How can you tell if a horse is lame?
In McEarchern v Hatton, Tim Petts represented a farrier in claim against him for professional negligence rather different from the usual ones against lawyers, accountants, etc. The horse in question was a gelding called August Jaguar. The issue was whether his lameness was the result of the Defendant's negligent insertion of nails or extraneous causes. This required the judge and lawyers to quickly develop a knowledge of hoof physiology previously entirely absent. The claim was dismissed, the judge finding that the evidence pointed to“ systemic”, as opposed to “traumatic”, laminitis.
Richard Methuen QC 'a superb operator with a direct approach' (Chambers Uk 2006)
