Court Opinion

ID: 9852624
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:33:50.74211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:30.821907
License: Public Domain

SEDGWICK, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. Keeping in mind the narrow parameter for upsetting a jury verdict, the trial court properly granted judgment notwithstanding the verdict. One prior incident of a horse running to an alfalfa field does not constitute a vicious propensity in the animal, nor can it possibly give rise to a duty to warn. Unlike kicking, biting, bucking or other antisocial attributes for a horse, its desire to eat alfalfa, even with a rider on its back, is at most a “potential danger” to a rider.
It is not enough that there be a potential danger, but there must be a propensity, that is, a natural inclination to be dangerous.
3A C.J.S. Animals § 180 (1973).
This case was not pled on a common law scienter theory. It was premised solely on negligence, so that appellants may recover without showing viciousness of the horse and scienter. Ryman v. Alt, 266 N.W.2d 504, 508 (Minn.1978). But they must show a duty on respondent and a breach of that duty. We agree with the trial court that:
The only possible evidence to find the Defendant guilty would be knowledge of the dangerous propensity of the horse caused by the horse on one occasion running into an alfalfa field while being ridden by Defendant’s daughter, at which time she either jumped off or was thrown off. This was insufficient to place the Defendant on notice the horse was likely to bolt as it did when the Plaintiff mounted the horse. The fact the Defendant continued to allow his children to ride the horse is persuasive evidence he did not regard the animal as dangerous.
The one incident did not give rise to a duty to warn. Absent this duty there was no negligence.
The balance of the trial court’s memorandum stated:
With respect to the Plaintiff’s claims the stirrups were not properly adjusted, this was evident to the Plaintiff, and the stirrups are normally adjusted with the rider in the saddle. The evidence here shows the horse bolted as soon as the Plaintiff got into the saddle and there was no chance to adjust the stirrups.
The order granting JNOV should stand only when the evidence is practically conclusive against the verdict or reasonable minds can reach but one conclusion against the verdict. Brown v. Arthur Schuster, Inc., 300 Minn. 106, 110, 217 N.W.2d 850, 853 (1974). Even with the high standard there is insufficient evidence to find respondent negligent.
Similar cases from other jurisdictions support the trial court’s determination.
In Vigue v. Noyes, 113 Ariz. 237, 550 P.2d 234 (1976), an unattended horse kicked a child in the head in a corral. The supreme court found that the fact that the horse damaged his stall by kicking flies, ate well, occasionally “crowhopped” (stopped suddenly with stiff front legs) causing the rider to slide, and acted “funny” on the day of the accident, did not establish viciousness. Plaintiff never showed that the horse’s behavior was a normal harm which defendant should have foreseen, so the supreme court affirmed JNOV in favor of all defendants.
A riding stable was not negligent for an injury which occurred when a riderless horse encouraged plaintiff’s horse to take off and plaintiff, an experienced rider, fell. There was no claim of viciousness. Hojem v. Kelly, 21 Wash.App. 200, 584 P.2d 451 (1978).
In Appel v. Heinsohn, 91 A.D.2d 1029, 458 N.Y.S.2d 619, aff'd, 59 N.Y.2d 741, 450 N.E.2d 247, 463 N.Y.S.2d 441 (1983), no negligence was found when plaintiff fell off a horse, since plaintiff failed to prove *317viciousness. The fact that the horse did not follow plaintiffs directions on that occasion was insufficient to prove the horse was unsuitable for riding.
On the other hand, negligence was a jury question where the keeper knew the horse had a tendency to rear and failed to warn plaintiff or his daughter until they mounted the horse, 15 seconds before the accident. Bocker v. Miller, 213 Cal.App.2d 345, 28 Cal.Rptr. 818 (1963).
The trial court should be affirmed.