The fencing and enclosures used to contain horses are essential not just for the well-being of the animals, but for the safety of the general public. In our forensic casework, we frequently see…
A myriad of exposures to hazards exist when riders engage in equine activities at horse show grounds, training/riding lesson barns, breeding operations, sales facilities/auctions, racing operations, trail riding facilities, and private farms. This article outlines equine industry accepted best practices for assessing risks in equine activities and shares case examples.
Horse farms, riding centers, showgrounds, and any other facility hosting horseback riding lessons, clinics, or exhibitions should perform routine safety inspections for physical hazards to be mitigated or equipment/parts of the facility that require maintenance or repair. It is industry accepted best practice for routine safety inspections to be performed for the safety of the public and the animals on the site.
Below is a list of physical hazards particular to equine facilities. Some of these, like sweeping up loose hay or clearing equipment from a barn aisle floor, can be mitigated easily and quickly. The equine facilities hazards that are less of an easy fix should have both warnings and guarding if it is not possible to physically remove the hazard. Click here for more on Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis.
As addressed in our article on Horse and Cattle Fencing, the type of fencing used at a facility should be based upon the type and number of animals to be enclosed, with consideration for the environment and topography of the property. The same principles apply to the gates used for fenced enclosures. All fencing types have an expected lifespan and requirements for routine inspection and maintenance to ascertain that they’re safe and in good working order to meet the requirement if enclosing the animal. Fencing risks include:
A horse escaped from its fenced enclosure and ran into the road where it was struck by an oncoming car, injuring the driver and the passenger. Our expert was retained to determine if the actions of the horse owner created a dangerous condition that allowed the horse to escape, in a way which was a cause the injuries to the vehicle driver and passenger.
An inspection of the defendant’s farm revealed that the fencing and gates on the property were improperly constructed and were poorly maintained, allowing for the horse to break out of the fenced enclosure. By applying industry accepted best practices for fence/gate maintenance, our expert was able to determine that the defendant created the dangerous condition which allowed the subject horses to enter the roadway and was a cause of the vehicle crash and injury of the plaintiff.
There are often multiple causative factors in an equine incident: for example the combination of improper rider footwear, a difficult horse to mount, and noise such as a nearby tractor starting up, can result in injury to the equine rider. There is an assumption of risk when engaging in equine activity, but this assumption of risk and the protection under the Equine Activity Liability Act does not absolve horse owners and facility operators of their responsibility to follow industry established best practices.
Diligence for the safety of the rider should be exercised by the facility when horses have a history of:
A horse’s health will largely dictate their behavior and ability to work. Each horse at a facility should have a feeding plan geared towards their individual needs. Considerations regarding the health and fitness of a horse:
In this case, a novice rider fell off while attempting a lead change maneuver during a riding lesson and was injured. Robson Forensic was retained to determine if the barn and the instructor had complied with industry best practices.
As part of the lesson program procedure, the instructor had addressed the rules of the barn and assessed the rider’s level of experience with horses before the first lesson. The rider signed the waiver and release of liability form provided by the barn, thereby acknowledging that she knew that horses are large animals and can be dangerous when participating in riding lessons. RFI’s investigation found that the barn and the trainer had complied with industry established best practice and had not contributed to the rider’s fall.
A postulated sequence or development of events should be carefully evaluated with regards to identifying hazards and risks that create a dangerous condition when engaging in equine activities or operating an equine facility. Minimizing exposure to hazards by removing them of controlling them through the use of protective equipment and administrative controls mitigate the likelihood of causative factors that result in personal injuries to equine riders.
Robson Forensic provides specialized forensic experts to investigate a variety of issues involving animals, animal facilities, and their interactions with people. Our experts approach this casework from the perspectives of trainers, facilities owners, nutritional specialists, veterinarians, and more.
Contact us at 866.658.3569 or submit an inquiry to discuss your case with an expert.
The fencing and enclosures used to contain horses are essential not just for the well-being of the animals, but for the safety of the general public. In our forensic casework, we frequently see…
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