New York Equine Activity Safety Code Bill: What Boarding Barns Should Watch

Published: September 13, 2026  ·  Status: Pending legislation

New York lawmakers are again considering legislation that could change how liability is handled for horse-related activities. Senate Bill S1607 and Assembly Bill A2320 would create an Equine Activity Safety Code and specifically include the boarding of equines among covered equine activities.

What the bills would do

The proposal would provide liability protection to qualifying equine operators when an injury results from the inherent risks of equine activities. The protection would not be absolute. The bill identifies situations where liability could still attach, including faulty equipment supplied by the operator, failure to reasonably match a participant with an appropriate horse, certain dangerous latent conditions, willful or wanton disregard for safety, and intentional injury.

Why boarding barns should pay attention

The bill text specifically includes the boarding of equines, including normal daily care. It also reaches training, instruction, trail rides, horse evaluation, farrier work, veterinary assistance, and other equine activities. That makes the proposal broader than a law aimed only at riding lessons or public trail rides.

If enacted, the law could affect how New York boarding agreements, releases, risk acknowledgments, barn rules, and insurance programs are structured. It would not eliminate the need for careful documentation or safe operations.

Current status

As of September 13, 2026, S1607 remains in the Senate Judiciary Committee and A2320 remains in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Neither bill has become law.

What barn owners can do now

• Keep boarding agreements and risk acknowledgments current.
• Document horse-handling and rider-suitability decisions when applicable.
• Maintain equipment, fencing, gates, arenas, and common-use areas.
• Keep incident records factual and organized.
• Review liability insurance and confirm what activities are covered.

For related operational documentation, review the horse boarding contracts guide and the MyStableForms state package library.

This article is general educational information and does not provide legal advice. Pending legislation can change before passage.