Pony nearly killed my daughter, man tells court

A father has said that a pony he was told would take his eight-year-old daughter to compete in the RDS instead nearly killed her.

Jennifer Rea, now aged 11, is a national champion in show ponies.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, her father, Patrick Rea brought a case suing three individuals for damages and the refund of the €14,400 he paid for Knockblack Prince which he bought in Oct 2008.

Mr Rea, of Cooleen, Charleville, Co Cork, said that in Nov 2008 when his daughter rode the horse at an event in Killarney, Knockblack Prince refused a number of fences before throwing her into one of the fences.

“The pony went off his head in the ring. He bucked Jennifer into the fence and from that day on, that was his behaviour.

“Jennifer persisted as best she could, but he threw her off 10 times. Jennifer became very, very afraid of the pony.”

Mr Rea told the court that “the pony nearly killed Jennifer. The pony is dangerous”.

The court heard that Jennifer Rea started riding when she was six and has won a number of awards in spite of losing half her right foot a few days before her 4th birthday in an accident involving a lawnmower. Mr Rea said she “is the current national and reserve champion in show ponies. That is the first time that this has ever been achieved in the country”.

Mr Rea said his daughter is aiming to represent Ireland in the European Championships children’s horses team.

The three defendants, Frank Glynn, of Newtown Stud, Newtown, Ballindine, Co Mayo; John McMahon, of Castlequarter Stables, Castlequarter, Cratloe, Co Clare; and Linda Gallagher of Ballymorris, Cratloe, Co Clare, all deny Mr Rea’s claim for damages and refund.

The court heard that Mr Glynn was the registered owner of the pony, Mr McMahon was the beneficial owner, while Ms Gallagher assisted in identifying the pony.

Mr Rea, a financial consultant, said before agreeing to buy the pony in Oct 2008, Mr McMahon and Ms Gallagher “assured me that the pony didn’t have any bad habits or injuries and went further and said that the pony will take Jennifer into the RDS”.

Mr Rea said that this was after he approached Ms Gallagher to secure a Grade A/B pony, a serious jumper and a pony that would take Jennifer all the way to the RDS.

Judge Gerard Keys interjected to say “that’s impossible, that is like ‘buy me a racehorse that will win the Grand National’”.

Mr Rea said that when viewing the pony jumping at Mr McMahon’s yard before he agreed to buy it, Knockblack Prince refused more than three times.

“My experience was very limited with ponies and horses. John and Linda said that they would stand over the pony. I had no experience with horses and ponies and I was relying on their expertise and trusted them. If I was doing the viewing now, I would walk away from the animal straight away.”

Mr Rea said the pony was brought for schooling from Nov 2008 to Feb 2009. “They could not get him to jump or do anything at that stage.”

He said he contacted Mr McMahon in Apr 2009 and “I told him ‘you’ve sold me a dud’ and he responded, ‘I can sell ponies but I can’t sell jockeys’”.

Mr Rea returned the pony in May 2009, but in Aug 2009, Ms Gallagher returned Knockblack Prince to the Reas’ home.

“The pony has done nothing since, but is only eating grass,” Mr Rea said. “There is no way that Jennifer would ride the pony now. The fear that the pony brings to Jennifer is incredible and unbelievable.”

Lorcan Connolly, counsel for Mr Glynn, said that Knockblack Prince had been a national champion before being sold to Mr Rea and that what happened relates to the vagaries of a horse’s form.

Mr Rea said that there had been a behavioural change in the horse right before it was sold on.

Pat Whyms, counsel for Ms Gallagher, said his client has no legal liability; was doing Mr Rea a favour; didn’t receive any money from him and if she knew he was going to sue her, she wouldn’t have had anything to do with him.

Antoinette Simon, counsel for Mr McMahon, said that the pony was given to Mr Rea on a trial period, but Mr Rea denied this.

Judge Keys adjourned the case for mention later this week to fix a date to hear the remainder of the evidence later in the legal term.