Case Name: Levi W. Abshear v. James Monday
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1878-10-22
Citations: 10 Ky. Op. 88
Docket Number: 
Parties: Levi W. Abshear v. James Monday.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Opinions, containing the unreported opinions of the Court of Appeals
Volume: 10
Pages: 88–89

Head Matter:
Levi W. Abshear v. James Monday.
Damages from Vicious Horse. t
TRe owner of a vicious Rorse is required to so confine him as to prevent Rim from injuring tRe stock of otRers; but wliere tRe owner is not aware of the vicious habits of Ris Rorse Re is only bound to use such means as an ordinary prudent man would Rave used in order to Rave kept a Rorse of like temper within Ris own enclosure, in order to Rave prevented Rim from injuring the property of otRers.
APPEAL PROM ADAIR CIRCUIT COURT.
October 22, 1878.

Opinion:
Opinion by
Judge Pryor:
In a case like this it is immaterial whether the appellant had a fence or not around his premises; it can afford no protection to the appellee.
The proof shows the character of the horse and his vicious habits, at least when outside of his own enclosure, and it was the duty of the appellee to have so confined the horse as would have prevented him from injuring the horses of his neighbors. He is not to be held, however, to the highest degree of diligence if not aware of the vicious habits of the animal. The law in such a case is, did the appellee use such means as an ordinary prudent man would have used in order to have kept a horse of like temper and condition within his own enclosure in order to have prevented him froiq injuring the property of others?
If it appears, however, that he was a dangerous horse, and that fact is known to the appellee, it was his duty to use extraordinary care in order to provide against his injuring the horses of his neighbors. These two propositions should have been submitted to the jury. Judgment reversed and cause remanded with directions to award a new trial and for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
T. C. Winfrey, Sallee & Sallee, for appellant.
Alexander, Baker & Reid, Hindman & Sampson, for appellee.