Teenager sues for 3million after fall from ex racer

I find it unbelievable this has got to court tbh. Any time any humans clambers onto the back of a living animal you are knowingly taking your life into your own hands. I've gone smack onto tarmac from a canter on a 15hand animal and walked away with bruises. Yet other people have taken a tumble from a walk plodding round a school, landed funny and broken numerous bones etc. Even the quietest most trustworthy animal can take a fright, get a sting etc. and act out of character so IMO if you get onto an animal (of any kind) you must always know that you might come away from it hurt, dead, or anywhere in between.
 
But can a 14 year old reasonably be expected to have the life skills necessary to assess the risk? I think it unlikely, therefore the adult owner of the horse is required to do so.
 
I think a 14 year old should know the risks, I did at that age when I was learning to ride. If the girl was supposed to be a better rider than the owner, then she is saying she can handle the horse? It is illegal to drive a car in this country without insurance, so why can it not be the same with horses? I know it would be difficult to impose and there will be people saying its another tax, but if you leave your field and ride on the roads or have someone else ride your horses then you should be insured. Then if anything happens at least you are covered and as said don't have the worry of losing your home to cover costs. Look at this woman who is claiming 1.6 million for breaking her ankle in a car crash, saying she can't work and has her husband not working as her full time career. She worked as a NHS administrator for goodness sake. Being paralysed is obviously life changing and the person should be helped, but she chose to get on the horse in the first place and unfortunately has to live with that, as I'm sure the owner has to live with the guilt of it.
 
Millikins - spot on I think.

I don't know a single knowledgeable horse friend who would think that putting a child on an ex race horse in an open space is a good idea, no matter what they say their experience is.

The owner says that the child was more experienced than her (so she is admitting that she knows very little) but having more experience doesn't make you an expert - 'having a pony' when you are 14 doesn't make you experienced in riding other horses. Who hasn't sat on their pony bareback at that age, it doesn't mean you can sit an ex race horse in an open space.

The version that the horse broke into trot and the rider 'held her up' (strange terminology for an experienced rider surely?) and the horse cantered and bucked sounds hugely more plausible than the owner's version of she fell off walking down a slope - either she is experienced in which case she wouldn't have fallen off on a slope in walk, or she isn't as experienced as they thought and panicked slightly when the horse broke into trot, grabbed at it and upset the horse further.

It is negligent to allow someone on your horse if you don't know how it will react in the situation you put it in. I let my daughter's friend ride my sensible, sane horse in the school but I quickly assessed that she wasn't capable of riding him out, so I didn't let her.

It's normal for teenagers to think they know it all, but as adults we should know they don't and be responsible for them.

With a lifetime of needing care and help, she has to sue - I for one hope she wins.
 
Right people! Let's get this theory of Ex Racehorse out of your heads!!!

This horse is 14yo now. She ran ONCE in a point to point at 5yo. She was so slow and so far tailed off she refused to jump one of the last fences. She has been out of racing for 9 years! So very likely to have done things in those 9 years even if it was only happy hacking!

The bloodlines she holds are well known for being genuine, nice, laid back horses on both sides.

This is not your typical ex-racehorse. They are playing on that aspect and giving these wonderful horses a bad name!
 
Let's get rid of the idea of a child who doesn't know the risks, too. She had a pony of her own which she rode bareback. She went to the pre purchase inspection with the woman who bought the horse and rode it before it was bought.

I feel very sorry for her. I even hope she gets some money. But is the insurance company or the mother liable? We'll have to see what the judge says.
 
I feel terrible for everyone involved.

It is understandable why the poor girl is looking to get some help with her now dramatically changed life.

However, the stress and pressure the owner of the horse is now under must be incredible. All through a genuine accident. I find it terrifying that she could stand to lose everything, and end up millions in debt, bankrupt, losing her home and all her assets, all through an accident.

Sure if she has appropriate insurance then they might cover it. But many have a claim limit, and the third party cover on some does not cover other riders.


I can see if it was criminal, and the owner inflicted these injuries on the girl, or if she was found to be completely negligent, But I think a balance has to be struck between holding innocent people accountable for genuine accidents, and to mitigate those who are injured. There is no point in destroying 2 lives here!

I guess the arguement is going to be centered around if the owner was negligent, and if that negligence resulted in the injuries.

I am sure like many, when I was 14 I was working in a riding school, breaking and schooling the youngsters that came in. I jumped on everything and it would never have crossed my mind to think about insurance!

Although this highlights why adequete insurance cover is a must, it would be impossible to insure against every possible scenario in which someone could sue you.
 
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Yes I feel a 14yr old would definitely be aware of risk, and certainly her parents (who were apparently rung for their consent?) would/should. It doesn't make a difference to me whether this was an ex racer, a dressage horse or their lead rein welshie - animals freak out sometimes, and riding them = risk of death and serious injury. This was not a riding school environment, where inexperienced riders would specifically go, knowing there were horses to match their skill level and insurance to pay out in the event of someone's risk calculations being wrong. Hop on a friend's horse, deal with the consequences imo.
 
alainax said:
Saw this today too
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...biking-course-sues-gung-ho-instructor-4m.html
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He's certainly kept his options open in his qualification stakes - just on off those options would've kept me busy!!

Just shows that there are risks in everything, and that sometimes accidents happen. No instructor or teacher can protect from every risk, especially when the person being coached or taught can still make their own decision or have full 'control' over whatever they are handling, albeit horse/bike/car/yo-yo.

Feel for all involved - nasty place to find yourself in.

On a side note - can you be a solicitor AND a barrister?
 
So she won Another good reason that no one and I mean no one ever rides my horses Not sure who is in the right or wrong here but lives ruin akl round one physically and one financially sad for all concerned riding is a dangerous activity
 
horselib said:
So she won Another good reason that no one and I mean no one ever rides my horses Not sure who is in the right or wrong here but lives ruin akl round one physically and one financially sad for all concerned riding is a dangerous activity
Click to expand...

A dangerous activity where risks can be minimised. In this situation they weren't.

alainax said:
That result is terrifying.
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Idiotic actions have consequences.
 
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