Horse Riding Injury Solicitors

Have you suffered a horse riding injury due to an accident caused by another person?

Our expert Horse Riding Accident Solicitors can help you if you have suffered an injury while horse riding or have sustained injury following some other incident involving a horse, where the actions of someone else have led to your suffering.

Your first step for help and support should be to talk with our specialists. We have many years’ experience in helping injured riders claim the compensation they deserve, and in helping to shape compensation-funded care-packages that protect and cater for long term needs for those occasions where injuries have been life-changing.

First of all, you have our sincere sympathies for the pain and suffering you have experienced or could still be dealing with. We understand all too well the impact that even a relatively minor injury can have if it stops you from working or completing other day to day tasks where you have responsibilities.

Obviously, if your injury is severe, with the potential for a life changing impact, then it's crucial that you speak to our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. We can then get to work on your behalf, planning the best treatments and ensuring your financial well-being and that of any dependents is properly catered for.

In Sheldon Davidson Solicitors you will find a genuine ally who will leave no stone unturned to see that justice is done and secure the maximum compensation award you so rightly deserve.

The law around accidents involving animals is extremely complex however, and the main task for the Horse Riding Accident Solicitors is to prove that a third party was in some way negligent. For this reason, it is imperative to a successful outcome that you have the best legal representation available. Those we have helped would certainly label us as specialist Horse Riding Accident Solicitors, so rely on our years of experience to help you.

Sheldon Davidson is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors in Manchester and we have a track record of success in securing financial compensation for our clients, including cases where animals were involved. Call one of our Horse Riding Accident Solicitors today for a free and impartial consultation and after hearing the details of your accident we will advise whether there is a case to be answered.

Why are there so many injuries where horses are involved?

Horse Riding is an enjoyable and popular pursuit, undertaken habitually by many people in the UK. Alongside those who practice riding as a hobby, there are those who are more seriously and professionally involved i.e. those who actually own their own horses and who compete in formal equestrian events.

Additionally, there are currently around 450 licensed Jockeys in Britain, who partake professionally in the elite and popular sport that is Horse Racing.

The most recent figures published by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) in 2015 indicated that there are approx. 995,000 horses in the UK and 19 million Equestrian consumers. There are many people exposed to horses on a regular basis, both for enjoyment and as part of their job. Despite horses being undoubtedly beautiful animals, their behaviour can be unpredictable and so there is an element of risk involved whenever people and horses are in contact.

Unfortunately, horse riding injuries can often be extremely serious in nature, and on occasion injuries can even be life-changing to riders and those employed to care for horses.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a horse-riding accident or another type of accident involving a horse(s), and you believe someone else was at fault then contact one of our specialist serious injury solicitors today.

At Sheldon Davidson, we have Horse Riding Accident Solicitors who are highly experienced in managing such cases and we will be able to advise you quickly whether you are entitled to pursue a horse riding accident claim for financial compensation.  

Types and causes of accidents involving Horses

Horses are generally gentle animals and are loved by many people the world over. They can, however, be unpredictable and dangerous, especially if startled or threatened. In such cases, they can bolt and try to unseat a rider, or they will use their teeth or feet to defend against the perceived threat.

One of the most dangerous forms of horse-riding is Cross-Country Eventing since the horse and the rider are travelling and jumping obstacles at speed.

The most common types / causes of accidents involving horses include:

Rider Inexperience – many people who partake in horse-riding have little or no experience of horses and how to handle them and this can increase the risk of an accident.

Falls – depending on the severity of the fall the resulting injuries can be broken bones, or in the worst case serious head or spinal injuries.

Crush Injuries – a horse is a heavy animal and compared to a human is on average 5-6 times heavier. A rider, or a carer being crushed by the weight of a horse during a fall, or against a wall, or gate can result in very serious injuries.

Bites or Kicks – when startled or threatened a horse will use the tools it has available to defend itself and a horse’s teeth and feet can quickly become dangerous weapons. A kick from the hind feet of a horse can be unexpected and explosive and if caught by such a kick the injuries sustained can be catastrophic and in some cases fatal.

Third Party Negligence – where drivers drive too fast or too close to a horse and its rider causing the horse to spook, or causing a road accident.

Who can I claim against for a Horse Riding Accident?

Considering all the people working with horses and caring for them - such as Stable-hands, Equine Veterinarians, Farriers, Trainers, Jockeys, Riding Instructors, etc. -, it can be sometimes complicated to narrow down who is responsible for your injury.

Horses can be highly trained, but their behaviour may remain unpredictable at times. The individual or organisation in charge of the animal has a duty of care to keep riders, road users, and the general public safe from danger deriving from the horse’s behaviour. If you believe their duty of care has been breached, you could be entitled to compensation.

In most cases, you will be rewarded for your damages by an insurance company.

If you have been injured in a horse accident at work, this will be covered by the Employer Liability Insurance, while riding school customers and trainee horse riders will be protected by Public Liability Insurance. Motor Insurance will cover injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

Some stables may also have an Equine Insurance policy. This will cover injury or death of the horses in accidents in which the animals are involved.

Our specialist Horse Riding Accident Solicitors will discuss your options with you, even in cases in which the person or organisation in charge of the horse does not have a valid insurance policy in place. We keep you updated throughout the process, so you will be informed about who you are claiming against.

Are horse riders vulnerable road users?

Horses and their riders or carts are considered vulnerable road users under UK law. A horse rider is provided with significantly less protection against a collision, and the animals are easily startled by traffic, noises, car horns etc.

Drivers should take precautions to leave ample space to horse riders, be patient when overtaking is not possible, and regulate their speed accordingly.

The shocking statistics regarding road accidents involving horses, with almost 1,000 reports being made to the British Horse Society in 2020, brought changes to the Highway Code in 2022.

Road users are now subject to a new hierarchy established with Rule H1. This law assigns more responsibility to those road users who represent the greater danger to others, with the aim of reducing the risks of accidents involving pedestrians, cycling accidents, horse riding accidents and road traffic injuries involving other vulnerable road users.

This is great news for horse riders in the UK, but accidents can still happen when proper care is not taken by drivers. If you believe you have suffered because of an accident where the driver responsible has not taken the necessary precautions, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact the Horse Riding Accident Solicitors tea at Sheldon Davidon today for a free consultation about your case.

Prevention against accident & injury

As with any activity that poses a risk to health and safety, there are certain measures that should be taken to safeguard against accident and injury and these include:

• Provision and wearing of riding hats and body protectors. This can greatly reduce the risk of head or spinal injury in the case of a fall.
• Road Riding Wear, such as Hi-Vis equipment and completion of the Riding & Road Safety Test.
• Learning to ride with an experienced and qualified instructor.

Some examples where third parties could be considered negligent and therefore liable in the event of an accident involving a horse include:

• The use of defective or poorly fitted equipment. If the horse's tack is not properly fitted there is a higher risk of an inexperienced rider being unseated and potentially suffering serious injury as a result.
• Poorly planned riding lessons, resulting in a rider being given an unsuitable horse to ride, overcrowding in the riding arena, regular instructor unavailable resulting in a more junior replacement. All of these scenarios could increase the risk of an accident.
• Poorly constructed fencing during competition which could be deemed to blame for a fall, or inadequately marked or constructed barriers for spectators resulting in a kick or crush injury.
• Improper training and staff guidelines in workplaces where horses are present can result in injuries and in such cases the employer would be in breach of the Health and Safety at work act 1974.

These examples are in no way exhaustive, so if you, or a loved one has suffered injuries in an accident involving a horse that isn’t covered by one of these examples, you should still get in contact to discuss the specific details of your case with one of our Solicitors.

Only on hearing the unique details of your accident will we be able to advise with some degree of certainty whether there is a case to be answered.

Contact our Horse Riding Injury Solicitors

Our experienced Horse Riding Accident Solicitors act regularly for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham, and Whitefield. Our team can handle cases on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you will not be liable to pay any fees should your case be unsuccessful.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service.

With Sheldon Davidson's Personal Injury Solicitors in Manchester, you can be confident that you will get to the best possible outcome following your horse riding injury.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.

If you would like more information on how much your injury claim compensation could be worth, please visit our helpful Horse riding accident compensation calculator. ​​​​​