Equestrian Expert Evaluates Horse Riding Injury at Summer Camp

This case involves a child in Tennessee who suffered a brain injury after falling off of a horse while attending summer camp. The child was attending summer camp when he was taken on a horseback riding activity with a number of other campers. At some point, the child’s horse became startled, and the counselor who was controlling the horse let go of the lead line. The child fell off of the side of the horse, however his foot became caught in the stirrup, dragging his head along the ground for several hundred feet. The boy suffered a permanent brain injury in the accident and will require a lifetime of ongoing care.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Are you familiar with the proper instruction that should be given to any new riders?

2. What kind of complications can arise if feet are not properly secured in stirrups?

Expert Witness Response E-018752

I'm very familiar and experienced with proper horsemanship and instruction. If your stirrupts are properly fitted, or secured, you have the potential to be "dragged" - which is what sounds like might have happened in this case - or fall off leading to injury. It is common for a "leader" to lead a younger client on a horse via a "lead line." However, it is common practice to put a younger child on a very calm, older horse. I'm wondering if the stables provided and insisted that he wear a properly fitted, certified helmet. Secondly, I'm wondering if the stirrup was too small (or tight) and if he was wearing the proper foot attire (riding boots). Lastly, I'm wondering if the riding instructor/guide showed him how to properly place his foot in the stirrup. Only the ball of your foot should be in the stirrup (close to the toe), not the arch of your foot for safety reasons.