Effective Date: March 22, 2026
Last Updated: March 22, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Horses 4 Heros website at horses4heroesflorida.org (the "Site") or participating in any programs, services, or activities offered by Horses 4 Heros ("we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (the "Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Site or participate in our programs.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Horses 4 Heros. We encourage you to read them carefully before using our Site or services.
2. Description of Services
Horses 4 Heros is an equine therapy organization located in Ocala, Florida that provides free equine-assisted therapy programs for military veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. Our services include, but are not limited to:
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy conducted by licensed mental health professionals
- Therapeutic riding programs
- Equine-assisted learning activities
- Hippotherapy sessions
- Ground-based equine activities
- Equine-facilitated wellness programs
Our programs are offered at no cost to eligible participants. The availability, scheduling, and scope of our programs are subject to change at our discretion and based on resource availability.
The information provided on our Site is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, mental health counseling, or a substitute for professional treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical or psychological condition.
3. Eligibility
Our equine therapy programs are available to:
- Military veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces
- Active-duty service members
- National Guard and Reserve members
- First responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS and paramedic personnel, 911 dispatchers, and corrections officers
- Family members of the above, where program availability permits
Participants must be at least 18 years of age to participate independently in our programs. Minors between the ages of 13 and 17 may participate with the written consent and active involvement of a parent or legal guardian. We reserve the right to verify eligibility and to decline participation at our sole discretion for safety or operational reasons.
Use of our Site is available to all individuals. You must be at least 13 years of age to use our Site.
4. User Responsibilities
By using our Site or participating in our programs, you agree to:
- Provide accurate and truthful information when completing contact forms, intake documents, or other communications with Horses 4 Heros
- Disclose any relevant medical conditions, physical limitations, allergies, or medications that may affect your safety or the safety of others during equine activities
- Follow all safety instructions, guidelines, and directives provided by Horses 4 Heros staff, volunteers, and therapists during program activities
- Treat all horses, staff, volunteers, and fellow participants with respect and care
- Refrain from attending program sessions while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances
- Use our Site only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms
- Not attempt to interfere with the proper operation of our Site or programs
5. Assumption of Risk
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY.
Equine activities involve inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken by Horses 4 Heros, its staff, or its volunteers. Horses are large, powerful animals with their own instincts and behaviors. Even well-trained therapy horses may react unpredictably to sounds, movements, objects, other animals, or changes in their environment.
By participating in any equine-assisted activity at Horses 4 Heros, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume the following inherent risks, including but not limited to:
- Being kicked, bitten, stepped on, pushed, or struck by a horse
- Falling from or being thrown from a horse during mounted activities
- Being dragged by a horse or entangled in equipment
- Injuries resulting from a horse's unpredictable reaction to stimuli, including sudden movements, bolting, bucking, rearing, or shying
- Injuries related to the terrain, footing, weather conditions, or facility environment
- Allergic reactions to horses, hay, feed, dust, or other materials present at the facility
- Injuries resulting from the actions or negligence of other participants
- Emotional or psychological responses that may occur during or after therapy sessions
In accordance with Florida Statutes Section 773.01 through 773.05 (the Florida Equine Activity Liability Act), an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities.
WARNING: Under Florida law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in an equine activity resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities, pursuant to Chapter 773, Florida Statutes.
Prior to participating in any equine activities, you may be required to sign a separate written waiver and release of liability form. These Terms supplement, and do not replace, any such written waiver.
6. Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HORSES 4 HEROS, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF INCOME, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF OUR SITE OR PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMS, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF HORSES 4 HEROS FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF OUR SITE OR PROGRAMS SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00).
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Nothing in these Terms shall limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
7. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Horses 4 Heros, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:
- Your use of our Site or participation in our programs
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
- Your provision of inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information
- Any claim that your actions caused injury or damage to another person or their property during program activities
8. Intellectual Property
All content on our Site, including but not limited to text, graphics, photographs, logos, icons, images, audio and video content, and software, is the property of Horses 4 Heros or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
The Horses 4 Heros name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks or service marks of Horses 4 Heros. You may not use these marks without our prior written permission.
You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our Site for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:
- Reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of our Site content without prior written consent
- Use any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering or extraction methods on our Site
- Frame or mirror any portion of our Site without our prior written approval
- Use our Site content for any commercial purpose without our express written consent
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
OUR SITE AND ALL CONTENT, INFORMATION, AND SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH IT ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HORSES 4 HEROS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
We do not warrant that our Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content on our Site.
While our equine therapy programs are designed to support the well-being of our participants, we make no guarantees regarding specific therapeutic outcomes. Individual results vary, and equine-assisted therapy is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment.
10. Governing Law
These Terms and any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of our Site or programs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Marion County, Florida, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.
11. Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of our Site or programs, you agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting Horses 4 Heros at the contact information provided below. We will attempt to resolve the dispute through good-faith negotiations within thirty (30) days of receiving your written notice of the dispute.
If the dispute cannot be resolved through informal negotiations within thirty (30) days, either party may pursue resolution through mediation administered by a mutually agreed-upon mediator in Marion County, Florida. The costs of mediation shall be shared equally by the parties.
If mediation is unsuccessful, either party may pursue the dispute in the state or federal courts located in Marion County, Florida, in accordance with the governing law provisions of these Terms.
Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction where such relief is necessary to prevent irreparable harm.
12. Modifications to These Terms
We reserve the right to modify, update, or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes may also be communicated through a notice on our Site.
Your continued use of our Site or participation in our programs after any modifications to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must discontinue your use of our Site and programs.
We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any changes.
13. Termination
We may terminate or suspend your access to our Site or programs at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at our sole discretion. Reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to, violation of these Terms, conduct that endangers the safety of participants, staff, volunteers, or animals, or any behavior that we determine to be disruptive to our programs or mission.
Upon termination, your right to use our Site and participate in our programs will immediately cease. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to Sections 5 (Assumption of Risk), 6 (Limitation of Liability), 7 (Indemnification), 8 (Intellectual Property), 10 (Governing Law), and 11 (Dispute Resolution).
14. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, consistent with the intent of the original provision.
15. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any separate waivers or agreements signed in connection with program participation, constitute the entire agreement between you and Horses 4 Heros regarding the use of our Site and programs. These Terms supersede all prior agreements, communications, and understandings, whether written or oral, regarding the subject matter herein.
16. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please contact us:
- Phone: (352) 620-5311
- Mailing Address: Horses 4 Heros, 16335 SW 19th St, Ocala, FL 34481
- Online: Contact Form