ENOS GROFF v. SCHUMACHER (2018)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Plaintiffs commenced this action to recover damages for injuries sustained by Heather Enos–Groff (plaintiff) when she fell from a horse during a horseback riding lesson conducted by Laura M. Schumacher (defendant).  We agree with plaintiffs that Supreme Court erred in granting the motion of defendants-respondents (defendants) for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against them on the ground that plaintiff assumed the risk of horseback riding.  We note that, in opposition to the motion, plaintiffs submitted, inter alia, the affidavit of an expert with more than 20 years of experience in training horseback riding instructors.  The expert opined that defendant unreasonably increased the risks of horseback riding by numerous acts and omissions, including selecting an inappropriate horse for a novice rider such as plaintiff;  providing an unsafe riding space that had ground poles;  and failing, prior to bringing the horse to a trot, to ensure that plaintiff knew how to control the horse's speed and dismount in the event of an emergency.  Thus, even assuming, arguendo, that defendants met their burden of establishing their entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see generally Zuckerman v. City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d 557, 562, 427 N.Y.S.2d 595, 404 N.E.2d 718 [1980] ), we conclude that plaintiffs raised an issue of fact whether defendants unreasonably increased the risks of horseback riding (see Vanderbrook v. Emerald Springs Ranch, 109 A.D.3d 1113, 1115, 971 N.Y.S.2d 754 [4th Dept. 2013];  Fenty v. Seven Meadows Farms, Inc., 108 A.D.3d 588, 588, 969 N.Y.S.2d 506 [2d Dept. 2013] ).

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the motion is denied, and the complaint is reinstated against defendants-respondents.

Memorandum: