The legislature recognizes that persons who participate in or observe equine activities may incur injuries as a result of the numerous inherent risks involved in such activities. The legislature also finds that the state and its citizens derive numerous personal and economic benefits from such activities. It is the purpose of the legislature to encourage owners, trainers, operators and promoters to sponsor or engage in equine activities by providing that no person shall recover for injuries resulting from the risks related to the behavior of equine animals while engaged in any equine activities.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 117, § 2.

Effective dates. — Laws 1993, ch. 117 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 18, 1993, 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.

Purpose of Act. — The Equine Liability Act was written to balance the sometimes competing interests of equine operators and their patrons. Berlangieri v. Running Elk Corp., 2003-NMSC-024, 134 N.M. 341, 76 P.3d 1098.

Liability releases disallowed. — The policy generally expressed in the Equine Liability Act and other factors trigger the public policy exception to the general rule that liability releases for negligence are enforceable. Berlangieri v. Running Elk Corp., 2003-NMSC-024, 134 N.M. 341, 76 P.3d 1098.

Disallowing liability releases for negligence furthers the purposes of the Equine Liability Act as expressed in this section. Berlangieri v. Running Elk Corp., 2003-NMSC-024, 134 N.M. 341, 76 P.3d 1098.