T.

5-3-94

DJ 202-PL-596

MAY 4 1994

Ms. Linda A. Bowlby

President
The World Sidesaddle Federation, Inc.
P.O. Box 1104
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820

Dear Ms. Bowlby:

Your letter, on behalf of the World Sidesaddle Federation,

Inc., regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was
referred to me by the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
I apologize for the delay in responding.

The ADA authorizes the Department of Justice to provide

technical assistance to individuals and entities that have rights
or responsibilities under the Act.. Pursuant to that authority,
this letter provides informal guidance to assist you in
understanding the ADA. However, this technical assistance does
not constitute a legal interpretation of the statute, and it is
not binding on the Department.

Your letter asks about the application of the ADA to events

sponsored by horse show and horse breed associations. Title III
of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by
private entities that own, operate, lease, or lease to places of
public accommodation. Horse showing events, if they are open to
public participation, may be considered to be places of exercise
or recreation covered by the Act.

To the extent that participation in horse showing events is

covered by title III, the operator of the event is required to
ensure that individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to
participate in, and benefit from, the event that is equal to the
opportunity afforded to people without disabilities. In order to
fulfill this obligation, the operator may be required to make
reasonable modifications in its policies if such modifications
are necessary to afford an individual with a disability the
opportunity to participate in the event, unless such
modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the event.

cc: Records, Chrono, Wodatch, Blizard, Hill, FOIA, Friedlander

n:\udd\hille\policylt\bowlby.ltr

01-03038

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For your further information, I am sending under separate

cover, a copy of the ADA Handbook, which contains a copy of the
ADA and the regulations implementing title III of the ADA, and
the Department of Justice Title III Technical Assistance Manual.
I hope this information is helpful to you and that this letter
fully responds to your inquiry.

Sincerely,

John L. Wodatch
Chief
Public Access Section

01-03039