Seidler v. Morgan

Jessica Seidler accompanied her fiancé on vacation to Fish Creek Ranch, located in mountainous southwest Colorado near Dolores, Colorado. Although she was not an experienced equestrian, she was invited to take a horseback ride on October 6, 2004. The docile horse which was initially selected for her was saddled, but the saddle began to slip; the wife of the ranch employee who was helping her selected a different and more spirited mount for Seidlers use. During Seidlers ride, the horse upon which she was mounted bolted in fear from sudden thunder, causing Seidler to fall heavily to the ground. As a result of the fall, Seidler suffered a dislocated hip, a debilitating and painful injury. Seidler filed suit October 6, 2006 (two years to the day after the injury) against James M. Morgan and Morgan Land and Cattle Partners, Ltd., each doing business as Fish Creek Ranch, to recover for the damages she had sustained.