a person signs before taking control of an equine from the owner or owner’s agent and that acknowledges that the person is aware of the inherent risks associated with equine activities, is willing and able to accept full responsibility for his own safety and welfare and releases the equine owner or agent from liability unless the equine owner or agent is grossly negligent or commits willful, wanton or intentional acts or omissions.

To prepare for the ride, please drink plenty of water the day before and the morning of your ride to ensure you are well-hydrated. Staying hydrated will help prevent you from feeling faint or unwell during the ride. The dry Arizona heat can be intense, and heat-related illnesses are serious. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO DRINK WATER (and avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages) to protect yourself from the heat! We know riding in the mountains shouldn’t be an issue, however we caution on the safe side and say “be hydrated”.

When you make a booking, you are reserving a time slot for the ACTUAL RIDE and need to CHECK-IN EARLIER THAN THE ACTUAL RIDE TIME.  There may be other guests on that ride and late arrivals are not permitted.

Please arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled/actual booked ride time to ensure a timely departure. It’s important to check in with our office promptly, as delays can impact on other guests and rides. If you arrive late, we reserve the right to cancel your ride, although we may be able to reschedule you for the next available ride if possible. Thank you for your cooperation and punctuality.

For your safety and to help you maintain control of the horse, please wear jeans or pants and closed-toe shoes (NO Flip-flops, sandals, Crocs, and high heels are not allowed). Boots may have a heel no higher than 1 inch; otherwise, you will not be permitted to ride.  Jackets must be worn and not tied around the waist.  Additionally, no bags, purses, backpacks, water bottles, or similar items are allowed while riding.

There is ample time during this leisurely ride for taking pictures as our guides lead you through the forest trees. If you’d like a photo on the horse, the wrangler will be happy to take one for you when you return from the ride.

Please do not bring selfie sticks, as they can spook the horses. If you plan to use a cell phone, ensure you have a front pocket on your shirt. Keeping your phone in a back pocket may cause it to fall out, potentially resulting in loss or damage. We are not responsible for lost phones, and there will be additional charges to take you back to search for it.

We rarely cancel rides and operate rain or shine, depending on trail conditions. However, if weather conditions become unsafe (lighting, thundering or down pour), we will contact you if you’ve provided a contact number. Rides may need to be rescheduled at short notice.

For online and phone bookings:

• Full refund: Cancel 48 hours before the scheduled ride.
• 50% refund: Cancel 24-48 hours before the ride.
• No refund: Cancel on the same day.
• For Same Day Cancelation and Reschedule: We can offer to REBOOK TO DIGITAL GIFT CARD for fee of $40 per booking so that you may use the remaining credit balance on another date (This would apply for same day cancellations). If you’re interested in this option please let us know as we do not automatically do this.
• If you wish to cancel, you must follow the cancelation policy noted in the confirmation.  Any questions please reach out to us at info@highmountaintrailrides.com or at 928-354-2359.

Please Note: Special events have a different cancellation policy. Please review your contract for those details.

Please be aware that smoking is not permitted during the rides, and alcohol is strictly prohibited. If you are found with alcohol or appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of any substances—including prescribed, legal, or illegal drugs that impair safety—you may be denied the opportunity to ride. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all guests, our horses, and our staff.

Our Health and Safety Policies are updated in accordance with Arizona State and U.S. Federal Government recommendations. Compliance with these policies is crucial for our operations. If riders or guests do not adhere to these policies, they will be asked to leave the property immediately.

Special Large Group Rides may be available with advanced notice. Please note they are not confirmed until deposits are received, and contracts are completed. Payment is required five days before the event, and cancellations within five days will forfeit all payments.  There may be exceptions to refunds as noted in contracts.

We operate on a seasonal schedule providing the following types of rides

• 2 Hour Lave View Trail Ride
• 90 Minute Navajo Springs Trail Ride – OUR MOST POPULAR
• 60 Minute Tomblers Trail Ride
• 30 Minute Ponderosa Ride
• Wagon Ride

Just want it to be your family? That is possible but will have an upcharge of $200 which will make the ride for only your party and or wrangler on the reservation. No one else can be added to ride.

Please inform us of any medical conditions at the time of reservation to ensure the activity is appropriate for you.  For safety reasons, pregnant women are not permitted to ride to ensure the safety of both the mother and the unborn child.  If you have a history of back, hip, or neck injuries, we advise against horseback riding as it could potentially aggravate your condition.

Our weight limits are generally 250 lbs for riders up to 6 feet tall, and 275 lbs for those taller than 6 feet. Riders must be able to mount the horse with minimal assistance. We do have larger Percherons available for those who need them, but availability is limited. Please provide specifics during the booking process if this applies to you.

We strongly recommend that all riders wear a helmet to minimize the risk of injury associated with horseback riding.

• Helmet Usage:
  • If you do not sign off on refusal, the rider must wear the helmet.
  • Parents or adult riders can elect to refuse the use of a helmet by signing a waiver against our advice.
• Child Group Riding Events
  • For events such as birthday rides, troop outings, school trips, or any other group activities involving children, helmets are mandatory for all participants, regardless of any signed refusal. This is due to the unpredictability of horses, other riders, and the children themselves.

We select horses based on your riding experience, height, and weight. If the information provided at the time of reservation differs from what we observe, we will do our best to assign another horse. However, if a suitable horse is not available, we may need to cancel the ride. Our horses are kept comfortable in their homes until prepared for the ride, so if a change is necessary, it may delay the ride by 15-20 minutes.

Pre-paid rides are non-refundable.

Discounts and specials cannot be combined, and exclusions may apply during certain holiday weeks.

Reservations are strongly recommended to ensure booking time and horseback availability.   

We do not overbook, so if you cannot make your reservation, please let us know in advance. 

We do allow walk-ins, however horses and staff are required and may not be available. Planning ahead with a reservation ensures we’re ready for you.

While we strive to accommodate any comments and special requests, when possible, they cannot be guaranteed. If you decide not to participate in the booked activity on the day of, no refunds will be provided. If you require a larger horse, please inform us at the time of booking to ensure we have it available for the ride.

Our prices for horseback rides does not include tax or wrangler gratuities. If you enjoyed your ride, please tip your guide.

When booking online, you have the option to add a gratuity that will be given to the wrangler. Our policy is that wrangler gratuities must be earned. Pre-payment of gratuities will not affect the quality of our service. If you feel the wrangler did not meet your expectations, please contact us immediately at info@HighMountainTrailRides.com or call 928-354-2359 for a refund of the gratuity.

All reservations are managed through our booking software provider, FareHarbor. The information you provide is kept confidential and will not be shared or sold to any external parties. We are committed to protecting your privacy, and your details will only be disclosed if required by law in the event of an incident, accident, or for insurance carrier purposes.

All riders must adhere to the guidelines and safety rules provided by the wrangler. Failure to do so may result in the ride being stopped and returned early, without a refund.

Age Restrictions

• Children 7 years and older may participate in trail rides.
• No double riding is allowed.
• Riders under 18 are required to wear a helmet and must have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian.
• Riders 18 and older will be advised to wear a helmet or sign a release.
• We adhere to this policy requirement from our insurance company.  Please be advised that misrepresentation of the child’s age to us will remove all liability from AZ High Mountain Trail Rides LLC.  We reserve the right to request proof of age prior to participating in any ride and will not hold a ride while you obtain the requested birth certificate. 

Please note WE DO NOT RUN, CANTER OR TROT our horses due to the rocky mountain & forest terrain and ground burrowing animals for the riders’ and horses’ safety.  You must listen to and always remain with our staff.

We do not use mounting blocks, steps, stools, rocks, or similar aids to help riders mount the horses. For safety reasons, the wrangler present during the loading process will only hold the horse steady and offer minimal assistance. You must be capable of managing your own weight once on the horse.

To avoid delays and ensure a smooth process, please come prepared. If you’re unsure about the requirements, give us a call before the ride date so we can assist you.  You may review our Waiver of Liability by clicking here.  Waiver is 2 pages if you print it out.

Adults

All adults must complete their waiver in the office in front of our staff.

Minor Children (ages 17 and younger):

The waiver for minors can only be completed by the individuals listed below

Completed by Parents

Only the maternal or paternal parent is allowed to complete the waiver. Grandparents, other relatives, family friends, etc., are not permitted.

Completed by a Legal Court-Appointed Guardian

The Legal Court-Appointed Guardian (with proof of that designation paperwork showing Court Case #, Minor’s Name, and Guardian’s Name – we only need the pages that show this information which is the first and possible 2nd page noting the Court Doc Number must appear with time stamp on first page) is the only one who can complete the Waiver of Liability.

Completed by a DCS or Child Welfare Authority as Temporary Guardian

A Temporary Guardian assigned by DCS or Child Welfare Authority (with proof of that designation paperwork / Notice to Providers Document that shows Child Case/File Number and assigned representative that is responsible for the minor as Case Worker which should be one page document) is the only one who can complete the Waiver of Liability.

As part of any waiver of liability, there is a section about protective headgear. We strongly recommend that all riders wear a helmet to minimize possible injury associated with hazardous activity of horseback riding.

• As stated, we strongly recommend the use of our provided headgear. If you do not sign off on refusal, the rider must wear the helmet.
• The parent/legal court appointed guardian or adult rider can elect to refuse the wearing of the helmet by signing off of this refusal against our advice.
• For any Child Group Riding Event (such as birthday parties, troops, school outing, field trips, church groups, or any other group) regardless of signing off on the refusal to wear headgear, we must and will insist that all participating children still be required to wear the helmets as a safety precaution due to the unpredictability of horses, other riders, and the child.

We ride on the approved USFS trails in the Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District which is an assigned trail riding system.  The landscape has uneven levels.  There is wildlife out on the property to see and may can change the landscape as they might be ground burrowing animals.  We provide strictly walking trail rides due to the terrain. 

AZ High Mountain Trails Rides is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Permittee of the United States Forest Service in Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District