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Horse sadly suffers ‘fatal cardiovascular catastrophe’ during Bramham cross-country

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • A horse has sadly died during the cross-country at Defender Bramham Horse Trials today (13 June).

    Charlie Foxtrot, owned by Michael and Sophie Payne and ridden by David Doel, was contesting the CCI4*-L class. A statement from the event said he “unfortunately suffered a fatal cardiovascular catastrophe on the cross-country course around fence 22”.

    The statement about Charlie Foxtrot continued: “Veterinary personnel were on the scene immediately but unfortunately nothing could be done to save the horse. The rider was uninjured.

    “Our sincere condolences are with David and his connections.”

    Charlie Foxtrot, an 11-year-old by Voss out of a mare called Cha Cha Cha Z (by Corrado II), started his career with Katie Magee, joining Hector Payne in the middle of 2022 when he was at novice level.

    Hector, the son of the horse’s owners Michael and Sophie Payne, took the horse up to four-star but felt he might suit another rider better, so he joined David Doel during the 2024 season.

    David and Charlie Foxtrot had had a number of good placings, including second in an intermediate at Poplar Park in March 2025, two ninths in open intermediates and 11th in the advanced at Cirencester this spring. They contested the British intermediate championships at Hartpury last summer, finishing 16th.

    On their previous run, they completed the CCI4*-S at Belsay with a 37.1 dressage, four jumping and two time-faults in the showjumping and a steady clear across country with 18.4 time-penalties.

    Charlie Foxtrot was tackling his second CCI4*-L at Bramham, having completed at the level on his debut at Boekelo last year, with a jumping clear across country.

    David and Charlie Foxtrot had kicked off their Bramham Horse Trials campaign with a dressage score of 39.4.

    A fence was taken out of the CCI4*-L course near the end of the class, but this was unrelated to Charlie Foxtrot’s death – the second element of fence 18 was removed because the ground had deteriorated on take-off.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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