Injured boy, horse recover as schools review Teach-In
By Times Staff Writer
Published November 19, 2004
Both horse and boy were a little sore but otherwise doing well a day after the 1,000-pound gelding fell on the 5-year-old.
Michael Ruiz was listed in fair condition Thursday afternoon at St. Joseph's Hospital after surgery to repair a broken arm, hospital officials said. He was expected to be kept overnight and possibly will be discharged today.
Attache, a 20-year-old American Saddlebred, fell on Michael during the Great American Teach-In Wednesday morning at Schwarzkopf Elementary School.
About 125 kindergarteners were sitting around Attache waiting to pet him when he was spooked, lurched forward, lost his footing and fell on his side. May Klein, Attache's owner and trainer, said the horse was recovering, too. "He is very stiff and sore, but fine," she said. After Wednesday's accident, Hillsborough school administrators are pushing for stricter control and better screening of speakers for the annual Teach-In.
