Horse bill headed to governor

HARTFORD, Conn. – Horses are not a naturally mischievous or vicious species, according to legislation passed without debate in the Senate early Tuesday morning and sent to the governor’s desk.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed the bill, which has now been passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. He released a statement Tuesday morning saying he plans to sign it.

The legislation was prompted by the Supreme Court’s decision to hear a lawsuit stemming from the 2006 incident, during which a horse named Scuppy bit a toddler at a farm in Milford. In March, the court ruled in favor of the young boy who was bitten, and decided that horse owners have a responsibility to prevent injuries that are foreseeable. The case was sent back to a lower court for more consideration.

Horse owners fear that the case could result in higher insurance rates for horses. Malloy said the issue has been a top concern for equestrians and the state’s agriculture industry.

“The agriculture sector of Connecticut’s economy has been growing significantly over the past couple of years, and we need to ensure that the laws in our state statutes encourage this growth,” Malloy said.