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How 'bout a little reading to ruin your day? I ran across this when I was looking for ideas to train a horse to stop running through the gate at feeding time. Bud is gonna kill somebody doing this, he's gotten so bad.

What kinds of injuries result from horse accidents? From what kinds of accidents do serious injuries result? Here are brief summaries of stories from English-language newspapers and similar sources throughout the world reporting on deaths and injuries to humans from accidents involving horses.

The full story is often available on the web site of the newspaper that reported the accident. Sometimes, those archived stories are available without charge and sometimes for a small fee. The name of the newspaper and the date of each story have been included in the summary to facilitate locating the full story.

A. Accidents While Mounted, Driving or Riding

The Illawarra Mercury in Australia reported on January 2, 2004 that a woman injured in a horse riding accident was airlifted to hospital.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on January 2, 2004 that Gary Hakanson, 65, died when he was thrown from a horse. He was riding his horse bareback when it threw him and he struck a tree.

The Townsville Bulletin in Australia reported on January 2, 2004 that a man participating in a rodeo suffered spinal injuries after falling off a horse. He was competing in the saddlebronc event when he fell and landed on his head.

The Nelson Mail in New Zealand reported on January 5, 2004 that a 32-year-old tourist was flown to hospital with suspected abdominal injuries suffered as result of being thrown from a horse.

The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom reported on January 6, 2004 that Louise Bonsall, 23, the girlfriend of footballer Michael Owen, suffered a fractured pelvis when the horse she was riding stumbled, reared up and fell over on her. On January 20, 2004, the Daily Mail reported that Ms. Bonsall’s injuries are more serious than first believed. She fractured her pelvis in five places. She has been in hospital for two weeks.

The Hobart Mercury in Australia reported on January 6, 2004 that a 51-year-old man suffered internal injuries when he was thrown from his horse on Nebraska Beach. He was flown to hospital by helicopter.

The Adelaide Advertiser in Australia reported on January 9, 2004 that apprentice jockey Cody Morgan was thrown from a horse during a workout and required several days rest because of a bruise to his coccyx region.

The Nelson Mail in New Zealand reported on January 7, 2004 that a 22-year-old woman was taken to hospital after falling off a horse. She suffered a fractured arm.

The New York Daily News reported on January 9, 2004 that pony girl Hannah Blumenthal, 52, died from severe head injuries she suffered in a spill at Belmont Park when she was thrown from her horse into a metal rail during a workout.

The Charlotte Observer reported on January 21, 2004 that 15-year-old Kelsey Briggs was severely injured when her horse bolted and threw her into a metal gate. She received brain surgery, which resulted in placing a metal plate in her skull. Although doctors have warned her that she is at increased risk if injured again, she plans to continue riding and competing in horse trials.

The Birmingham Post in the United Kingdom reported on January 22, 2004 that Samantha Hudson, age 33, died as a result of injuries suffered while competing in the novice section of a one day event. Her horse hesitated at a jump, throwing Ms. Hudson over the obstacle, then toppled over himself, landing on her. Similar falls were responsible in the United Kingdom for the deaths of six riders during the 12 month period beginning in May 1999.

The Manchester Evening News in the United Kingdom reported on February 12, 2004 that Joanna Pugh, 26, was riding her horse when it suddenly leaped into the air throwing her into a shallow body of freezing water. Friends phoned for help but it was two and one-half hours arriving. She was approaching hypothermia by the time of her rescue. She had avoided severe bruising to her back and pelvis and was released from the hospital the same evening.

The Lansing State Journal reported on March 9, 2004 that Juliana Routhier, 28, died in a fall from her horse when it ran from a pursuing pit bull dog. She and a friend were riding when the dog left a yard and charged the horses. Ms. Routhier’s foot came out of the stirrup and she fell, hitting her head on the ground.

Austria Today reported on March 11, 2004 that the 42-year-old driver of a horse-drawn tourist carriage suffered severe injuries to his chest and arm when he fell under the wheels of his carriage. He had leaned out to pick up reins that had fallen on the road when he fell.

The Austin American-Statesman reported on March 19, 2004 that world champion barrel racer Martha Josey, 66, was hospitalized after her horse hit a gate during a rodeo. She broke six ribs, punctured a lung and fractured her skull. After a run that tied for first place, her horse apparently tried to run through a partially opened gate.

The Cairns Post in Australia reported on March 19, 2004 that media heir James Packer was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and concussion he suffered in a polo match accident.

The State in Columbia, South Carolina reported on March 20, 2004 that T.V. star Paris Hilton was injured when a horse she was riding threw her and kicked her in the stomach during the taping of “The Simple Life2,” a reality show. She suffered a bruised stomach but was not seriously injured.

B. Accidents While on the Ground

The Buffalo News reported on January 7, 2004 that race horse trainer David Schmidt, 45, was killed when he was kicked by one of his horses. He was moving horses from one place to another when he was kicked.

The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram reported on January 15, 2004 that Garrett King, age 2, died after he was dragged through a pasture by a pony. The boy’s baby sitter was moving horses from one pasture to another. The boy wanted to lead a horse, so the sitter wrapped the pony’s lead rope around the boy’s waist a couple of times and placed the end of it in his hands. The boy fell and spooked the horse. He suffered fatal head injuries as a result of being dragged.

The Observer in the United Kingdom reported on January 18, 2004 that an anti-hunt protester, Simon Wild, 45, suffered head injuries and seriously damaged his leg after being struck by a horse during a hunt.