Parents sue US federation following rotational fall death

The parents of a 17-year-old American eventer who died in a rotational fall have launched a lawsuit against the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Eventing Association in a California court.

Mia Eriksson died in 2006 while taking part in the Galway Downs CCI** in California.

The writ claims the course “was made more dangerous in order to make the competition more thrilling to spectators” and alleges Mia’s horse Koryography was unfit to ride because of prior falls and lack of practice.

They are also suing Mia’s trainer at the time of the accident, Kristi Nunnink.

Mia’s older sister, Shauna, died in 2003 after being thrown from a horse at Fresno State University in the US.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (29 May, ’08)

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