The plaintiff, an experienced horseman and stable operator, suffered severe facial injuries while leading the defendant's horse.
There were no witnesses to the incident.
The plaintiff sued the defendant in strict liability (scienter) and negligence, alleging the horse had a dangerous propensity to rear and that the defendant used improper training techniques.
The court dismissed the action, finding no evidence that the horse had a prior dangerous propensity to rear vertically or that the defendant's training methods were negligent.
The court also assessed damages provisionally and held that the plaintiff's illegal immigration status did not bar his claim under the ex turpi causa doctrine.
