Jenny's Dexter Market owner says hayrides have stopped following worker's accident
- Story updated at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Jenny’s Dexter Market has stopped offering hayrides following an accident involving a female worker Saturday afternoon.
Burt Hoey, owner of the market, west of downtown Dexter, says Jenny’s has stopped the horse-led hayrides indefinitely after an employee reportedly fell forward off the wagon after one of the horses tripped.
He said the worker, a 23-year-old woman, was leading the hayride, holding tight to the reins when one of the horses tripped and lunged forward, pulling her off the wagon.
“She apparently didn’t have time to think,” Hoey said, adding he’s unsure what injured her and he heard about the incident second-hand.
Fay Kafi, an Ann Arbor resident who was one of the five adults and six children on the ride, said the wagon went over the fallen driver’s body. She said she was not sure whether the woman was trampled by the horses.
“How horrifying, what a horrible accident,” Kafi said. “It was very, very serious.”
She said she “clinging to” her three children — ages 2, 5 and 7 — and her husband. From her viewpoint, the driver’s chair appeared to be broken and sitting at a diagonal after the woman fell off. Just before, Kafi said the driver cautioned the passengers about a faster-paced section of the route.
“She gave us a heads up, and said ‘This part (the horses) go a little faster,’ ” she said.
Dexter Fire Lt. Michael Grissom said Saturday that the woman either fell off the hay wagon and was run over by it or was trampled while leading the wagon.
Afterward, Kafi said she another passenger held the woman’s hands and passed along her mother’s contact information as medical personnel arrived.
Firefighters reportedly arrived on scene shortly before 2 p.m., and the injured woman was lying in a field, according to a previous report. Grissom said Sunday that the woman "didn't have the feeling she should have had in her lower extremities" on Saturday. She was conscious and alert and was flown by a Survival Flight helicopter to the University of Michigan Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Hoey said he had heard that the woman was able to sit up and talk to her mother, but he said late Sunday morning that he did not know about her updated condition. The market, he said, will cover the young woman’s hospital bills.
Hoey said the woman was experienced with horses, having worked with them at The University of Findlay in Ohio. She started at the market about a month ago.
“She’s an awful good person,” he said. “She always focused on what she was doing.”
Hoey said the market has never had an incident, and he was shocked to hear of Saturday’s accident.
The market will discontinue its hayrides until “it’s settled down” and will assess whether to stop them completely, Hoey said.
Julie Baker is a news producer for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2576 or email her at juliebaker@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter.
Comments
Lisa Johnson
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.
I stopped taking my children to Jenny's after personally witnessing the way horses are treated at Jenny's. I am a long time horse owner and I've competed in carriage driving competitions, and I was horrified at how long and hard the horses were worked on a hot day. The breathing of one was so fast and labored that I went inside to tell the owner that he should stop and at least switch teams. He responded "we'll have to shut down the ride then". I said I thought that was a good idea. He then angrily unhitched the team and tossed them into a corral, leaving them blowing and sweating with their harness traces dragging all over the ground. I later saw the owner at a local pony auction. He was walking around the corral punching the ponies in the back. I can't imagine what sort of evaluation technique he think's that is. Jenny's is off limits in my family, hay maze and all, and I'm not surprised that someone has been hurt there. It's a pity that only the suffering of two legged creatures at Jenny's can get any attention.
Susan
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 2:03 a.m.
Gosh, everything we do in life has some risk involved. I hate to think fun activities like the hayrides would be discontinued because of a rare accident. Driving or riding in a car is statistically the most dangerous thing most of us ever do. Yet few people give that up due to the danger.
JenB
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
I am kind of upset about the fact that everyone seems to be commenting on the business where this happened. What about the person that got hurt? Have any of you stopped to think about her instead of the location where it happened? It was a freak accident, that resulted in the sever injury of a young woman. Maybe we can stop worrying about how to stay away from the place of business, and instead say a pray for the recovery of the young woman.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
If the young lady was in a seat on the wagon she was DRIVING the team not leading them.
cerviver
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:55 p.m.
Yes! She was DRIVING and she did NOT get trampled, she was pulled from her seat and landed in between the horses and cart, then she was run over by the cart. Totally misleading information from a firefighter who was not there. If people want accurate information (police and rescue and media) they should consider asking it of people who were involved. Thank you for your clarification.
Gordon
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
So, if there has been a tractor accident then we switch to mules? How about a walk thorough the fields? Everything is risky at some point. A tripping horse and somebody is injured? Seems others in the wagon were fine. Maybe the employee did the right thing even though they were injured? The whole tone of most of these comments are just child like. One goes to the place to participate and complains it's some else's fault if there is a mis-hap. Then the comments about other alleged incidents. Talk about joining the negative band wagon with something that has no context to the incident. I'm certain the negative comments come from those who are perfect; but never us a cell phone while driving, never go slower then necessary or faster, and have complete 360 degree awarness when driing. Can't wait for Winter.
Sarah Parviz
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.
Thank you for the sanity. There is an inherent risk with horses, but the quality of the experience, as opposed to say sitting behind a stinky noisy tractor, cannot be overlooked. I love the Percherons there and I hope that Jenny's market continues to offer this, peaceful fun ride. It is wonderful and an experience not many people get to have. There is a mechanical horse at Meijer that looks perfectly safe if that is what you want from life.
Cindy Heflin
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 1:43 p.m.
Please keep comments related to the incident itself. Off-topic comments regarding other aspects of the business will be removed.
xmo
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Ban all Hay rides and require everybody who get near a horse to wear a helmet and body armor
Carol
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
Wow that comment is a real downer! Ban hayrides.....maybe you should stay in the city and never enter the countryside!
kaycc
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
I do not believe, as the owner has said, that this is the "only incident" to have taken place at Jenny's. Two years ago my young son and I were alone on the hayride, and the middle-aged male driver (who may have been the owner--?) was driving the hayride at reckless speed through the fields and in the road. He laughed when I asked him to slow down. (I've also been on hayrides and had experience with horses--btw.) I asked him if he'd ever flipped the wagon. He said, "Yeah, a few weeks ago." I asked if anyone was hurt, and he said, "Well, the lawyer of the people who were flipped claims they were." I have a feeling there may be a few more people with stories like mine, but our comments will be taken off the post. Previously, we'd taken the ride with a much older man, who was very safe. But this guy was obviously really delighting in our fear, and there was no doubt in my mind that the situation was dangerous. I asked to be let off, and he laughed as we trekked back across the field.
JustMyOpinion
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
Sounds like it was Burt driving and you were annoying him. Hey, there is no law against not liking people, if you don't like him, don't go, but harassing him isn't smart either. That said, anything to do with horses is inherently dangerous. The laws of most states even recognize this risk specifically. Horses can make their own decisions any day, any time, and you you can be in the way of that decision. Every fall you can read stories about people maimed and killed on hay rides. It's the nature of it. This is not the first accident, won't be the last. Everyone has to make their own risk calculation about taking the ride. It's not anyone else's responsibility to do that. I have let my kids play in the hay maze, since it has wood support and I see it go up every year. I don't take the hay rides, and won't let my kids. For me, its a bad risk for my own reasons, but that's my decision - I respect the right of others to make their own decision.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
A2comments. Are you blaming this person for her experience and for possibly not reporting it? Her comments are very relevent to this news story.
A2comments
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Did you report the reckless driving to the farm's management at the time? If you thought he was the owner, did it concern you enough to notify the township?
Brookran103
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 11:50 a.m.
I have been to Jenny's many times with my family. The animals have always looked well taken care of and the straw pile looks safe. I have also gone on the hay rides which I believe are safe as well. I see this as an unfortunate accident. I hope the girl has a full recovery. We are fortunate to have this business to enjoy in our area.
DennisP
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 5:33 a.m.
I've seen them construct the haystack play maze. The haystack structure consists of a wood core structure which makes up the maze. The hay stacks are piles upon the wooden structure. It looked quite solid over the years and my child has been through it often. That said, I don't know if the Village or Township inspect the structure. This incident is, indeed, unfortunate because Jenny's has been making a push to increase its business. I don't know the financial health of the business but given the economic downturn, it is probably operating close to the vest. The old house is up for sale and some farm land is as well. I would hate to see all the uncorroborated claims of animal mistreatment close this place. As I recall, it's been visited by animal cruelty inspectors in the past and they never could find any real mistreatment. They recommended the owner construct a shade lean-to which he did. He always has water and plenty of food. I've seen workers there early in the morning feeding all the animals and cleaning pens. They've always had some good floral baskets and we found some very nice Christmas trees at very competitive prices in the recent past. I hope this doesn't kill the business.
nicole
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 3:19 a.m.
I've been to Jenny's and thought it was very nice. My only concern when I was there, was with the big hay structure that kids can climb. The tunnel through the big hay structure looks a bit unsteady. I didn't let my kid crawl through because if that thing ever collapsed, they would never get your kid out in time I don't think. The tunnel has got to be 20 feet long or so. Just my two cents. I'm sure some parents would feel totally comfortable with it.
Jen Eyer
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
Comments have been removed for discussing our moderation policies. If you would like to comment on or ask about moderation decisions, please do so here: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/about/annarborcom-conversation-guidelines-comment-moderation/">http://www.annarbor.com/about/annarborcom-conversation-guidelines-comment-moderation/</a>. Thank you.
Alice Morrison
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 10:46 p.m.
I urge people to think about the safety of Activities at jennys in light of what has happened I passed by today and the hay climbing structure Was full of kids- I have always wondered about The secure nature of the hay tower and Risk of allowing kids to climb through it- is there A risk of it collapsing? Also it is so close to the Road how is it sure that none of the kids could run Out into road. I think the proximity to the road Has always been an issue- just my thoughts in light Of this horrible accident that could have been avoided.!
Buster W.
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
OLDTIMER3, The red flag is the "faster-paced section". I would venture to guess it went down a mild incline.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
How could it have been avoided? Obviously you have never driven horses.
Buster W.
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
Carol, So since your children and my children have never been injured, it must be okay??? That makes no sense. So is drunk driving okay if the drunk driver has never been in an accident? It's simply a horrible location for that type of establishment...too many close calls with cars pulling in and out, chickens and horses getting loose near the road, etc. Many incidents have occurred there...you're just not aware of them.
Carol
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 1:51 p.m.
I believe the Hay tower is safe. My kids have always played there year after year and they are now grown adults. I have never heard of any incident and people are just paranoid! Jenny's Farm is a great place to enjoy the countryside of Dexter. Paranoid parents can shelter their children at home and they will be safe. Let all others enjoy the lovely countryside and entertainment of Jenny's Farm!
Buster W.
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
I was waiting at the light last Sunday and said the exact same thing to my wife and kids. We allowed our kids access to the hay tower tunnels a few years ago. We obviously weren't thinking!
Mr. Ed
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
I believe sine it was a work place injury Mi OSHA would be involved regarding the work place accident.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
According to a press release from the Sheriff's Department that Annarbor.com has yet to print, MIOSHA and the Dept. of Agriculture are involved in the investigation now.
Jen Eyer
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Comments that blame the victim or make unsubstantiated allegations have been removed, in accordance with our conversation guidelines.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 3:02 a.m.
Yes, I know that he named it after his daughter.
Buster W.
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 1 a.m.
Jenny's Market is named after Burton's daughter. I grew up down the road and remember when Jenny's was simply a card table manned by Jenny (20+ years ago).
Marilyn Wilkie
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
The market isn't named after you is it?
cerviver
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
I didn't mean to violate the Conversation Guidelines....I wanted to let people who read this to know that as a passenger on this "hayride", my family and I were traumatized. I feel the coverage of this accident glosses over the chaos and tragedy that occurred. I will forever have the injured victim in my thoughts. Not sure what I said before to be edited out.....?
cerviver
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
I think my previous comment may have been removed because I said I was yelled at by a Sheriff's Deputy, which is an "unsubstantiated allegation"...so read quickly!
cerviver
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
Thank you Fay for identifying yourself, I was with the two 8 yr old girls and the dog....I wanted to connect with you and your family afterward, but of course things were so chaotic.... I have been thinking of your 2 yr old a lot! I am so grateful we did not tip over! I hope you and your family recover emotionally from this. Sometimes I think when people don't have physical injuries, the trauma is minimized. My name is Kris, by the way.
L'chaim
Mon, Sep 26, 2011 : 1 a.m.
It had to have been quite a nightmare for everyone involved, and I also hope the young worker will be alright in time. I think that journalism in general has lost much of it's power and soul when covering such human tragedies. It's very clinical and cold. In old news recordings you can hear the apin and suffering in the journalists cries while witnessing the Hindenberg blimp explode, "Oh, the humanity." But by the time of the attack on the twin towers (and DC/Pennsylvania) journalists were totally at a loss to express such basic emotions. What you call "glossing over" I read as this kind of emotional immaturity. The word tragedy has not appeared in either of the stories covering this, and what is this if not a tragedy?!
Fay Kafi
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
I'm confused, I read your previous comment and I'm not sure why it was removed!! I too was on the wagon ride (I'm the woman that was clinging desperately to 3 young children)!!! I spoke with the news producer of this article, and I believe that they are having a hard time getting good information. I am hopeful that they will be posting a new article soon. We too were COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED!! Hope that you and the girls are ok. Our prayers are with Mary (the driver).
Marilyn Wilkie
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
Thank you for telling us what happened when others wouldn't. I'm sorry this happened to you.
arborlib
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
"She apparently didn't have time to think," Hoey said, adding he's unsure what injured her and he heard about the incident second-hand." Well of course she didn't have time to think - she was falling off of a hayride!! I'm sure the owner didn't mean it to sound this way, but what a crass comment (in my opinion).
Zach
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
As indicated in my post on the other story, I was there at the time of the accident and saw the the runaway carriage firsthand. My wife and I were a frightened and deterred from the idea of taking a hayride (which of course were not at that time being offered due to the ongoing emergency). Nonetheless, on reflection, I do not think that this should result in the hayrides being terminated. The owner needs to take time to assess things and let it settle down. However, in the long run, there is nothing inherently unsafe about a horse-drawn hayride. Training of workers or checking equipment may be an issue at this location, but after addressing that need, the rides should continue.