5 Year Old Daughter Horse Riding Incident Advice

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

rockits

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
2,330
Location
Hertfordshire
Car
2005 E55K Estate; 2020 Jaguar I-Pace HSE;2004 E500 Estate;2005 Alfa GT V6;306GTi-6;206 GTi 180
I thought a few of you might have an opinion or advice around this one so much appreciated if anyone could help us a little.

My daughter has been going to horse riding lessons since about October last year so would have been 5 1/2 years old then. She is 6 in May. I have to be honest it wasn't something I was massively involved in as to what/where she went etc. as my wife sorted all this out. I have been through all my bad parent personal interrogation a zillion times already so I am not happy with myself to start with! if I had this time again I would make sure I was more involved. I have been often working on the Saturday half to 3/4 days for the last 6 months also with jobs around the house to do so never went to see her.

I went for the first time this Saturday just passed. Not sure if I was the bad omen or maybe it was lucky I was there but an incident took place that morning that is the kind of thing that changes things/people forever. I am sure parents on her will have experienced similar and can understand and empathise but it is a parents worst nightmare. About 20 mins into a 30 min lesson the horse bolted and my tiny little girl could not hold on/lost her balanced and fell from the horse. She fell under and it seems a flailing hoof has kicked her in the mouth/face/nose. She was wearing a new riding hat we bought her and luckily wasn't not unconscious or sustainained any further or more serious injuries or worse! Not that we know of at this stage anyway. The medium to long term issues are unknown at this stage.

Don't get me wrong she has not got away lightly and has been through a very serious traumatic experience. Also sustaining a very very nasty blow to her face. We are not sure if the initial work/procedure/stitches is it or that there will be further work/procesdures required at any point in the future at this stage. Her face is still badly swollen, she cannot eat, it seems there is a fracture or several to her nose and/or cheek bones. The injury is quite severe.

The riding school weren't great in my opinion in dealing with the incident as best as it could have been for several reasons. I jumped over the fence and went to her and comforted her trying to ascertain if there was anything further than the obvious initial facial injuries. We immediately phoned for an ambulance on our mobile and the emergency services weren't much cop either. Couldn't tell us if an ambulance had been sent or how long it might roughly take to arrive. Having visions that it could be much longer than it could take us to drive to Barnet Hospital only 15 mins away we took the decisions to rush her to hospital ourselves.

The hospital were massively busy but luckily we managed to get her a room on here own. She was given an initial inspection but as the surgeons had just scrubbed up to enter into surgery we were told we would need to wait an hour for them to come down to look at here. This actually became 2 hours then nearly 3 hours. A junior Maxillofacial specialist then came down and gave us an option of general anaesthetic followed by an operation or local anaesthetic with local/immediate stitches. She had half her lower lip cut through completely but it was still partially attached so seemed best to go with a local anaesthetic with immediate stitches. This was completed but unfortunately there was still quite a lot of bleeding. We discovered at this point that there was an further worse injury to the inside upper gum/lip. Needed more local anaesthetic and a lot more stitches! My little girl was extremely brave as the needle with local anaesthetic injected in was really hard to watch and have been very painful for her. We thought it was the best thing given the information we had at the time.

I have lots of questions. Firstly to myself for not preventing this happening or not allowing it to be a potential issue for various reasons. Secondly with the riding school. She was for at least 50% of the lesson on her own riding the horse with no teacher holding the reigns at all and allowed to trot unaided and even canter it seems at some point. Forgive me I am really not a horsey person at all and know nothing! I just found it strange that a 5 year old would not be riding a horse with a teacher holding the reigns at all times.

Is it normal or acceptable that this should have happened? In my opinion she is not big enough or experienced enough or in any control whatsoever to be in control of a horse without assistance or constant hold of the reigns by a teacher. Opinions?

Also the horse she was riding didn't seem happy to me (again I am not a horsey person!) but the other 3 horses in the area in the lessons seemed fine to me. It had been doing a few weird things in a previous lesson as we turned up early. Also it was dribbling lots from its mouth. Didn't seem right to me.

My immediate attention has been making sure my daughter is OK and have taken full time time out of work to help deal with this. I pay a decent amount for BUPA cover for all of us and we arranged and saw a specialist at Northwick Park Hospital on Monday. Followed by a second appt with a 2nd specialist on Harley Street today. Now I have started collating the dates/times/details to date. I want to make sure that if there are any issues, responsibility or negligence with the Riding School that this is dealt with. I couldn't live with myself if another child experience a similar incident due to this.

Should we involve the police and report the incident? Is there a governing body or regulator in the this environment to investigate and make sure there are no issues? I am not one of these litigation types but it has caused quite some amount of cost and time for us to deal with this. I am not really bothered about this or the money but need to decide what we should do about it and what our responsibilities and actions should be.

Any thoughts, advice or help? Much appreciated as I am not well versed in this kind of thing....luckily!
 
Sorry can't help with your questions, my daughters did take riding lessons (and still do) but luckily were never injured.

Just to wish your little girl a speedy recovery. I can only imagine what she (and you) are going through. Best wishes.
 
Wow mate really feel sorry for your little girl. I hope she will recover soon.
Like you I am not much interested in horses, but when my daughter had riding lessons (she was 5 also) here in Epping Forest she was allowed only to ride a Pony and teacher was holding the reigns at all times. We were told that only children, after I think 12 years of age and, with some previous riding history can be left alone with a horse.
To me it doesn't seem right to leave a 5 years old girl unattended with a horse. All that happens during a class is a responsibility of Riding school.
 
What an awful incident rockits.

I hope she recovers well.

Can't help re: advice etc. Someone else will be better qualified.
 
Wow mate really feel sorry for your little girl. I hope she will recover soon.
Like you I am not much interested in horses, but when my daughter had riding lessons (she was 5 also) here in Epping Forest she was allowed only to ride a Pony and teacher was holding the reigns at all times. We were told that only children, after I think 12 years of age and, with some previous riding history can be left alone with a horse.
To me it doesn't seem right to leave a 5 years old girl unattended with a horse. All that happens during a class is a responsibility of Riding school.

Thanks. I agree that someone should be holding the reigns at all times for a 5 year old. It may not have helped it may have been worse with someone holding them. I have no idea as impossible to say. I should have been asking these questions on the forum before she started not after the incident!
 
What an awful incident rockits.

I hope she recovers well.

Can't help re: advice etc. Someone else will be better qualified.

It wasn't the best thing I have ever watched and had the displeasure to experience that is for sure. Although we can't for sure yet it could have been much much worse so that is the only solace I guess.
 
I hope she recovers. Other than that I can't offer any more constructive advice.

Maybe have a chat with a suitable solicitor if you feel there has been an element of negligence.
 
I'm wondering why people are thinking a 5 year old isn't old enough to control a horse on their own? If it's down to competence (I'm not a horsey person) then surely the pupil will be competent enough to set the horse off themselves within an area. I have a lot of friends with horses, with children as young as three controlling them. Is this a full grown horse or a pony we are talking about?

Things like this in institutes of education have forms to sign, like the one I have to sign for my son to play ice hockey. He's not even allowed to join in and sign up to the EIHA until past the age of five, and some of these five year olds are amazing on the ice. My dad didn't worry about me when I started playing hockey, and that's with witnessing kids get their fingers mauled under skates when they've fallen over and a glove has come off, or received a puck to the helmet at 40mph+ (that bloody hurts, helmet or not!)

I think as far as having the police involved is a bit extreme? There are governing bodies to go to that will hammer down on the school worse than the police with regards to health, safety and practices

Although these things happen, I do hope your little girl makes the best recovery possible. Unfortunately we can't wrap our children in bubble wrap. My parents certainly didn't and I've had an eventful and happy life!
 
First of all, sorry to hear about your daughter's injury. Quite chilling to read as it sounds like we have quite a bit in common.

I can't really help with the questions except to share experience of my daughter's horse riding lessons. She's also 5 1/2 and been riding a bit over a year. She only rides ponies and is always supervised on the walk (on Wimbledon Common) by a 1:1 instructor. I don't believe her riding school let kids go solo until they're much more experienced and older. It's billed as a 'private lesson' and I can have a coffee at the pub next door, but I always choose to walk alongside her (gets me off my backside too!).

A starting point would be to ask for a copy of the riding school's safety policies around children. You would probably have signed some kind of disclaimer when you joined - might be worth trying to dig out a copy of that or asking the riding school for a copy. I expect they would have a duty to safeguard children in their care, albeit within the limitations of animals being present, which can obviously be unpredictable. It might be worth visiting again next week and asking other parents who might have witnessed the horse's behaviour or temperament. If there was an issue, should the riding school have used that particular houses. I know the school my daughter attends often will stable the horses and bring out a different one if they're hungry or grumpy after the previous walk. The staff are very good at spotting this (and its something you'd expect them to be good at).

I assume it's a lesson or other kind of arrangement where you leave your daughter there and they supervise the lesson (rather than you). I'm not a lawyer but I think you'd need to demonstrate the school were negligent by not adequately supervising her during her lesson.

Hope she makes a full recovery soon.
 
First of all, sorry to hear about your daughter's injury. Quite chilling to read as it sounds like we have quite a bit in common.

I can't really help with the questions except to share experience of my daughter's horse riding lessons. She's also 5 1/2 and been riding a bit over a year. She only rides ponies and is always supervised on the walk (on Wimbledon Common) by a 1:1 instructor. I don't believe her riding school let kids go solo until they're much more experienced and older. It's billed as a 'private lesson' and I can have a coffee at the pub next door, but I always choose to walk alongside her (gets me off my backside too!).

A starting point would be to ask for a copy of the riding school's safety policies around children. You would probably have signed some kind of disclaimer when you joined - might be worth trying to dig out a copy of that or asking the riding school for a copy. I expect they would have a duty to safeguard children in their care, albeit within the limitations of animals being present, which can obviously be unpredictable. It might be worth visiting again next week and asking other parents who might have witnessed the horse's behaviour or temperament. If there was an issue, should the riding school have used that particular houses. I know the school my daughter attends often will stable the horses and bring out a different one if they're hungry or grumpy after the previous walk. The staff are very good at spotting this (and its something you'd expect them to be good at).

I assume it's a lesson or other kind of arrangement where you leave your daughter there and they supervise the lesson (rather than you). I'm not a lawyer but I think you'd need to demonstrate the school were negligent by not adequately supervising her during her lesson.

Hope she makes a full recovery soon.

Thanks very much and all very useful information.

Your set up with your daughter seems much the same or similar to many others that I have recently spoken or posted on here or on the Sports Maserati forum I'm also on. The general consensus is that my daughter's set-up is not commonplace and doesn't seem as though it should have been the case. At that size/age and experience it seems more commonplace to have 100% assisted sessions in various guises. Certainly not one has said that they have their child riding at any point unassisted.

Both myself and my wife were both there for the duration of the lesson watching it all. Although it was my first visit to a lesson. Meant it was a little harder for us both and more shocking as the events unfolded. I will see what has been signed by my wife if at all and what their policy is. Thanks.
 
I'm wondering why people are thinking a 5 year old isn't old enough to control a horse on their own? If it's down to competence (I'm not a horsey person) then surely the pupil will be competent enough to set the horse off themselves within an area. I have a lot of friends with horses, with children as young as three controlling them. Is this a full grown horse or a pony we are talking about?

Things like this in institutes of education have forms to sign, like the one I have to sign for my son to play ice hockey. He's not even allowed to join in and sign up to the EIHA until past the age of five, and some of these five year olds are amazing on the ice. My dad didn't worry about me when I started playing hockey, and that's with witnessing kids get their fingers mauled under skates when they've fallen over and a glove has come off, or received a puck to the helmet at 40mph+ (that bloody hurts, helmet or not!)

I think as far as having the police involved is a bit extreme? There are governing bodies to go to that will hammer down on the school worse than the police with regards to health, safety and practices

Although these things happen, I do hope your little girl makes the best recovery possible. Unfortunately we can't wrap our children in bubble wrap. My parents certainly didn't and I've had an eventful and happy life!

It seems pretty clear to me that a 5 year old cannot solely control a horse albeit a pony in this case. An adult still cannot do this on a live wild animal so a 5 year old has little to no chance. The only exception I would say to this rule is if the child has been born and bred around a stables/horses and been riding since a silly early age of 2 or something. Only then could I see a possibility that they have any chance of controlling the animal. Even then if it wanted to go on its own accord I really don't see how it could be stopped. They are far stronger than the controlling rider of any age I would suggest.

My sole concern is around a child's safety mine or others in the future. I know you cannot wrap kids up in cotton wool and we had our fair share of injuries as kids over the years. My son broke his leg last summer at 7 and my daughter dislocated here arm/elbow at 2 years old so we are aware of these things. However to take unnecessary or poorly calculated risks is not on in my book. If the blow had been a few inches further north it would have been much worse. It could have been much much worse. This is more luck than judgement. I am not a fan of luck ;)

I am not suggesting involving the police or taking this any further at all at this stage. Just trying to gather informed info from others and opinions/advice to allow a better informed decisions to be made.

I am not playing hockey with you then that is for sure! ;) Thanks for the well wishes...much appreciated.
 
I come from a horsey family and my two daughters aged 6 and 7 have taken riding lessons at the local reputable school since they were 5.

The bloke that said who just intimated a 5 year old can control a horse is clearly nuts, a full grown adult cannot control a horse that does not want to be controlled, they weigh 600-700kg and are extremely strong and have the flight instinct.

I am extremely sorry to hear about your little girl, it is an awful thing to happen and my worst nightmare. I hope that she makes a full recovery.

Horse riding is the most dangerous pastime there is statistically I believe, and to this end our local school has a one adult one child ratio in the school with every horse being led for many months / year of lessons depending on rider ability confidence. I can't quite believe anyone would let a 5 year old canter off the lead reign, but there may be circumstances where a particularly able rider on a particularly trustworthy horse could do this in relative safety.

I would be asking questions myself of the riding school, what was the ratio of adults to riders in the school, does this particular horse have previous, what first aid training do staff have, why did the horse spook, is the horse in good health

I am afraid, even with the best safeguards and most responsible of riding teachers accidents happen, and horse riding can sadly give horrific injuries and even death. If you can personally satisfy yourself this was a genuine accident with all reasonable precautions in place then maybe best to leave it, but as you say, if there was negligence at any level then you will have to take it further.

Just one thing to anyone else who puts a child on a horse, body armour, make sure they wear it, and if the place you're riding at, or the horse they are riding makes you feel uneasy, trust your instincts, we all assume these places are run by professionals, but the truth is most are run ion a shoestring without much profit to make them truly safe, or even to look after the animals properly.

Wishing you and your little girl all the best
 
My daughter started riding at a similar age. First stables took them out round the woods with a leader for each child where the instructor thought it was needed (virtually all of them from memory).

We eventually changed schools to one which was a member of the governing body, and which kept the lessons Its own sanded compounds (the have a name but it escapes me). Their health and safety was far better, and again each child was accompanied until the instructed was happy that they were competent. Talking years not months....

She's fallen off a couple of time, but fortunately off smaller points and not under hooves. The instructors watch how they fall, and providing it's not bad are very quick to pick them up and chuck them back on....

OP hope your daughter recovers fully, it sounds horrific for all of you. Sadly these are all animals with feels and there is always a risk.

I am slightly surprised that she did not have a walker at that age and experience., and indeed at the general incompetence of it all. Again daughters stables has procedures in place for dialling 999 to make sure they get the right emergency help. Certainly not left to parents.
 
I remember having lessons with my Dad and brother. Started on a Shetland in a paddock one to one and graduated to a pony etc. Cannot remember being left alone. CCAALLVVIINN made some good points. My kids don't go on the MX track without some body armour and a helmet.
Statistically horse riding is worse than motorcycling.
Don't beat yourself up about it. We are all busy trying to stay on life's financial treadmill, I wish I had been more with my kids rather than working but we generally are doing things with the best intentions.
I hope she makes a good recovery, fortunately at this age she has a lot of growing time so I'm sure she'll be fine.
Lastly you've done everything you can to ensure she gets the best treatment.
 
First, may I say, thank goodness your daughter is recovering.

My advice on this:

1) You have to (as a family) have a very long and hard think about what exactly you want as an outcome? Set a very clear expectation to yourselves here.

2) You need to take a long look at the T's & C's that your good lady signed up to between you and the riding school?

When you have done both you can decide how best to move forward.

lf you want an apology? What will that apology look like? Who is that apology aimed at? What will it say? How will it meet your expectation?

If you want some form of compensation for injuries etc. As above: What will this look like.

If you want some form of punishment/blame? Then the same process as above.

Remember. When you start talking to Solicitor (if you do this) you will start a process off that may not get what you want, and may cost you your home, and years of grief/stress.

To many times we see the complainant stood on the steps o the court issuing the famous words "all I ever wanted was for them to say sorry". Five years on, they are bankrupt and have legal fees to find etc.

It will come down to points 1 & 2.

You may elect the take a view that these things happen (they do). Whatever you decide? Do not beat yourself up. You have done nothing wrong. Horses are wild animals. Their natural demenour is NOT to have somebody strapped on their back. In that sense we should have no expectation of trust on the horse alone (my view) Whatever the age or ability of the rider.

Good luck to you and your daughter. I wish you well.
 
Last edited:
Hello Rockits.

As I was reading your OP I put myself in your shoes and it sent a shiver down my spine. We have a 10 year old daughter who is our life. The thought of something similar happening to her is mind numbing.

I can't offer any advice but I genuinely send good wishes to your little princess, you and your family. Given the size and weight of horses it could have been so much worse. It doesn't bear thinking about.

All the best mate. Please keep us posted on her recovery.

Ant.
 
brucemillar said:
First, may I say, thank goodness your daughter is recovering. My advice on this: 1) You have to (as a family) have a very long and hard think about what exactly you want as an outcome? Set a very clear expectation to yourselves here. 2) You need to take a long look at the T's & C's that your good lady signed up to between you and the riding school? When you have done both you can decide how best to move forward. lf you want an apology? What will that apology look like? Who is that apology aimed at? What will it say? How will it meet your expectation? If you want some form of compensation for injuries etc. As above: What will this look like. If you want some form of punishment/blame? Then the same process as above. Remember. When you start talking to Solicitor (if you do this) you will start a process off that may not get what you want, and may cost you your home, and years of grief/stress. To many times we see the complainant stood on the steps o the court issuing the famous words "all I ever wanted was for them to say sorry". Five years on, they are bankrupt and have legal fees to find etc. It will come down to points 1 & 2. You may elect the take a view that these things happen (they do). Whatever you decide? Do not beat yourself up. You have done nothing wrong. Horses are wild animals. Their natural demenour is NOT to have somebody strapped on their back. In that sense we should have no expectation of trust on the horse alone (my view) Whatever the age or ability of the rider. Good luck to you and your daughter. I wish you well.

Good advice
 
Like I said, not a horsey person. So they're putting kids as young as five on fully grown horses?

I had always thought upto a certain age/size of a child then they would only be but on ponies, within a small paddock, one instructor to each horse but maybe not holding onto the reigns

If there's been negligence on their part I hope they are dealt with
 
As BM has said I would consider carefully what outcome you want from this traumatic incident. The company will have liability insurance so I wouldn't be concerned about upsetting them if you decide to proceed legally. I understand that you will be in two minds about what to do and perhaps now is not a good time to make a decision. I think you will find(but you need to check) that you will have 3 years to pursue the matter. In addition to the legal points I would say that this is at least a Health and Safety issue which should be addressed- yes they do have their uses. From what you have described I personally doubt that the company could escape liability- leaving a 5 year old in sole "charge" of a horse cannot be good practise, common sense would surely say this. The horse may also have a history of these incidents.The company may also have a history. If you feel you need to do something now you need to find a personal injury solicitor(not an ordinary family one) and clarify your situation. You will probably get a free consultation. There are also the no win no fee companies. Whilst I am not an advocate of running to solicitors after every incident in life I think this is definitely a case where I would be looking for legal advice since there are hints of putting the public at risk . The decision is of course yours.
 
Forgot to mention that whatever the terms and conditions you signed up to with the riding school no contract can exclude liability for negligence.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom