Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Connecticut

It sounds like two things may be happening. If you have a hearing in damages, and you are the plaintiff, then the defendant failed to answer the lawsuit. You then must show up for the hearing in damages and prove the amount you are owed.

If the defendant won the lawsuit, because you didn't do something, (not sure what I don't have enough information) then you can try to move to reopen the judgment and start anew. Otherwise, if he failed to answer the lawsuit, he can move to reopen the lawsuit and file an answer and get a new court date.

My guess is that if you have a hearing in damages, he failed to answer and so you just go in there and prove the amount he owes you. Bring invoices, bills, cancelled checks, credit card receipts, costs of boarding the horse, etc. You should do a list and add it all up and attach copes. Make a set for the magistrate so it's easy for him/her to rule in your favor.