Proving again that the truth is stranger than fiction...
I’ll be picking out a specific case out of the hundreds
I’ve worked on in the past years and give you a brief
rendition of the facts and outcome. And, I may cover pertinent equine related topics.
Taking advantage of situations that have occurred to others may lead
you to say things to yourself like, “Boy I’m glad
that didn’t happen to me!” Anyway, for sheer entertainment
value, you’ll like them.
After reading the Blog, please
feel free to call or e-mail with any questions or comments. Although I will not be taking comments on this blog, your feedback is welcomed. Archived Blogs available at this link.
NAES BLOG - May 2019
As many of you know, I’ve been a very active horseman and instructor for over 50 years, a long time to be sure but one that’s enabled me to get a very good look at how adults and children have been taught and how they learn basic horsemanship.
One of my many horse related jobs has been being active in the many parts of horse shows, especially in equitation and activities where the students are taught not only how to ride but to appreciate horses and how they are so special. When the prospective student’s parent first views the facility, this gives them an idea of what to expect.
Anyway, I’ve taught thousands to ride and my emphasis has been on safety. Such emphasis has aids the beginner rider in easing any fears they had of a fall causing serious injury. As the lessons proceed the novice student feels more confident and willing to tackle more difficult and challenging exercises.
I handle many more cases involving students who have had serious accidents. The students are very often asked to perform at levels far beyond their abilities, with the result that a fall ensued. My next job is to figure out what caused the child to come off.
Most young children have a desire to ride and, of course, they instantly fall in love with all the horses. For the parent, several things should be evident and the unsafe things should jump right out, such as a bare electrical wire, or a nail that sticks out in a stall, etc. The parent must always be very observant and they should not be reticent to remark out loud, “Hey, why is there this sharp nail sticking out in the stall?”
However, as a parent, you must evaluate the entire situation and it sure helps to make the employees of the stable aware that they are looking out for accident causing items. Most parents who haven’t had any activities around horses may not be aware of the specific areas such as tack and equipment, the horse’s physical condition and the cleanliness of the overall facility.
Most parents have a basic idea if they get a bad feeling that all may not be good. The prospective student’s parent or guardian should ask to see a lesson and just how it is run. Good instructors should never have a problem with having an outside observer.
So it’s very important that you make sure the new stable is aware that you’re looking out for things that could cause someone to get hurt. This also brings me up to the very important area of protective headgear. The new stable really should mandate the use of a properly fitted helmet for every rider, including the instructors. That rule may piss off the employees but it sure sets a good example for the riding students later. (Plus, if the employees don’t like the rule they can go elsewhere to work).
When I’m reviewing a new case, the above are simply just a few of the items I look for and often times the simple things are the cause of the accident.
Later in some of the next Cases of the Month I’ll give further ideas that you as a parent and I, as the accident investigator, should look for.
Archived Blogs - at this link
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NAES is the leader in multiple breed equine appraisals. We can give you the most accurate and professional qualified appraisal in the industry. more...
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| David D. Johnson operates North American Equine Services,
LLC as its President and CEO. The company, based in Phoenix,
Arizona specializes in litigation consulting, related activities
and horse appraisals for the legal and insurance communities
and has been doing so for the past 30 years throughout North
America. more... |
| As the premier financial appraisers and evaluators of the equestrian sport in the United States and North America and because we operate in the public spotlight, we are expected to conduct our affairs in a manner consistent with the great trust that has been placed in us. more... |
As a licensed official with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Mr. Johnson fully supports and promotes the organization’s efforts with the safety and welfare of horses and riders. The USEF has instituted a Safe Sport Policy available at this link.
Questions and answers regarding the USEF Policy are available as FAQ’s at this link. NAES has had similar policies in place since its inception.
NAES clients expect absolute confidentiality in their dealings with our firm. more... |
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May 2019
When purchasing your next horse, make sure your vet examines all medical records from the previous owners. They will aid in focusing the pre-purchase examination toward possible soft tissue injuries requiring ultrasound tests. |
| Current & Past Tips |
NAES, while not giving legal advise of any kind, provides a full range of services to horse owners, and the legal and insurance communities. Check our Legal Services page for more.
- FREE phone discussion for however long it takes to discuss anything horse-related.
- NAES can then guide you in the areas of standards & practices, accident investigation and anything involving horse activities.
- We also provide expert witness testimony for settlement conferences, arbitrations, mediations and at trial. |
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