(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, nothing in ORS § 30.691 shall limit the liability of an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional if the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional:

(a) Provided the equipment or tack, failed to make reasonable and prudent inspection of the equipment or tack, and that failure was a cause of the injury to the participant;

(b) Provided the equine and failed to make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the ability of the participant to safely ride, train, drive, groom or ride as a passenger upon an equine, to determine the ability of the equine to behave safely with the participant and to determine the ability of the participant to safely manage the particular equine; or

(c) Owns, leases, rents or otherwise is in lawful possession and control of the land or facilities upon which the participant sustained injuries because of a dangerous latent condition which was known to or should have been known to the equine activity sponsor or the equine professional and for which warning signs have not been conspicuously posted.

(2) The limitations on liability provided in ORS § 30.691 shall apply to an adult participant in the circumstances listed in subsection (1)(b) of this section if the participant, prior to riding, training, driving, grooming or riding as a passenger upon an equine, knowingly executes a release stating that as a condition of participation, the participant waives the right to bring an action against the equine professional or equine activity sponsor for any injury or death arising out of riding, training, driving, grooming or riding as a passenger upon the equine. A release so executed shall be binding upon the adult participant, and no equine professional or equine activity sponsor shall be liable in the circumstances described in subsection (1)(b) of this section except as provided in ORS § 30.691 (2). [1991 c.864 § 4]