Horse trainer gets compensation

A Lincs horse trainer paralysed from the waist down in a riding accident has been awarded £1.5m compensation at London's High Court.

Sally Wilson, 50, of Saltfleetby, fell on to the concrete yard when the mare she had mounted reared in March 2004.

Mrs Wilson sued the owners of the mare, whom she was training for racing.

Her lawyers said the owners had failed to tell her the animal had been in an accident which may have left her in discomfort and prone to rearing up.

Mrs Wilson and her husband trained Arab racehorses at their yard attached to their home in Saltfleetby near Louth.

Whilst no amount of money can turn back the clock, the damages will enable her to enjoy a much better quality of life Ben Townsend, Sally Wilson's solicitor

The horse's owners were sued for alleged breach of their common law duty of care under the Animals Act.

However, Mr David Westcott QC, for Mrs Wilson, told the court they "fiercely dispute" liability in the case.

He said the mare was normally well-behaved, but prior to the accident, had backed into and broken a gate and had to be checked for injury.

She reared as her girth was being tightened and subsequent investigations indicated that back discomforfort may have caused her unexpected behaviour, Mr Westcott argued.

Mrs Wilson's solicitor Ben Townsend, said after the settlement: "Mrs Wilson is pleased that this matter has been concluded and is looking forward to getting on with the rest of her life...

"Whilst no amount of money can turn back the clock, the damages will enable her to enjoy a much better quality of life."