A groom who suffered serious facial injuries in an accident while turning out two horses has been paid £120,000 compensation after a long legal battle.
The groom, who had limited experience of working with horses, was asked to turn two out together, in a different field from usual.
She had to walk past two other paddocks, each with one horse in it, and as she did so, the horses became agitated and pulled away, thought to be as one of them had spooked.
She was dragged to the floor and one of the horses kicked her in the face, causing what her solicitor described as “significant” injuries.
The groom had been employed by the yard on the basis that she had limited experience with horses and would be given supervision and training on the job.
This did not come about – and the yard manager went on holiday two days after her start date.
A letter of claim was sent to the yard owner’s insurer alleging negligence on the basis of “failure to provide a safe working environment; failing to provide adequate training; and failing to provide adequate, or any, supervision at the material time”.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The claim was strenuously opposed and as part of the case, our client was filmed by the defendant’s legal team over a period of years,” Hanna Campbell of HorseSolicitor said.
“They tried to allege that the client was lying about her injuries, an argument HorseSolicitor successfully defeated.
“A settlement of £120,000 was subsequently reached after years of legal arguments.”
Ms Campbell told H&H the yard had “failed our client twice”.
“First, by failing to provide adequate training and then by wrongly alleging that she exaggerated her symptoms, which is increasingly becoming a tactic among defendants attempting to defeat claims,” she said.
“This case is a reminder to all yard owners that they have a duty of care to their employees and that failing in those duties can have serious repercussions for both employer and employee.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
