Girl's riding death recalls '85 tragedy

Earlier inquests recommended use of safety gear

By Himani Ediriweera
Toronto Star

April 20, 1999

Elizabeth Hader had such fun riding a horse on her 10th birthday that she wanted to go back the next day.

But the little girl, who wanted to grow up to be an artist, died after that same horse bolted, unsaddled her and dragged her by the stirrups to her death.

The little girl's grandfather, Henry Hader, said last night the family is devastated. He says there should be stricter regulations for children riding horses.

"Most kids like horses. But the adults should ride by the young ones, in case the horses decide to take off, so the adults can pull the reins and pull them back," he said. "I know it happened right in front of them."

Elizabeth went riding on Sunday afternoon at the Wagon Wheel Ranch on 9th Line at Musselman's Lake with a group of about 15 people. The 4-year-old quarter horse she was riding bolted, and her foot became entangled in the stirrup as she fell from the saddle.

Elizabeth was dragged about 150 metres - more than the length of a football field - before her foot became untangled.

York Region Police Detective Sergeant Chris Barratt confirmed Elizabeth had not been wearing a helmet. She suffered serious injuries to her head and upper body and was rushed to Markham-Stouffville Hospital where she died.

Barratt said police are still talking to witnesses and the investigation continues.

Her grandfather wants answers."They should make the children wear helmets, that's what bothers me. I don't know what the police are going to find out, but I'm not happy with what transpired," Hader said.

The ranch has said it doesn't provide protective gear to their riders and inform them of that. But Hader said it's unusual they don't provide helmets.

The little girl's death on the weekend brought back terrible memories for Patricia Shaw, whose 12-year-old son died in a similar accident.

In 1985, Jamie Shaw died after a riding accident at a Beaverton stable. Jurors at an inquest into his death recom- mended a law requiring protective gear to safeguard riders.

"I am truly saddened and dismayed that yet again we have failed to act upon recommendations made in the coroner's court," Shaw said yesterday.

"The frustration and hurt cannot be expressed that yet another family will feel the loss and suffer that which we have endured."

Similar safety recommendations were made at a 1977 inquest into the death of another young rider.

Phil Carwardine, a volunteer ranch hand said the Wagon Wheel Ranch was closed yesterday and no decision had been made when it will reopen.

He said he didn't know what had caused Elizabeth's horse to take off. "Nothing like this has ever happened with this horse before," he said.