Horse Accident Lawyer in South Florida

South Florida has a substantial equestrian community — Wellington in Palm Beach County is one of the largest concentrations of show horses in the United States, and stables, riding academies, polo grounds, and trail rides operate throughout Miami-Dade and Broward. When a horse-related injury happens — a fall during a lesson, a bite or kick from a stabled horse, a runaway horse on a public road, a trail-ride mishap, or a polo or show-ring crash — the legal landscape is shaped by Florida's Equine Activity Liability Act, codified at Florida Statutes §§ 773.01–773.06.

Florida's Equine Activity Statute

Florida Statute § 773.02 limits the liability of equine activity sponsors and professionals for injuries to participants caused by "the inherent risks of equine activities." The inherent risks include the propensity of equines to behave in ways that may result in injury, the unpredictability of an equine's reaction to stimuli, hazards of the surface or natural conditions, collisions with other animals or objects, and the potential of a participant to act negligently.

If the statute applies, the equine activity sponsor is generally not liable. But the statute has significant exceptions — Florida courts will not apply the inherent-risk bar where the sponsor:

• Provided faulty equipment or tack and knew or should have known the equipment was faulty, and the equipment caused the injury
• Failed to make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the participant's ability to safely engage in the activity, and the participant's lack of ability caused the injury
• Owns, leases, or has lawful control over the land where the injury occurred and there was a known dangerous latent condition without conspicuous warning
• Acted in willful or wanton disregard of the participant's safety
• Intentionally injured the participant

The statute also requires sponsors and professionals to post or include in written contracts the specific statutory warning about inherent risks. Failure to comply with the warning requirements affects the protection the statute provides.

Common Florida Horse Injury Cases

• Lesson-horse falls caused by improperly fitted tack, a horse beyond the rider's ability, or a faulty saddle that was known to slip
• Bites and kicks from stabled horses to bystanders or boarding-stable customers
• Trail-ride incidents caused by guides putting riders on horses unsuited to their experience
• Polo, show, and competition incidents involving collisions or improperly maintained equipment
• Crashes between horses and motor vehicles when a horse escapes onto a public road
• Children's pony-ride and birthday-party injuries
• Strict-liability claims under § 767.04 if a dog (not a horse) at the stable bit a customer

Other Sources of Recovery

Even when § 773.02 limits direct liability of the equine sponsor, recovery may be available against:

• Equipment manufacturers (defective saddles, helmets, halters) under product-liability theories
• Veterinarians for malpractice in pre-event examination
• Property owners (if not the sponsor) for unsafe premises
• Insurance policies covering the horse owner separately from the activity sponsor

Statute of Limitations

For horse-related injuries occurring on or after March 24, 2023, Florida's statute of limitations on negligence claims is two years from the date of the injury.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a horse-related incident anywhere in South Florida, contact the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin. Call 786-522-1411 or email [email protected] for a free consultation. We will evaluate honestly whether one of the exceptions to the equine-liability statute applies in your case.