Normal Behavior of Horse (Jerking Head Back) Not Actionable​

The Court of Appeals affirmed the appellate division’s ruling that the plaintiff could not recover for injury to her hand resulting from a horse’s jerking its head back when plaintiff was holding the halter.  The Court of Appeals wrote:

Under the rule of Bard v Jahnke, (6 NY3d 592, 596-597 [2006]), plaintiff cannot recover in the absence of a showing that defendant had knowledge of the animal’s “vicious propensity” or “propensity to do any act that might endanger the safety of the persons and property of others” …. No such showing was made here. A tendency to shy away when a person reaches for a horse’s throat or face is, as the record shows, a trait typical of horses. The Appellate Division correctly held that a vicious propensity cannot consist of “behavior that is normal or typical for the particular type of animal in question” … .  Bloomer v Shauger, No 79, CtApp, 5-2-13