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Do any of you lawyerly sorts know what kind of liability one undertakes 
when one gives informal riding lessons to neighbor kids?  I understand 
the liability has lessened considerably in Oregon where they put teeth 
into the waivers typically used in professional situations but:  1) I 
live in Washington, and 2) I'm not a professional.

I need to learn both what my liability is and what I can do to lessen 
it.

The particulars are this:  a fourth-grade school friend of my daughter 
loves horses, is very sensible, and needs an outlet. (Her parents 
divorced poorly, ie, without much regard for protecting their children 
from their anger at one another.)  Mom (she seems to be the main 
parent, though I think they share custody)  loves the fact that I'll 
work with her daughter.  I asked her to sign a flaky little handwritten 
waiver, then, because they had no time to really take a lesson that 
day, let her sit on my horse while I led him around inside the round 
pen for about 2 minutes.  The next morning I got a call from Dad who, 
all in the same breath, asked if I'd work with his daughter every week 
on a set schedule, then chewed me out for letting her "ride" without a 
helmet and boots.  I've usually taken a pretty pragmatic stance on 
these things--I'm pretty cautious around horses in general, and I'm 
usually boorishly concerned about the surroundings, the horse's mood, 
the weather, and certainly about helmets.  I admit I haven't cared so 
much about boots.  At the same time, I like to think that one should be 
open to experience when it presents itself:  she was there, the horse 
was there, it didn't seem like a big deal to lead her around an arena 
for a minute or two.  So, what I hope to hear is that I shouldn't worry 
too much, but, I don't want to be an idiot and lose the farm, 
literally.  If it matters, no, I'm not being paid.

Thank you for your input.
Mary K.


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