Legal question: If some one was to have an accident riding my horse could they sue me?

Question

If through their own choise they rode my horse free of charge could they sue if they hurt themselves?

Answer 1

Ignore everyone saying "yes, of course, these days you can sue for anything". They're idiots.

A lawyer would of course give you the far better informed (yet just as useless) answer: it depends.

For you to be sued it has to be your fault somehow. I'd ask myself:
- is the person a competent rider?
- is the person a more experienced or less experienced rider than me?
- if the accident's the fault of the horse, do I know that the horse is unpredictable?
- Have I told the rider about the horse?
- What terrain are we riding on? Is it problematic? Is it within what I know the rider's experience to be?

Two extremes:
1. Your cousin who has only ever ridden a couple of times wants to try riding your horse. Despite the fact you should know that your horse is too big and bad tempered, and the ground is bad, you say 'sure, go ahead, you'll be fine'. The accident is pretty predictable, and you could get sued.
2. A very experienced rider, who you know to be more than capable of riding your horse and the terrain, asks to ride your horse. You say yes, and point out any quirks the horse might have. As they're riding, the horse trips on a clod of earth and throws the rider. This is just an accident, and no-one's to blame. You couldn't get sued.

There was in fact a recent English court case concerning horse riding in open country which said is was inherently risky, and often an accident wouldn't be attributable to anyone.

Answer 2

The owner of the property the horses were should be liable, unless there is an agreement that someone else is supposed to be caring for the property (Like someone is leasing it) . It is up to them to keep the horses confined and off the public roads- The motorist has no fault, and you shouldn't be at fault as the animal's welfare was with another. However, as you are the owner of the horse, you will probably have to contact and attorney to get it so that it is the barn owner at fault. I hope you had them sign a contract that said something along those lines- ALWAYS do that so you can hold them liable in court. It's such a shame that in today's world you can't even mourn your horse without getting chased by some insurance company.

Answer 3

Actually, the answer would depend entirely on where you live (u.s. or other country) and if U.S. in what state and the specific circumstances.

Most states have a separate and distince area of law called EQUINE law which covers the practice of riding, caring for and maintaining horses and the equipment, premesis.

Riding horses is considered a sport under Equine Law and as such, the assumption of risk on the part of the rider is assummed under law.

If you live in the U.S., it is most likely that unless you failed to inform the rider of a condition which would render the horse a danger, although they can sue, they would have no case.

This is the issue with most sports injuries. The assumption of risk on the part of the participant.

ADDED:
For whomever has put thumbs down on all but one of the answers, I suggest you do a search on Equine law. Maybe then you can educate yourself.

Answer 4

If you knew that the horse had a certain vice e.g. biting, and the person got bitten then they might have a case if they could prove you had not warned them.
If you warned them and they continued that is their responsibility.
Otherwise no. Horse riding like mountain climbing, diving etc is a sport that has inherent risks which a person accepts when they get involved.



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Answer 5

Ride at your own risk!! This is what you'll have to tell them. Unless the horse starts biting them or attacking them then I don't think they can sue you. But make sure they know that when they ride it that there riding it at there own risk. Otherwise you'll have to say no to them. Tell them your afraid of the consequences. But if they insist on riding it after you say no get them to sign a paper that they chose to ride it at there own risk.

Answer 6

Yes they can, most likely for neglect on your part for something that you would never think of, such as the horse did not have blinders on and was spooked etc... Now if your horse is to be used for trainig purposes, just get them to sign a waver. If it is just friends, then while they still can sue, it is harder to get them to sign a waver but you should.

Answer 7

Unfortunately for you, yes. Unfair isn't it? Here in Ireland, you get sued if you broke inside a house to steal stuff and you had an accident or something (like falling on the floor)... weird huh?

Answer 8

In America, they can sue you for anything. If this is a regular thing, have the person sign a 'release'.

Answer 9

They could sue you (ah America the beautiful) but that doesn't mean they'd win in court. So if they actually sue you and you get a decent lawyer, you'll be the one winning money, because the Judge will clearly see it wasn't your fault and then YOU can sue them for difamation.
Enjoy yourself :D

Answer 10

yup sure can- it's just like people who sue the council when they fall over on their footpath, anything goes these days-even burglers who sue the owners of the house because they hurt themselves while raiding thier house- Everyones out to make a buck if they can!