09/30/2026
We would like to address concerns raised in a Facebook post about a young child’s fall during our Canada Day pony rides at Mockbeggar.
First and foremost, we are deeply sorry that this happened. We understand how frightening a fall can be for a child and their family, and we are saddened to hear that they also felt hurt by comments they understood to have been made afterward.
We want to clearly state that no member of our team said this child was “too big” to ride Spirit or “too big to catch.” We do not judge or shame riders based on their size, and we take the family’s concerns seriously.
A horse’s carrying capacity is a consideration when choosing a suitable horse for any rider. This is one reason we bring Spirit, rather than our smaller horse, Montana, to community events. Spirit’s larger size, calm temperament, and extensive training make him well suited to this work. Throughout his 21 years, he has received training to support riders of different ages and abilities, including participants in our therapeutic riding program.
Our understanding of the incident is that Spirit stepped into a hole in the grass, causing his front leg to twist and him to stumble. He did not spook, buck, bolt, or rear. The stumble resulted in the child’s fall, and Spirit moved clear afterward, as he has been trained to do.
Safety is central to our programs. Riders wear horseback riding helmets that meet ASTM safety standards. Parents are also offered the opportunity to walk beside their child and are shown where to position themselves safely. Furthermore, attempting to restrain a child on a horse can create an even greater safety risk, particularly if it prevents the child from separating from the horse during a stumble or fall. Our safety practices are intended to support riders while allowing us to respond appropriately if an incident occurs.
Our team is trained to respond to falls, and all team members hold Standard First Aid certification. We also have a team member trained as a Medical First Responder. Following a fall, our priority is to assess the situation and respond carefully, including encouraging the rider to remain still while possible injuries are considered.
Whether someone can safely catch a falling rider is not a judgment about that person’s body. A fall happens quickly, and attempting to catch someone can create a risk of injury for both people involved. However, we recognize that explanations about safety must be communicated with care, especially when a child and their family are distressed.
Falls have occurred in our programs before, and we believe in being transparent about that. Horseback riding carries an inherent risk, even with trained horses and safety precautions. That does not lessen our concern for this child or our responsibility to take the incident seriously.
We are sincerely sorry for the distress this incident caused. We are also sorry that the family came away feeling their child had been body-shamed. Although the statements attributed to our team do not reflect what we said, we want to listen to their concerns and address any misunderstanding respectfully.
We welcome a direct conversation with the family to address any further safety concerns. Our priority is the well-being of our riders and horses, and maintaining the trust of the families and the community we serve.
