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Maine

Title 7: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part 9: ANIMAL WELFARE (HEADING: PL 1987, c. 383, @3 (new))
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/7/title7ch743sec0.html

§4101. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [1991, c. 779, §41 (new); §60 (aff).]

1. Boarding stable. [1999, c. 498, §2 (rp).]

2. Commercial riding facility. [1999, c. 498, §2 (rp).]

3. Engage in an equine activity. [1999, c. 498, §2 (rp).]

4. Equine. "Equine" means a horse, pony, mule, donkey or hinny. [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

5. Equine activity. "Equine activity" includes but is not limited to the following:
A. Riding or driving an equine or riding as a passenger on or in a vehicle powered by an equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

B. Equine training, teaching or testing activities; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

C. Boarding or keeping an equine, including, but not limited to, normal daily care of an equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

D. Riding, inspecting or evaluating an equine belonging to another person, whether or not the owner has received some monetary consideration or other thing of value for the use of the equine or is permitting a prospective purchaser of the equine to ride, inspect or evaluate the equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

E. Rides, trips, hunts or other equine activities of any type, however informal or impromptu, that are sponsored by an equine activity sponsor; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

F. Providing or assisting in the provision of hoof care, including, but not limited to, horseshoeing; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

G. Trailering, loading, unloading or transporting an equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

H. Providing or assisting in the provision of veterinary treatment or maintenance care for an equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

I. Conducting or assisting in the conducting of procedures necessary to breed an equine by means of artificial insemination or otherwise; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

J. Participating in an equine activity sponsored by an equine activity sponsor; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

K. Participating or assisting a participant in an equine activity at an equine event; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

L. Managing or assisting in the managing of an equine in an equine event; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

M. Showing or displaying an equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

N. Operating or assisting in the operation of an equine event; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

O. Providing or assisting in the provision of equine dental care; and [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

P. Participating in racing. [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]
[1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

6. Equine activity sponsor. "Equine activity sponsor" means an individual, group, club, partnership, corporation or other entity, whether operating for profit or nonprofit, that sponsors, organizes or provides the facilities for an equine activity, including, but not limited to: pony clubs; 4-H clubs; field trial clubs; hunt clubs; riding clubs; classes or programs sponsored by a school or college; therapeutic riding programs; and operators, instructors and promoters of equine facilities at which equine activities are held, including, but not limited to, stables, clubhouses, ponyride strings, fairs and arenas. [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

6-A. Equine event. "Equine event" means an event in which an equine activity occurs, including, but not limited to, fairs, competitions, performances or parades that involve any breed of equine and any of the equine disciplines, including, but not limited to, dressage, hunter and jumper horse shows, grand prix jumping, 3-day events, combined training, 4-H events, Pony Club events, rodeos, driving, pulling, cutting, reining, team penning, barrel racing, polo, steeplechasing, endurance or nonendurance trail riding, English and western performance riding, games, packing, recreational riding and hunting. [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

7. Equine professional. "Equine professional" means a person engaged for compensation:
A. In instructing a participant or renting to a participant an equine for the purpose of riding, driving or being a passenger on the equine; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

B. In renting equipment or tack to a participant; [1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

C. In providing daily care of equines boarded at an equine facility; or [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

D. In training an equine. [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]
[1999, c. 498, §2 (amd).]

7-A. Inherent risks of equine activities. "Inherent risks of equine activities" means those dangers and conditions that are an integral part of equine activities, including, but not limited to:
A. The propensity of an equine to behave in ways that may result in damages to property or injury, harm or death to persons on or around the equine. Such equine behavior includes, but is not limited to, bucking, shying, kicking, running, biting, stumbling, rearing, falling and stepping on; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

B. The unpredictability of an equine's reaction to such things as sounds, sudden movements and unfamiliar objects, persons or other animals; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

C. Certain hazards such as surface and subsurface conditions; [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

D. Collisions with other equines or objects; and [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

E. Unpredictable or erratic actions by others relating to equine behavior. [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]
[1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

8. Participant. "Participant" means a person, whether amateur or professional, who directly engages in an equine activity, whether or not a fee is paid to participate in the equine activity. [1991, c. 779, §41 (new); §60 (aff).]

9. Spectator. "Spectator" means a person who is in the vicinity of an equine activity but who is not a participant. [1999, c. 498, §2 (new).]

The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public. If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney.
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
7 State House Station
State House Room 108
Augusta, Maine 04333-0007

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