Important Information and Acceptances
General Liability Release
ELECTIVE PARTICIPATION: I acknowledge that my participation is elective and voluntary and that my participation is not required by the University.
RULES AND REQUIREMENTS: I agree to conduct myself in accordance with Centenary University’s policies and procedures. I further agree to abide by all the rules and requirements of the Program/Activity. I acknowledge that the University has the right to terminate my participation in the Program/Activity if it is determined that my conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the group, my conduct violates any rule of the Program/Activity, or for any other reason in the University’s discretion.
INFORMED CONSENT: I have been informed of and I understand the various aspects of the Program/Activity, including but not limited to traveling to and from Program/Activity site via private vehicle, common carrier, and/or University owned vehicle, behavior of the equine animals, conditions of facilities, injuries due to conditions of equipment, weather conditions, wildlife, negligent first aid operations, and there may be other risks not known to me or not reasonably foreseeable to me at this time. In addition, I understand that as a participant in the Program/Activity events, I will engage in physical activities, riding, competing, practicing, training, observing, and competing in Program/Activity events, during which I could sustain serious personal injuries, illness (including communicable diseases), property damage, or even death as a consequence of not only Centenary University’s actions or inactions but also the actions, inactions, negligence or fault of others, conditions of the equipment used, facility conditions, weather conditions, negligent first aid operations and procedures and I understand that there may be other risks not known to me or not reasonably foreseeable at this time. I further understand and agree that any injury, illness (including communicable diseases), property damage, disability, or death that I may sustain by any means is my sole responsibility except for those occurrences due to the CENTENARY University’s negligence or intentional acts.
RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY: I, on behalf of myself, my personal representatives, heirs, executors, administrators, agents, and assigns, HEREBY RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Centenary University, Its governing board, directors, officers, employers, agents, volunteers, and any students (hereinafter referred to as “Releases”) for any and all liability, including any and all claims, demands, causes of action (known or unknown), suits, or judgements of any and every kind (including attorneys’ fees), arising from any injury, illness (including communicable diseases), property damage or death that I may suffer as a result of my own negligent acts.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK: Under New Jersey law, a participant and spectator are deemed to assume the inherent risks of equine animal activities created by equine animals, weather conditions, conditions of trails, riding rings, training tracks, equestrians, and all other inherent conditions. Each participant is assumed to know the range of his or her ability and it shall be the duty of each participant to conduct himself or herself within the limits of such ability to maintain control of the equine animal and to refrain from acting in a manner which may cause or contribute to the injury of the participant or others, loss or damage to person or property, or death which results from the participation in an equine animal activity. WARNING: UNDER NEW JERSEY LAW, AN EQUESTRIAN AREA OPERATOR IS NOT LIABLE FOR AN INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ANIMAL ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF EQUINE ANIMAL ACTIVITIES, PURSUANT TO P.L. 1997, c.287 (C:5:15-1 et seq.) (“New Jersey Equestrian Law”).
I understand that there are potential dangers incidental to my participation in the Program/Activity, some of which may be dangerous and which may expose me to the risk of personal injuries, property damage, or even death. I understand that these potential risks are including but not limited to activities such as, riding, practicing, training, competing, observing, traveling to and from Program/Activity site via private vehicle, common carrier, and/or University owner vehicle, injuries due to the behavior of the equine animals, condition of equipment, weather conditions, facility conditions, wildlife, negligent first aid operations of Releases, and other risks that are unknown at this time.
In addition, I understand that there are risks attendant to physical activities and that there are potential dangers which may expose me to the risk of personal injuries, property damage, or even death. I am aware that the Program/Activity can be a vigorous activity involving severe cardiovascular stress and/or violent physical contact. I understand that Program/Activity activities involve certain risks, including but not limited to, death, serious neck and spinal injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis, brain damages, and serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, muscles, and internal organs, and that protective equipment may be inadequate to prevent serious injury.
I further understand that Program/Activity involves a particularly high risk of knee, head, and neck injury. In addition, I understand that participation in the Program/Activity involves activities incidental thereto, including, but not limited to, travel to and from the site of the activity, participation at sites that may be remote from available medical assistance, and the possible reckless conduct of other participants. I understand that these potential risks include, but are not limited to; travel to and from Centenary University, via private vehicles, common carriers, and/or Centenary University owned vehicles, or local transportation, behavior of the equine animals, weather conditions, facility conditions, equipment conditions, negligent first aid operations or procedures of Releases, and other risks that are unknown at this time. I KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, and assume full responsibility for my participation in the Program/Activity.
INDEMNITY: I, on behalf of myself, my personal representatives, heirs, executors, administrators, agents, and assigns, agree to hold harmless, defend and indemnify the Releases from any and all liability, including any and all claims; demands, causes of action (known or unknown), suits, or judgements of any and every kind (including attorneys’ fees), arising from any injury, property damage or death that I may suffer as a result of my participation in the Program/Activity, except to the extent the Releasee is liable under the New Jersey Equine Law.
PERSONAL MEDICAL INSURANCE: I agree to purchase and maintain during the term of the Program/Activity personal medical insurance. I further acknowledge that I am responsible for the cost of any and all medical and health services I may require as a result of participating in the Program/Activity.
CERTIFICATION OF FITNESS TO PARTICIPATE: I attest that I am physically and mentally fit to participate in the Program/Activity and I do not have any medical record of history that could be aggravated by my participation in my particular sport.
MEDICAL CONSENT: I understand and agree that the Releases may not have medical personnel available at the location of the Program/Activity. In the event of any medical emergency, I authorize and consent to the University contacting emergency and/or medical personnel and to any x-ray examination, anesthetic, medical, dental or surgical diagnosis or treatment, and hospital care that may be deemed necessary for my safety and protection. I understand and agree that Releases assume no responsibility for any injury or damage which might arise out of or in connection with such authorized emergency medical treatment.
CHOICE OF LAW: I hereby agree that this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
SEVERABILITY: If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with any law governing this Agreement the validity of the remaining portions shall not be affected thereby.
I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTANDITS TERMS. I AM AWARE THAT THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND AN AGREEMENT TO INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARITY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT. BY MY SIGNATURE I REPRESENT THAT I AM AT LEASE EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR, IF NOT, THAT I HAVE THE SIGNATURE OF MY PARENT OR GUARDIAN AS WELL AS MY OWN
Confidentiality
I understand that all information (written and verbal) about participants at Therapeutic Riding At Centenary is confidential and will not be shared with anyone without the express written consent of the participant and his/her parent/legal guardian. I further understand that I should not photograph participants.
Background Check Release
At Therapeutic Riding At Centenary, we require a Background Check for our Volunteers.
Consent to Electronic Signature
I consent to electronically sign this document and acknowledge:
1. I have the right to have any document provided in paper or non-electronic form. [If you want a paper copy of any document, please click the “Export to PDF” link on any electronic form, save it to your computer, and print to sign, or reach out to a TRAC staff member to request a PDF.]
2. I have the right to withdraw my consent to sign electronic documents with electronic signature by contacting Centenary University/TRAC through the Contact Us link on our website. The legal validity and enforceability of the electronic documents, signatures and deliveries used prior to withdrawal of consent will not be affected.
3. Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements: To access (open and read) and retain (save) the electronic documents, I may be required to have certain hardware and software including, but not limited to, access to an email address, a computer/tablet/mobile device with Internet or mobile connectivity and sufficient storage to save and/or print, and a current web browser that includes 128-bit encryption.
4. By completing this consent, I acknowledge that I can access and retain electronic documents by printing out a copy of this document.
5. I hereby understand that if I do not wish to use the electronic signature option, I may print out the document(s), sign by hand, and mail them to TRAC Program, C/O Centenary University, 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey, 07840.
TRAC personnel will be in touch to discuss the next steps of your volunteer application process, which includes a mandatory background screening for volunteers age 18 and over. There is no fee for completing your background screening.