There has been an interesting news item running down here in Devon. It concerns a riding stables who hire out horses for rides and riding instruction. A couple of months ago, a child was thrown from a horse (whilst under instruction) and true to form the parents of the said child have sued the riding stables because as they put it, the stables were liable because it was they that put the child on a horse that could/might/would throw a rider. The court and judge found IN FAVOUR of the parents. The riding stables are taking the case to tribunal for an over rule of the judgement. It is stated that the horse in question had never thrown before and was as meek and mild as they came. It would appear that the court ruling didn't take into consideration that a horse is it's own entity and has through time immamorial thrown their passengers even though the horse, (a wild animal) has been, over the years, socially tamed
by humans.
What worries me greatly is the principal that the court/judge has ruled upon.
Let us broaden the horizon with this principal and see how it can affect other sports, because if this rule stands then every Equestrian Centre in the U.K. would probably be forced to close because of no Insurance company wanting to take the risk.
Take archery. If an injury was to happen to a beginner whilst under instruction, say bowstring hitting boob/arm (as it does with lots of beginners who have'nt yet been taught proper posture or muscle memory through time constraints or other) then would it leave the door open for that beginner to sue the club for damages caused by injury sustained? And if the beginner was in a position to sue, based on the above ruling, would the
GNAS insurance policy, cover the litigation process and support for said club (or even instructor) in the event of the court/judge finding infavour of the beginner? I'm hoping that common sense prevails and that the ruling will be overturned but if not then all sports (and not just archery) are in serious trouble with coaching/instruction infrastructures.
Watch this space.