Hartford(AP) — The Connecticut Supreme Court says owners of horses or other domestic animals must prevent them from causing injuries, siding with a family whose child was bitten by a horse.

The court on Wednesday upheld an Appellate Court ruling that found that a horse belongs to "a species naturally inclined to do mischief or be vicious." But a majority of four justices said in their decision that the question of whether an animal is dangerous must be considered individually.

The case began in 2006 when a boy was bitten while trying to pet a horse named Scuppy at a Milford farm.

Horse-owners say designating horses vicious would make owning the animals impractical because of insurance costs. Proposed state legislation would reduce exposure to liability.