Horse groom sues stables for £1,000,000 after being kicked in the face by a pony
A horse groom who lost 13 of her teeth and was left with a speech impediment after being kicked in the face by a horse is suing a stable for £1,000,000.
Amber Carling, 27, had been tending to a horse at a Nottinghamshire stables on 2 November 2020 when a horse named Jake kicked out at her.
The accident left Ms Carling with a shattered jaw and ‘altered speech’ affecting her ‘ability to pronounce certain words’.
The incident took place at the premises of Caunton Manor Equestrian LLP, owned by former Burberry chairman and British tycoon Sir John Peace, who is reportedly worth £75 million.
His wife, Christine, and eldest daughter, Victoria Wright, are also partnership members of the business.
Ms Carling is now suing the company after suffering serious injuries.
Sir John’s business have admitted liability for the groom’s injuries, but disputed the amount of compensation claimed.
Lawyers for Ms Carling wrote in court documents: ‘The defendant carried on business as a racehorse trainer in Retford.
‘The claimant was employed by the defendant as a groom. The claimant suffered an accident on 2 November 2020 whilst preparing a horse named Jake.
‘She was leading the horse out from the stable barn by rope when the horse began pulling away and kicked the claimant, striking her in the face.’
The court papers state that Ms Carling ‘was knocked unconscious following the accident and had bruising to the back of the head from falling to the ground.’
She also suffered a broken lower jaw, the loss of 13 teeth and significant scarring to the lower lip and chin.
Ms Carling now suffers with moderate depression and PTSD as a result of the accident and her injuries, say her lawyers.
Master Gary Thornett said in a recent High Court hearing: ‘Predictably, the primary injury is the psychiatric injury, there has been a diagnosis of PTSD.
‘One of the features of her condition is that her voice was affected, which has significantly altered her psychiatric condition.’
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