§ 87.003.Limitation on Liability

The limitation, and both its breadth and its list of risks are notable.

Except as the exceptions section provides, all persons — including a farm animal activity sponsor, farm animal professional, farm owner or lessee, livestock producer, livestock show participant, or livestock show sponsor — are not liable for property damage or damages arising from personal injury or death of a participant, if it results from one of five inherent risks.

"All persons" is unusually wide. The named categories are examples, not a closed class, so anyone can invoke the limitation.

The five risks:

(1) the propensity of a farm animal or livestock animal to behave in ways that may result in personal injury or death to a person on, handling, or around the animal. (2) the unpredictability of the animal's reaction to sound, a sudden movement, or an unfamiliar object, person, or other animal.

(3) for equine activities, certain land conditions and hazards, including surface and subsurface conditions. (4) a collision with another animal or an object.

(5) the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to themselves or another, including failing to maintain control over the animal or not acting within the participant's ability.

The fifth is the striking one. Another participant's negligence is treated as an inherent risk of the activity, so an injury caused by a fellow rider losing control is within the limitation.