Jenny's Farm Market Owner Says Hayrides Will Continue

Hayrides at near Dexter have resumed nearly two weeks after an .

Owner Burton Hoey said there are no plans to discontinue the rides or change the route pending the completion of a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation.The ride was out of respect for the employee's family, he said.

"We originally stopped the rides because it was turning into a sideshow for the media," Hoey said. "We've been offering hayrides for 20 years without an incident, and we don't plan to change anything. Up until now, we haven't had a problem."

Hoey said he still isn't sure what caused the Sept. 24 accident, which left one person seriously injured after she was pulled from the hay wagon and trampled by horses near a small hill on the farm's south side.

"If we're not violating the state law, what else can we do?" he said. "Our equipment didn't fail. If this person was driving a tractor, she could've fallen off just as easily. I don't know what I can do to ensure better safety other than go out of business; then we won't have safety issues to worry about."

Hoey said the farm now offers tractor hayrides in addition to horse-drawn hayrides, and he has hired a full-time employee to keep watch over potential safety issues at the farm.

"Her entire job is to walk the grounds and keep an eye out for any problems," Hoey said.

When asked about allegations of a similiar accident at the farm seven years ago, Hoey said he is unaware of prior incidents.

"I've heard some things over the years, but the complaints are unsubstantiated," he said. "I think because we get a lot of traffic, we're a target for rumors."

On Saturday, another injury was reported at the farm when a 22-month-old child fell from a pony with her father nearby. The child was treated on the scene and was transported to a hospital for observation.

"We require all parents and caregivers to walk next to the ponies to keep children safe," Hoey said. "If there's no direct contact, the children are not allowed on the ponies."

Hoey said he has not heard any updates about the condition of the child nor about the employee who was injured on the hayride. Neither person's name was released to the public.