Riding Instructor, Who Faced a Horrifying Accident in the Same Hotel Visited by Prince Harry, Sues the Property for Over $250,000

A horse riding accident can be as brutal as they come. Falling off a galloping horse can result in serious injuries, that can turn out to be fatal as well. A similar misfortune befell a horse rider and a trainer at a famous hotel that provides equestrian lessons and is frequently visited by Royalty. The rider suffered lethal injuries, but fortunately, survived.

The 26-year-old Katie Haigh is a riding instructor at the Coworth Park Hotel in Berkshire. The hotel, situated 10 minutes away from the Ascot Racecourse, is famous for its equestrian heritage and also being the stay of Prince Harry before the day of his nuptials. After suffering a horrific accident during a horse riding lesson, the injured instructor filed a suit against the hotel, asking for damages from the court.

Equestrian files for damages after a near-fatal accident

The Coworth Park Hotel, a 5-star country hotel in Surrey, stands in Coworth Park, a 240-acre large property that offers lessons to budding equestrians. Katie Haigh was an instructor at Coworth Park Hotel and suffered serious injuries during a lesson to a novice rider. The riding instructor, who was born without one leg, was atop a palomino horse called Soda when the incident occurred.

According to The Daily Mail, the rider was trying to teach her student how to rise at a trot. During the lesson, her horse Soda suddenly shot forward uncontrollably and started to bolt. As per Haigh’s claims, Soda had not been exercised properly, and the lesson was taking place on a path where the horses are exercised at a canter. Katie Haigh wears a prosthetic on one leg which got dislodged and she lost a stirrup as the horse bolted forward. Worried that Soda’s actions would prompt her pupil’s horse to behave in the same manner as well, and scared that Soda would jump off a fence or worse, Katie decided to throw herself off the horse.

Read more: Things Take a Horrifying Turn as Famous Person Gets Hospitalized After Freak Horse-Riding Accident

As she fell on the track, Haigh suffered moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, injuries to her spleen and lungs, amnesia, and cognitive difficulties which resulted in her not being able to form day-to-day memories. As a result of the accident, the riding instructor is now not able to function independently and also has difficulties with fine motor skills. The incident took place in 2019, on a day when the grass fields usually used for horse riding lessons were waterlogged. Katie filed a suit under the Animals Act 1971, alleging that Coworth has breached its strict liability under the law.

Coworth Park to pay over $250,000 in damages?

The 5-star hotel is not only known for Prince Harry staying over. In fact, Prince Harry and his older brother Prince William frequently played polo on the grounds of the elegant Georgian hotel. Coworth is also famous for all things equestrian. According to its official website, it boasts “Beautifully bred, well trained and immaculately presented horses are available for all abilities to ride across our 240 acre private estate.” According to the report by The Daily Mail, Katie alleged that the horse she was given to ride was untrained.

Her list of accusations also included the fact that there was no proper area for her to teach the beginners in, which meant she had to take the lessons on the oval track, a place where horses are used to gallop at full speeds. Katie Haigh has approached the High Court, and Coworth has filed a defense as well, meaning they are contesting her claims. Only time will tell whether actual negligence was caused by the hotel or not.

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