Dangerous Horse Jobs

It is not in a horse's nature to attack humans but it is instinctive for horses to avoid danger and defend themselves against threats. Most horse-related injuries sustained by humans involve being caught up in a horse's reaction to what it feels is a dangerous situation. The majority of horse-related injuries occur when people are working on the ground rather than riding in the saddle, though riders are not free from danger.

  1. Farrier

    • Working around horses and working under horses involve two very different risks. A farrier, an equine foot doctor, must realize that danger is constantly near. Even the friendliest of horses can get spooked in an instant and quickly change behavior. When working a horse's feet, a farrier must always be aware of the risk of horses kicking or biting. The physical demands for a farrier are enormous, including the basic task of picking up a horse's foot. A farrier contorts his body into unnatural positions to keep the horse as comfortable as possible, not only causing discomfort for himself but also risking being knocked over and walked on. Standing in front of a horse to work opens a farrier up to being struck by a front foot. In at least three cases involving injured farriers and horse owners who have not disclosed known risks, such as kicking horses or horses known to bolt, courts have sided in favor of the horse owner. In the case of Hiller v Huyck, the owner argued that "Hiller, a farrier, subjected herself to certain occupational dangers and that Hiller is barred from recovering under the Doctrine of Primary Assumption of Risk." The owner won the case, though it was later appealed.

    Harness Racing Driver

    • Several times the doctors of Stanley Dancer told the driver to quit driving. He consistently refused, and was once quoted as saying, "There is nothing dangerous about harness racing. The worst crackup I ever had came in an auto accident." Dancer was a famed Triple Crown Winner in the world of trotting horses, earning his 3,781th win in 1995. Like countless other drivers, Dancer didn't realize the risk involved in his sport. Jim Meittinis was thrown from his sulky, the two-wheeled cart where a harness racing driver sits, as the field passed his galloping horse. He was struck by the wheel of fellow racer Jim Pantealeano's sulky. Prior to this accident, Hal Belote was killed and two other drivers seriously injured when Belote's horse tripped and fell during a race. Jason Bartlett was unseated when his sulky broke during a race, leaving him to be run over by trailing horses and sulkies.

    Jockey

    • Orthopedic surgeon Simon Moyes has treated a number of jockeys and has come face-to-face with the dangers they endure. "Without a doubt, jockeying is a high-risk profession," Moyes said. "The most common injuries that jockeys sustain are to the head and neck followed by the lower leg, foot and ankle, lower back and the arm and hand." In a 2000 article published by the American Medical Association, it was reported that 29.5% of all jockey head injuries occur entering, within or leaving the starting gate. It is estimated that 50 to 60 jockeys are totally and permanently disabled each year and two die annually in North America.