Horse Riding Accident Claims

Horse riding is enjoyed by more than two million people in the UK, but horses are large, unpredictable animals and the consequences of an accident can be severe. Where the accident was caused by the negligence of an instructor, riding school, stud, event organiser or stable owner, the injured rider can claim compensation. We have acted in sports injury claims for riders, instructors, grooms and spectators.

Common horse riding injuries we see

Horse riding combines a half-tonne unpredictable animal, height off the ground and hard ground surfaces. The injuries we see fall into a handful of recognised patterns.

Falls from the horse. Being thrown, dismounting unexpectedly or losing balance when the horse bucks, shies or refuses is the single most common cause of serious riding injury. Outcomes include spinal damage, brain injury, multiple fractures and shoulder dislocations. Where the horse was unsuitable for the rider’s experience or the riding school failed to assess ability, employer or operator liability is usually clear.

Crush injuries from the horse falling. When a horse falls and rolls onto the rider, the injuries are typically catastrophic: crush injuries to the chest and pelvis, ruptured internal organs and fatal trauma. Cross-country and jumping accidents most commonly cause these injuries.

Head and brain injuries. Even with a properly fitted helmet, a fall onto hard ground or a kick to the head causes concussion, skull fracture and traumatic brain injury. Riding without a current-standard helmet, or with a damaged helmet supplied by a riding school, makes operator liability straightforward.

Spinal injuries. Vertical falls onto the back or feet cause compression fractures of the spine and, in serious cases, spinal cord injury with permanent paralysis. These injuries are common in eventing and show jumping.

Kicks, bites and trampling. Injuries on the ground are often forgotten in riding claims. Being kicked, bitten or trodden on causes fractures, leg injuries and dental damage. Yards must risk-assess handling and train staff and students.

Tack and equipment failure. Broken girths, snapped stirrup leathers, failed reins and ill-fitting saddles cause falls and entanglement injuries. Where a riding school provided the equipment, they are responsible for maintenance and inspection.

Stable and yard injuries. Slips on wet concrete, manure or hay, lifting heavy feed sacks and being injured by loose horses all cause stable-side injuries that are easy to overlook. Back injuries, hand crush injuries and head trauma all feature.

Dragging injuries. Riders whose foot catches in a stirrup after a fall can be dragged and suffer catastrophic multi-trauma. Safety stirrups, properly fitted boots and quick-release mechanisms are designed to prevent this and should be supplied by any riding school or trekking centre.

Common causes of avoidable horse riding accidents

Riders accept that theirs is a risky activity. What they should not have to accept are the additional dangers caused by the negligence of others. These are the failings we see most often.

Poorly planned or supervised lessons. Junior instructors stepping in for senior staff, unsuitable horses given to inexperienced riders, overcrowded arenas, and pupils put together at very different ability levels all create predictable accidents. A horse that feels crowded or threatened is more likely to behave unpredictably and throw its rider.

Defective or poorly fitted equipment. Problems with the tack are a common cause of falls. Novice riders cannot reasonably be expected to check the girth, saddle, bridle, bit, hat or reins themselves; the riding school is responsible. Where the kit fails or is missed in a pre-ride check, the school is usually liable.

Road accidents involving horses. There are around 3,000 road accidents involving horses in the UK every year. Riders can wear HiViz and take the BHS Ride Safe Award, but cannot control drivers who pass too close or too fast. A spooked horse may bolt or shy into the carriageway. We can pursue claims against the driver and their insurer through the MIB if necessary.

Competition and event organiser failings. Fences and jumps poorly constructed or maintained, inadequate demarcation between horses and spectators, missing stewards and unsafe ground all give rise to claims by riders, pedestrians and spectators. Event organisers carry public liability insurance for exactly this risk.

Workplace accidents in the equine industry. Grooms, stable staff, riding instructors and stud workers are owed a duty of care by their employer. Risk assessments, training, manual handling protocols and equipment maintenance are all required. Where an employee is injured because the employer skipped the basics, a workplace claim usually follows.

Inadequate safety equipment. A correctly fitted modern riding hat (PAS 015, VG1 or Snell E2016) and a body protector greatly reduce the risk of serious head and spinal injury. Where a riding school supplied a damaged or outdated hat, or failed to insist on a body protector for higher-risk work, that contributes to liability.

Horse riding claims and the law

Horse riding claims can be legally complex. The Animals Act 1971 imposes strict liability for damage caused by an animal of a non-dangerous species in certain circumstances, but in practice few horse riding cases satisfy the strict statutory test, and the defendant has the statutory defence of volenti (the rider is treated as having accepted the inherent risks of the activity). Most successful claims therefore rest on proving negligence: that an instructor, riding school, stud, event organiser or employer failed in a duty of care they owed to the rider. Operators in this sector almost always carry insurance that responds to these claims.

Recent horse riding claim case studies

Horse rider sustains injury to her back

Mrs J was a keen but inexperienced horsewoman. She enrolled with a reputable local riding school to improve her riding skills and her confidence so that she could go riding with her friends.

Her lesson was in an indoor arena and she was supervised by an experienced instructor, but as she trotted around the perimeter her horse was spooked by the instructor and she was thrown to the ground, landing in a sitting position.

She sustained fractures to the vertebra in the lower back which are likely to cause long-term pain and disability.

Liability is denied and the case is ongoing, so at this stage we cannot comment in detail about the case, but it illustrates vividly the dangers inherent in horse riding. Mrs J was riding slowly, in a safe environment and under one-to-one supervision, but because her horse took fright it threw her off. Most riders are thrown off at one time or another and usually come to no great harm, but being thrown from a horse is a sudden and uncontrolled event and because of the height, speed and force involved it is often impossible to break the fall or land safely. The rider can easily land on their bottom, and that can cause compression fractures to the vertebrae in the lower spine.

Solicitor’s claim after being thrown from her horse

Miss R, a recently qualified solicitor, took up horse riding and after a few lessons enrolled for a training day with a riding school in Greater London. The weather was poor and so the outdoor riding areas were out of bounds; all the lessons were held together in the indoor arena.

This meant that there were more riders, horses and instructors than was safe in such a confined space. The problem was compounded by the fact that the riders were all of different levels of ability, from absolute beginner to competent rider, and on top of this there was nobody in charge overseeing the whole operation. This led to the horses all travelling in different directions around the arena. Horses and riders were getting in each other’s way, and the less experienced riders became nervous and defensive.

An experienced rider carried out a change of rein and cut in to the path of Miss R’s horse, which shied and threw her off.

The claim against the riding school was that this was an avoidable accident: they knew or ought to have known that the horse might have done this in the circumstances they had created. In a crowded and uncontrolled situation a horse with a novice rider was likely to throw that rider. This was not a case of a horse throwing a rider because of inherent behaviour. It was a system failure: those in control at the riding school were negligent in failing to ensure a proper contingency plan for bad weather, so that lessons could still go ahead safely.

Liability was admitted by the riding school’s insurers, so there was no need for court proceedings.

In the fall Miss R landed on her lower back and sustained compression fractures to two of the lumbar vertebrae. She did not need surgery but despite physiotherapy, she continues to suffer low back pain and may well have long-term symptoms, including the risk of degenerative change. We obtained medical evidence to understand the long-term prognosis, quantify the claim and negotiate settlement with the insurers.

How much compensation will I get for my horse riding accident claim?

Compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the circumstances of the accident and the long-term impact on your life and earning potential. A back injury that fully recovers might attract £10,000–£25,000. A serious back injury with permanent symptoms can reach £50,000–£150,000 or more. Catastrophic spinal cord or brain injuries can reach seven figures. The award also covers lost earnings, care, rehabilitation, equipment, and any reduction in your future ability to ride or work.

How much does it cost to make a claim?

Most personal injury claims are run on a no-win, no-fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. If we win, our fees come out of the compensation, capped at a percentage agreed with you at the outset. If we lose, you pay nothing.

Contact us today for a consultation

If you have suffered a horse riding injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Call 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below. We will tell you on the first call whether you have a claim and what the next steps look like.