This is general information, not legal or medical advice. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 999. This website provides no legal service or contact route.
Make safety the first priority
Before anything else, look after the people and the animal involved. If a rider is unconscious, cannot move, or has a suspected head, neck or back injury, keep them still and call 999. A horse loose near a road is a danger to others, so ask someone to warn traffic and, where it is safe, help bring the animal under control.
Get medical attention — and keep a record of it
See a medical professional even if injuries seem minor at first. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries — particularly to the head, back and soft tissue — show their full effect hours or days later. Attending A&E, a minor injuries unit or your GP also creates a dated medical record, which is often the clearest evidence of what happened and when.
Record what happened while it is fresh
As soon as you are able, write down your own account of the accident. Useful details include:
- the date, time and exact location
- what you were doing and what went wrong
- the horse involved and who owned or was responsible for it
- the weather, ground conditions and any equipment being used
- the names and contact details of anyone who saw it happen
Photographs of the scene, the equipment, and any visible injuries are valuable. If a vehicle was involved, note its registration and the driver’s details.
Report it to the right people
If the accident happened at a riding school, livery yard or event, ask for it to be entered in their accident book and request a copy of the entry. Where a vehicle was involved on a public road, report it to the police, especially if anyone was injured. Reporting creates an independent record that supports your own account.
Keep hold of the evidence
Keep damaged equipment such as a riding hat or tack rather than throwing it away, as it may show a fault. Hold on to receipts for anything you have had to pay for, and keep a simple diary of how your injuries affect your daily life and work. Small, contemporary notes are often more persuasive than trying to remember months afterwards.
Consider your options in your own time
There is usually no need to rush a decision about a claim, but the general three-year time limit means it is unwise to leave it indefinitely. You can read how claims work. If you need advice about your circumstances, choose a suitably qualified legal adviser.