1. “Claim” means a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, complaint, or cause of action recognized by the Iowa rules of civil procedure and brought in court on account of damage to or loss of property or on account of personal injury or death.
2. “Domesticated animal” means an animal commonly referred to as a bovine, swine, sheep, goat, domesticated deer, llama, poultry, rabbit, horse, pony, mule, jenny, donkey, or hinny.
3. “Domesticated animal activity” means any of the following:
a. Riding or driving a domesticated animal.
b. Riding as a passenger on a vehicle powered by a domesticated animal.
c. Teaching or training a person to ride or drive a domesticated animal or a vehicle powered by a domesticated animal.
d. Participating in an activity sponsored by a domesticated animal activity sponsor.
e. Participating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event.
f. Managing or assisting in managing a domesticated animal in a domesticated animal event.
g. Inspecting or assisting an inspection of a domesticated animal for the purpose of purchase.
h. Providing hoof care including, but not limited to, horseshoeing.
i. Providing or assisting in providing veterinary care to a domesticated animal.
j. Boarding or keeping a domesticated animal, by the owner of the domesticated animal or on behalf of another person.
k. Loading, hauling, or transporting a domesticated animal.
l. Breeding domesticated animals.
m. Participating in racing.
n. Showing or displaying a domesticated animal.
4. “Domesticated animal activity sponsor” means a person who owns, organizes, manages, or provides facilities for a domesticated animal activity, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
a. Clubs involved in riding, hunting, competing, or performing.
b. Youth clubs, including 4-H clubs.
c. Educational institutions.
d. Owners, operators, instructors, and promoters of a domesticated animal event or domesticated animal facility, including, but not limited to, stables, boarding facilities, clubhouses, rides, fairs, and arenas.
e. Breeding farms.
f. Training farms.
5. “Domesticated animal event” means an event in which a domesticated animal activity occurs, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
a. A fair.
b. A rodeo.
c. An exposition.
d. A show.
e. A competition.
f. A 4-H event.
g. A sporting event.\n\nTue Dec 09 21:57:27 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 673 (22, 0) §673.1, DOMESTICATED ANIMAL ACTIVITIES 2\n\n h. An event involving driving, pulling, or cutting.
i. Hunting.
j. An equine event or discipline including, but not limited to, dressage, a hunter or jumper show, polo, steeplechasing, English or western performance riding, a western game, or trail riding.
6. “Domesticated animal pathogen” or “pathogen” means a microorganism, biological agent, or toxin causing disease, illness, or death to a human, if the microorganism, biological agent, or toxin is primarily transmitted by human contact with a domesticated animal, manure from a domesticated animal, or other excretions or body fluids from a domesticated animal.
7. “Domesticated animal premises” or “premises” means a location under the management or control of a domesticated animal activity sponsor where domesticated animals are regularly kept for three or more consecutive hours.
8. “Domesticated animal professional” means a person who receives compensation for engaging in a domesticated animal activity by doing one of the following:
a. Instructing a participant.
b. Renting the use of a domesticated animal to a participant for the purposes of riding, driving, or being a passenger on a domesticated animal or a vehicle powered by a domesticated animal.
c. Renting equipment or tack to a participant.
9. “Fair authority” means the Iowa state fair authority established in section 173.1 or a fair as defined in section 174.1.
10. “Fairgrounds” means real estate under the management or control of a fair authority, including land, buildings, and improvements, and which includes but is not limited to areas reserved for domesticated animal events or domesticated animal activities.
11. “Inherent risks of a domesticated animal activity” means a danger or condition which is an integral part of a domesticated animal activity, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. The propensity of a domesticated animal to behave in a manner that is reasonably foreseeable to result in damages to property, or injury or death to a person.
b. Risks generally associated with an activity which may include injuries caused by bucking, biting, stumbling, rearing, trampling, scratching, pecking, falling, kicking, or butting.
c. The unpredictable reaction by a domesticated animal to unfamiliar conditions, including, but not limited to, a sudden movement; loud noise; an unfamiliar environment; or the introduction of unfamiliar persons, animals, or objects.
d. A collision by the domesticated animal with an object or animal.
e. The failure of a participant to exercise reasonable care, take adequate precautions, or use adequate control when engaging in the activity, including failing to maintain reasonable control or failing to act in a manner consistent with the person’s abilities.
12. “Participant” means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.
13. “Spectator” means a person who is in the vicinity of a domesticated animal activity, but who is not a participant. 97 Acts, ch 61, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 80, §1 \n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
8
cases (
4 in the last 5 years), 2003–2026 · leading case:
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
· cites it 14× “Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Hynes v. Clay Cnty. Fair Ass'n, 672 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 2003).
· cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 673.1 (7). These are very inclusive definitions, but in applying them, we are not convinced that a reasonable person alert to the defined risks would, as a matter of law, expect a runaway horse to be galloping down a pedestrian walkway perpendicular to another…”
Schumacher v. Schumacher, 676 N.W.2d 685 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004).
· cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 673.1 (2001). The meaning of “domesticated animal activity” includes participation in an activity sponsored by a “domesticated animal activity sponsor”, which in turn includes a “show.”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 30 N.W.3d 55 (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 12× “” See Iowa Code § 673.1 (12) (“‘Participant’ means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”
Anna J. Stoner v. Kassi Taft, 15 N.W.3d 100 (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
· cites it 11× “The definition of “domesticated animal activity” under chapter 673 includes conduct like “driving a domesticated animal,” Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a); “[p]articipating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event,” id.”
Rocky Baker v. Joshua Shields, No. 07–1102 (Iowa June 19, 2009).
· cites it 16× “Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Vreeman v. Jansma, 995 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
· cites it 9× “See Iowa Code § 673.1 (2). • Jansma is both a “person” and the owner of the domesticated animal.”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 36 N.W.3d 731 (Iowa 2026).
· cites it 7× “The court of appeals erred when it equated the statutory meaning of “driving” under the Iowa Domesticated Animal Activities Act, Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a), with a generic dictionary definition, instead of recognizing “driving” as a term of art within the equine community.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(1): 2 cases
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Rocky Baker v. Joshua Shields, No. 07–1102 (Iowa June 19, 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(11): 2 cases
Anna J. Stoner v. Kassi Taft, 15 N.W.3d 100 (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
“The definition of “domesticated animal activity” under chapter 673 includes conduct like “driving a domesticated animal,” Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a); “[p]articipating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event,” id.”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 30 N.W.3d 55 (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“” See Iowa Code § 673.1 (12) (“‘Participant’ means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(11)(c): 1 case
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 36 N.W.3d 731 (Iowa 2026).
“The court of appeals erred when it equated the statutory meaning of “driving” under the Iowa Domesticated Animal Activities Act, Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a), with a generic dictionary definition, instead of recognizing “driving” as a term of art within the equine community.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(13): 2 cases
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 30 N.W.3d 55 (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“” See Iowa Code § 673.1 (12) (“‘Participant’ means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 36 N.W.3d 731 (Iowa 2026).
“The court of appeals erred when it equated the statutory meaning of “driving” under the Iowa Domesticated Animal Activities Act, Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a), with a generic dictionary definition, instead of recognizing “driving” as a term of art within the equine community.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(2): 1 case
Vreeman v. Jansma, 995 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
“See Iowa Code § 673.1 (2). • Jansma is both a “person” and the owner of the domesticated animal.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(3): 1 case
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 30 N.W.3d 55 (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“” See Iowa Code § 673.1 (12) (“‘Participant’ means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(3)(a): 3 cases
Hynes v. Clay Cnty. Fair Ass'n, 672 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 2003).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (7). These are very inclusive definitions, but in applying them, we are not convinced that a reasonable person alert to the defined risks would, as a matter of law, expect a runaway horse to be galloping down a pedestrian walkway perpendicular to another…”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 30 N.W.3d 55 (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“” See Iowa Code § 673.1 (12) (“‘Participant’ means a person who engages in a domesticated animal activity, regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”
Janey Shafer v. Frank Santana, 36 N.W.3d 731 (Iowa 2026).
“The court of appeals erred when it equated the statutory meaning of “driving” under the Iowa Domesticated Animal Activities Act, Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a), with a generic dictionary definition, instead of recognizing “driving” as a term of art within the equine community.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(3)(e): 1 case
Anna J. Stoner v. Kassi Taft, 15 N.W.3d 100 (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
“The definition of “domesticated animal activity” under chapter 673 includes conduct like “driving a domesticated animal,” Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a); “[p]articipating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event,” id.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(3)(f): 1 case
Anna J. Stoner v. Kassi Taft, 15 N.W.3d 100 (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
“The definition of “domesticated animal activity” under chapter 673 includes conduct like “driving a domesticated animal,” Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a); “[p]articipating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event,” id.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(3)(k): 1 case
Vreeman v. Jansma, 995 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
“See Iowa Code § 673.1 (2). • Jansma is both a “person” and the owner of the domesticated animal.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(4): 2 cases
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Rocky Baker v. Joshua Shields, No. 07–1102 (Iowa June 19, 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(5): 2 cases
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Rocky Baker v. Joshua Shields, No. 07–1102 (Iowa June 19, 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(5)(h): 1 case
Anna J. Stoner v. Kassi Taft, 15 N.W.3d 100 (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
“The definition of “domesticated animal activity” under chapter 673 includes conduct like “driving a domesticated animal,” Iowa Code § 673.1 (3)(a); “[p]articipating or assisting a participant in a domesticated animal event,” id.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(8): 3 cases
Baker v. Shields, 767 N.W.2d 404 (Iowa 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Hynes v. Clay Cnty. Fair Ass'n, 672 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 2003).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (7). These are very inclusive definitions, but in applying them, we are not convinced that a reasonable person alert to the defined risks would, as a matter of law, expect a runaway horse to be galloping down a pedestrian walkway perpendicular to another…”
Rocky Baker v. Joshua Shields, No. 07–1102 (Iowa June 19, 2009).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (4). He further notes that the term “domesticated animal event” is defined as including a long list of specific public events such as fairs, rodeos, expositions, competitions, 4-H events, and the like.”
Iowa Code § 673.1(9): 1 case
Hynes v. Clay Cnty. Fair Ass'n, 672 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 2003).
“Iowa Code § 673.1 (7). These are very inclusive definitions, but in applying them, we are not convinced that a reasonable person alert to the defined risks would, as a matter of law, expect a runaway horse to be galloping down a pedestrian walkway perpendicular to another…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.