Policy and Release
In the event that an area within the State of Florida, is within a hurricane warning forecast cone, as determined by the National Weather Service, the Florida State Fair Authority (FSFA) will allow owners of horse[s] in the affected areas (“Owners”) to locate the horse[s] in the stalls at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center (“Stalls”), on a conditional basis. ONLY HORSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Owners shall use the following procedure to register a horse[s]:
• When an area is within a hurricane warning forecast cone, as determined by the National Weather Service, Owners may file a request for reservation of a Stall.
• Reservations for a Stall may ONLY be made by completing this form, on a first come first served basis.
• When an area within the State of Florida is within the hurricane warning forecast cone as determined by the National Weather Service, FSFA will begin to accept registrations. Owners with reservations will be contacted when the FSFA begins to accept Horses onsite.
• Registering for a stall does NOT mean that a horse is automatically accepted by the FSFA. We will prioritize acceptance based on the forecasted track of the storm.
COST
The cost is $35 per stall per day. This includes the clean and manure haul out fees. There will be no feed or tack stalls available. A day begins at 12:00am and ends at 11:59pm.
CANCELLATIONS
In order to accommodate the maximum number of horses, owners are requested to cancel unneeded reservations as soon as possible. Cancellations may be emailed to Dawn.Duryea@floridastatefair.com.
PROCEDURE ON ENTERING THE FAIRGROUNDS ONCE RESERVATION IS ACCEPTED
All horses will be required to enter through the Orient Road Service Entrance of the Fairgrounds. Stall assignments will be made at time of "check-in". Only horses with a completed reservation form, notification of acceptance from the Florida State Fair Equestrian Department and current (within 12 months) negative Coggins test will be assigned a stall. A CURRENT NEGATIVE EIA CERTIFICATE MUST BE PRESENTED WHEN STALL IS ASSIGNED. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT. Stall assignments must be adhered to or you will be billed additional fees. ONLY ONE ANIMAL PER STALL IS PERMITTED.
CARE AND CUSTODY OF ANIMALS
Owners or owner's agents are responsible for the care and custody of their own animals on property. It is also their responsibility to provide necessities such as feed and hay. The Florida State Fairgrounds has a limited supply of hay and shavings for sale, but cannot guarantee the availability of these supplies. It is also important that owners prepare for the loss of power and/or water and have reserves available. Owners will also be responsible for any veterinary services that may be needed during their stay. OWNERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO SLEEP IN THEIR VEHICLES OR CAMP AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. NO RIDING OR DRIVING OF EVACUATED HORSES WILL BE ALLOWED. HORSES MAY BE HAND WALKED OR LUNGED IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY.
AVAILABILITY OF STALLS
Completing this reservation form does not guarantee a stall reservation. When an area within the State of Florida is within the hurricane warning forecast cone as determined by the National Weather Service, FSFA will begin to accept reservations. Owners with reservations will be contacted when the FSFA begins to accept Horses onsite. We will prioritize acceptance based on the forecasted track of the storm. Florida State Fairgrounds Staff may not be onsite after normal business hours (7am-5pm). The Florida State Fairgrounds may also close down the facility during a critical phase of the storm and has the right to ask owners to leave the grounds. THE BUILDINGS WHERE HORSES ARE STALLED WILL NOT WITHSTAND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.
The undersigned, has registered a horse (or horses) with the Florida State Fair Authority (“FSFA”) to temporarily use a stall at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center (“Stall”) at the Fairgrounds located at 4800 U. S. Highway 301 North, Tampa, Florida, 33610 (“Fairgrounds” or “Premises”) for use by a horse (or horses) owned by me (collectively, “Horse”) and described in my registration with the FSFA. I recognize that, in the event that the Fairgrounds is in the National Weather Service hurricane forecast cone (“Weather Event”), inherent dangers will exist and that accidents of both an unanticipated and unexpected nature may arise and can occur during such time. I acknowledge that the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, as well as the other buildings on the Fairgrounds, are not built to withstand winds of hurricane force.
I expressly assume all risk of injury as a result of any and all injury to my person, Horse, and any property that may be sustained during the Weather Event, in connection with or related to the Premises or any structure located on the Fairgrounds and acknowledge and confirm that NO CAMPING IS ALLOWED during the Weather Event.
In consideration for the permission granted to me to enter the Premises, and use the Stall for my Horse during, before, and after the Weather Event, I hereby for myself, my heirs, beneficiaries, administrators and assign, remise, release, acquit, satisfy and forever discharge the FSFA, its agents and employees, and the operators and sponsors of the Premises, from activities of and from all manner and action and actions, cause and causes of action, suits, debts, sums of money, claims and demands, whatsoever, in law or in equity, for injury sustained to my person and/or property during my use of the Premises, my presence on the Premises, and/or for any unauthorized activities.
In addition, as se In addition, as separate and distinct consideration for the permission granted, I hereby indemnify, will defend and save the FSFA harmless from all claims, demands, causes of action and damages which may occur as a result of the permission herein granted, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
I represent and certify my true age my true age is eighteen (18) years or older, [or if the undersigned is under the age of eighteen (18) years, the undersigned parent or guardian has executed this document intending to be legally bound. I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FORGOING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RELEASE AND HAVE EXECUTED IT OF MY OWN FREE WILL. I VERIFY THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COPY OF THE FSF HURRICANE POLICY FOR THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER AND THAT I HAVE READ SAID RULES AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL RULES, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES. IN WITHNESS THEREOF, I have executed this acknowledgement and release and delivered same to the Florida State Fair Authority on the date and time this form was electronically submitted.
