Horse trainer agrees to pay

Posted 21/01/2011

Personal injury compensation has been awarded to a stable hand after he was thrown from a horse while working at the yard of Tim Easterby.

The North Yorkshire trainer agreed an out-of-court settlement worth £10,000 with Johnathon Frazer, who suffered concussion, a shoulder injury and cuts to his face and body in the May 2008 incident, the Gazette & Herald reports.

Mr Frazer said he had voiced concerns over difficulties in controlling one of the horses in the stable, but was nevertheless instructed to ride the animal by Mr Easterby the following day.

He was then thrown to the ground when the horse hit a tree after refusing to turn.

The trainer disputed Mr Frazer’s allegations, but an out-of-court settlement was reached after the National Association of Stable Staff (NASS) agreed to help handle his case.

“I have a job waiting for me in racing,” the stable hand said.

He also thanked the NASS and Racing Welfare for supporting him during the case, claiming it “kept me going after every operation”.

The British Horse Society recommends that all riders wear body protectors, as they have been shown to reduce the severity of injuries.

Tim Gleave, a personal injury specialist at Ashtons Legal, adds: “Bringing claims resulting from accidents involving animals is often difficult. The prospects of success are greater for those who are injured by animals in the course of their employment.

“Stable staff risk injury on a daily basis when riding thoroughbred racehorses who, by their very nature, are unpredictable and temperamental. Where trainers ask stable staff to ride horses known to have characteristics that are not found in other horses and those characteristics are likely to cause injury, then they should take steps to ensure the employee is safe when riding the horse, for example, by providing body protectors. Should they not do so then a personal injury claim can be made.

“At Ashtons Legal we have considerable experience in handling injury claims involving animals and will be happy to help anyone who needs individual advice”.