Dentist claims unsuitably small pony led to riding injuries

A dentist has settled her High Court action over injuries she claimed she received due to being supplied with an unsuitable pony on her first time riding.

Maria Gray (33), from Belfast, claimed the animal was only suitable for a child under 14, had been worked before she got on it on a very hot day and was so hungry and exhausted its legs buckled as it was going downhill.

She was thrown to the ground hitting her chin and injuring her wrist, she said.

The pony, named “Chancer”, was “on its last legs”, she claimed and was too small for her height of 5 feet, 8.5 inches. She also received no riding instructions, she said.

She sued Gerard and Siobhan Feeney, trading as Feeney’s Riding School, Thonabrocky, near Galway city, over the incident on July 15th, 2013.

The defendants denied the claims and said the pony was suitable. They also said she was given riding instructions.

The case opened before Mr Justice Raymond Fullam on Thursday. Following talks on Friday, the judge was told it had settled.