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| Connecticut court to decide whether horses are 'vicious' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US court is to hear a case that could result in horses being classified as a "vicious" species. | A US court is to hear a case that could result in horses being classified as a "vicious" species. |
| A boy's parents sued a farm owner in the state of Connecticut after he was bitten by a horse named Scuppy in 2006. | A boy's parents sued a farm owner in the state of Connecticut after he was bitten by a horse named Scuppy in 2006. |
| A lower court said Scuppy belongs "to a species naturally inclined to do mischief and be vicious". The state supreme court will now hear an appeal. | A lower court said Scuppy belongs "to a species naturally inclined to do mischief and be vicious". The state supreme court will now hear an appeal. |
| If upheld, the lower court's ruling could make horse ownership uninsurable, say equine industry figures. | If upheld, the lower court's ruling could make horse ownership uninsurable, say equine industry figures. |
| The legal action began in 2006 after a boy tried to pet Scuppy at Glendale Farms in Milford. | The legal action began in 2006 after a boy tried to pet Scuppy at Glendale Farms in Milford. |
| The animal reportedly bit the child on his right cheek, inflicting a serious injury. | The animal reportedly bit the child on his right cheek, inflicting a serious injury. |
| The boy's father, Anthony Vendrella, sued the farm's owners, but lost in 2010 at a New Haven court. | The boy's father, Anthony Vendrella, sued the farm's owners, but lost in 2010 at a New Haven court. |
| That court ruled there was no evidence the farm's owner knew of any previous incidents of aggression involving Scuppy. | That court ruled there was no evidence the farm's owner knew of any previous incidents of aggression involving Scuppy. |
| But a Connecticut Appellate Court later overturned this verdict, finding that testimony suggested Scuppy's species was "vicious" and that the boy's injury had been foreseeable. | But a Connecticut Appellate Court later overturned this verdict, finding that testimony suggested Scuppy's species was "vicious" and that the boy's injury had been foreseeable. |
| If upheld by the state's supreme court, the verdict would be the first in the nation to classify horses as a vicious species, say analysts. | If upheld by the state's supreme court, the verdict would be the first in the nation to classify horses as a vicious species, say analysts. |
| Horse farmers says that if the appellate court's verdict is upheld, it could make it difficult to pair horses with children, and damage a $221m (£137.7m) a year industry. | Horse farmers says that if the appellate court's verdict is upheld, it could make it difficult to pair horses with children, and damage a $221m (£137.7m) a year industry. |