Riding school fined after girl breaks arm
A riding school owner has been fined after an eight-year-old girl broke her arm while in her care.
The girl spent four days in hospital and had to have bones in her arm wired after falling off a pony at Bridle Grove Riding Centre, Braggons Farm, in Boxted, near Hartest.
Owner Dorothy Laflin admitted failing to carry out a pre-ride assessment form and failing to report the accident to Babergh District Council at Sudbury Magistrates' Court today.
The accident took place last July 26, when the girl and her seven-year-old sister joined several other girls on a day-long session at the riding school.
The court heard that the group were on a circular ride around the school, which has been operating at the farm for the past 22 years, when some of the more experienced riders broke into a trot.
The girl, who had previously said she was uncomfortable trotting, was at the back of the group with Laflin.
Her pony tried to join the faster riders, unseating the girl who leant over the horse and screamed before falling off.
Prosecuting for the council, Caroline Whatling told the court the girl's mother had told Laflin in an earlier phone call that neither of her children were experienced riders.
Laflin had failed to carry out a pre-ride risk assessment.
Mrs Whatling added that Laflin failed in her duty to report the accident to Babergh within 10 days.
"While a fall and injury could not be predictable the incident that led to it was preventable," Mrs Whatling said. "Had Mrs Laflin carried out a pre-risk assessment it would have determined that (the girl) was not competent enough."
Mitigating, Iain Daniels said Laflin ran the small riding school "for love rather than money".
"It is a complete horse experience. Children come in and look after the horses, groom them, clean the stables, they do everything," he said. "It is an amazing experience which on this occasion let (the girl) down somewhat.
"The children in her care are very important to her. This has come as a shock, surprise and an embarrassment to her."
Mr Daniels told the court that the mother had previously told Laflin that her daughters had been "riding for two years and were confident trotting".
The court was also told that the girl's mother had dropped her children off without speaking to Laflin, which led to the pre-ride assessment form not being carried out.
"In a normal case of things a pre-ride assessment form is carried out," Mr Daniels said. "This was an oversight for which she apologises. She will say that (the girl) was confident enough to ride and she will say that accidents will happen on horses.
"The failure of a pre-ride assessment form was not the cause of the accident."
Laflin was fined a total of 1,014 including 600 for failing to fill out a pre-ride assessment form and 200 for not reporting the accident within 10 days.
Afterwards Julian Halls, Babergh's principal food and safety officer, said: "What should have been an enjoyable experience for a young rider turned into a painful and upsetting episode for her, including four days in hospital.
"Babergh District Council was happy with the guilty pleas, but somewhat disappointed by the resulting fines as the accident was the direct result of Mrs Laflin failing to comply with her obligations to the little girl under the Health & Safety At Work Act.
"The magistrates appeared unimpressed by her failure to report the accident – and this serves as a reminder to other, similar businesses to ensure that any incidents are notified to the relevant authorities at the earliest possible opportunity."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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