Kristina Klebe, an actress known for roles in horror films including Dementia and Rob Zombie’s Halloween, marked the anniversary of a fall she says left her with a broken back and “severe, permanent” injuries after a dog ran into a riding ring at an upstate New York stable.
In court papers, Klebe says the incident occurred Sept. 2, 2022, at Meadow Creek Farm in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County. She filed a suit in Manhattan Supreme Court against the farm and its owner, Helaina Ricciardi, alleging the owner’s dog, Bailey, was unsecured and allowed to run around unsupervised. Klebe says the animal lunged and jumped at her, startling her horse and causing the fall.
Klebe wrote on Instagram that the day changed her life, calling Sept. 2 “the day I didn’t die.” She told followers she spent the majority of the following year in pain while trying to restore her health. Court filings describe injuries Klebe characterizes as serious and lasting; the suit seeks unspecified damages.
Photographs attached to public accounts and discussed in media reports show the dog identified as Bailey at the farm. Klebe’s complaint alleges the animal had a known tendency toward aggression and was not restrained when it entered the riding area.
Klebe, 46, has shared parts of her recovery on social media. According to her posts, she began riding again in November 2023. Her filings and public statements emphasize the physical toll and the interruption to her work and daily life.
The lawsuit names Meadow Creek Farm and Ricciardi as defendants and alleges negligence in failing to control and secure the dog. The complaint seeks compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the injuries; it does not specify a dollar amount.
Ricciardi did not respond to a request for comment, according to reports.
Klebe’s case highlights legal and safety issues that can arise at equestrian facilities when animals and riders share open space. Horse-related injuries are common sources of civil litigation when plaintiffs claim third-party negligence contributed to a horse being spooked. The matter now proceeds through the court system, where the parties will have the opportunity to present evidence and seek resolution.
Klebe continues to work and to document aspects of her recovery publicly; the suit remains pending.