Ian Olding’s death at Belton Horse Trials: investigation launched
British Eventing is cooperating with Lincolnshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the death of 47-year-old rider Ian Olding at Belton Park International Horse Trials on Sunday (26 April).
Mr Olding, an experienced event rider and his 12-year-old horse Gran-Kiki (“Alfie”) suffered a rotational (somersault) fall at the table element (pictured) of a combination about halfway around an advanced section at the Lincolnshire course.
Alfie was uninjured and has gone to co-owner Sue Kirkpatrick.
The course was designed by Sue Benson, who will create the cross-country course for the 2012 London Olympics.
She told H&H: “We have used this fence combination for two years now, although it was sited elsewhere on the course.
“We had not a single deputation to the rider’s representative or other officials [about the fence] before Ian’s accident.”
Mr Olding’s death is the first at Belton and Mrs Benson said she was “saddened beyond words” by it.
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.