We all know what “faulty tack” means. It is saddles and bridles and girths and stirrup leathers that are broken or so old and decrepit that they are about to break. Faulty tack is unsafe tack. In Maine, though, thanks to a federal district court judge, “faulty tack” may have an entirely different meaning.

Forty-six states have some sort of equine activity law that can be raised as a defense in a personal injury lawsuit by individuals who put on horse shows, competitions, and other events. The idea behind these laws is that some things associated with working around horses, such as falling off or being kicked, bitten, or stepped on, are so closely associated with the activity that participants should accept those risks. An event organizer is required to warn participants about these “inherent risks,” but they are not required to eliminate them. This is the genesis of the ubiquitous warning signs that show up on farms and at competitions