Girl injured by horse on Wild Horse Island

A 7-year-old girl was hospitalized Sunday after being kicked by a horse at Wild Horse Island State Park on Flathead Lake.

Lake County Sheriff’s Capt. Luke Mathias said the girl was “very sleepy” and bleeding from the mouth and nose when emergency responders arrived shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. 

She was taken by sheriff’s boat to Big Arm State Park, then by ambulance to St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, where she was treated and released.

Dave Landstrom, the state’s regional parks manager, said “apparently the injury is not major” and the girl did not have any broken bones.

Landstrom said the girl had been hand-feeding fruit to one of the horses, and while there were other people around, no one witnessed the incident.

“Nobody was looking at her when it happened,” he said.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Investigator Brian Sommers said it appears one of the horses struck the girl in the back with a hoof, knocking her to the ground. She sustained a bruise on her back and bruises on her face. 

Six wild horses live on the 3.3-square-mile island along with bighorn sheep, deer, bears and dozens of species of birds.

“Even though they may look docile, the animals on Wild Horse Island are wild and we would ask that you maintain a safe distance from them,” Landstrom said. “They are big and strong and they can respond quickly.”

Landstrom said food conditioning may be an issue with the horses, because they can be approached.

“The horses are going to ignore you unless they think you’ve got something to feed them,” he said. “Don’t make yourself inviting to them. They will avoid you.”

Feeding animals is prohibited on Wild Horse Island.

According to a news release from Montana State Parks, “If the horses approach you, wave your arms, yell at the horses and make every attempt to avoid the horses and any physical contact. Montana State Parks asks visitors to report anyone observed feeding the horses or other animals on the island as soon as possible to 1-800-TIP-MONT.”