Latest from Horse & Hound in Riding-accidents

‘The ground moved and everything went quiet’: pony falls on rider after ‘bomb’ goes off

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:46:28 +0000

A rider who was pinned under her fallen pony after the mare was spooked by an unexplained bang said she is lucky still to be alive.

Lesley Anderson from Exmouth was getting on a seven-year-old cob mare she had on loan on at 9.45am on 29 May at Aylesbeare Common when the loud noise spooked the pony.

Lesley told H&H: “I put a foot in the stirrup and then it sounded like a bomb went off. The pony reared up, fell on the ground and landed on my leg. It’s scary because she landed on the foot I had fractured several months ago.

“The whole thing was utterly shocking. We live in a quiet remote area – there’s a bird scarer that is used every summer but I’ve been going to the same place for 10 years and know where it is so I know it wasn’t that.”

Lesley said the noise was incredibly loud.

“The ground moved and then everything went quiet for a few seconds. My other horses in the field didn’t move and the birds stopped singing – it’s like the whole world said “what just happened?’” she said.

Lesley suffered brusing in the fall and the pony cut both her hocks and her mouth. Lesley reported the incident to the police, and has since been told by the landowner the noise was an unexploded bomb detonated by the Royal Navy.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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‘He reared up and I came off and landed on my back’

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Lesley said she is upset, and that if this is true there should have been a warning.

“I could have been killed falling under a horse,” she said.

“To detonate a bomb in open countryside when there is riders and dog walkers I don’t understand why there wasn’t warnings. I live by the sea and two bombs have been detonated over the past few years but they’ve moved people away and given us warnings.”

H&H has approached the Royal Navy for comment.

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NHS turns 70: what rider injuries would cost without free healthcare

Lucy Elder — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 12:00:05 +0000

All riders will have a story that involves the NHS — whether it involves them, a friend, family member or fellow competitor.

Be that from a trip to A&E, visits to the physio, talking to your GP about an (inconvenient) allergy to horses — the NHS has helped us all at some point.

Plus the doctors who check riders over after eventing falls? Whether they work privately or for the NHS, there is no doubt that they are involved, or deal directly with, the public healthcare sector.

Government statistics show there were 430,725 head injuries, 710,763 sprain or ligament injuries and 891,155 dislocations, fractures, joint injuries or non-surgical amputations diagnosed in A&E departments in 2015/16.

With the risk nature of our sport, there will be a fair few riders who will be able to name themselves within those numbers.

But what if the NHS wasn’t there and riders faced healthcare bills not only for their beloved horses, but also for themselves?

Insurance comparison site GoCompare has created a calculator to give people a rough* idea of how much common ailments and treatments cost.

Calculate your NHS bill >>

Approximate NHS costs

Ambulance callout and ride to A&E: £255
A&E visit: £81
Overnight hospital stay: £400
X-ray: £25
MRI: £130
Broken arm: £500
Broken leg: £1,100
Sprains: £680
Crutches: £10
GP appointment: £45

*The costs are approximate, taken from past NHS reference cost sheets, NHS data, freedom of information requests and national newspapers.

In this week’s magazine, out on 5 July, don’t miss our bumper show guide issue, with complete show listings for 2018 plus features on keeping horses sound on hard ground, the best show venues in Britain and much more.

In this week’s H&H interview, we talk to international event rider Izzy Taylor and check out our new feature ‘Fix it’ — Laura Tomlinson on improving a horse’s self-carriage. Read reports from across the disciplines over the weekend, including dressage action from Sheepgate, showjumping from Royal Highland and more.

Happy birthday, NHS! Riders say thank you for ‘wonderful care’

Lucy Elder — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 11:55:20 +0000

As the NHS turns 70 years old today, H&H readers reflect on the amazing — and crucially, free — care it has provided riders with over the years.

The risk nature of riding and handling horses means equestrians are no stranger to injury, be it equine or human, and a great many of us owe a great deal to the skill and care of the medical profession.

Three readers share their stories, and their gratitude to the men and women who cared for them…

Sally Morris — “I had the most wonderful care”

“Six years ago I had been asked to go and help a child fetch her pony, who had decided he didn’t walk to move.

“While leading this pony another horse in the field started circling us and lashed out with a hind leg, striking the left-hand side of my face and head.

Sally Morris after her accident (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Through a good friend helping me and my mum driving, I arrived at A&E at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, where all became a little fuzzy!

“I was taken straight though triage and medicated with morphine, which I reacted to.

“A lovely nurse then stayed with me though my CT scans and X-rays before settling me into the highly dependency unit for the night.

“During this longest night ever I was monitored and checked constantly, not only by the A&E nurses and doctors but by the surgical team who would be rebuilding my face the next day.

“I must also mention the fantastic porter who wheeled me around the hospital for various tests, coping with me in pain and remaining calm and compassionate.

“Four operations and a year-and-a-half later, their work was done. Two of my operations were done privately at the neighbouring Guildford Nuffield hospital — the surgeon was also the head of the NHS department — and two at Moorfields Eye Hospital, which saved my damaged left eye and 50% of my vision in it.”

Sally Morris now (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Rebecca Muge — “the NHS helped me ride again”

“On 19 July 2016 at Dauntsey Horse Trials, I had a fall at the 6th fence on the BE90 course.

“The medics on site were brilliant, but the care I received at Salisbury District Hospital A&E department was second to none.

“I was in so much pain with a suspected fractured neck, which luckily turned out to be just serious whiplash, and the staff there were incredibly sympathetic to my situation and did their best to keep me as comfortable as possible.

Rebecca Muge back on board after recovering from her surgery (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Unknown to me, I had aggravated a pre-existing issue with my shoulder in this fall which wasn’t picked up until my arm started trembling uncontrollably and causing me significant amounts of pain whenever I rode.

“On 21 April 2017, I underwent surgery to correct the issue. With help from the NHS physios and following the advice of my surgeon I was back riding within six weeks and over a year later I’m completely pain free!

“I owe my ability to continue riding to the NHS as I was so close to giving up as a result of the pain.”

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Claire Paton — “We call it the ‘Wolverine plate’”

“In June 2015, I had a nasty fall from my horse at the Peebles Beltane common ride and mangled my right wrist – the skin on my arm stayed intact but the bones were so obviously twisted and broken that the ambulance crew thought I might lose the use of my hand.

“The ambulance crew couldn’t actually do anything for me except give me a cushion to prop my obliterated arm on, but they were lovely and supportive and I certainly appreciated not having to ride down from the depths of the Pentlands on the back of a quad bike in my condition.

“It took over an hour to get me from the field where I fell to the town centre because we were stuck behind the riders, and as soon as we reached Peebles I was handed over to my mum so that the ambulance could stay with the ride.

“In total, around four hours passed between the fall and being seen by the A&E department at my local hospital (Wishaw General).

“By this point, I could twitch my fingers but had no other movement in my hand or forearm.

“I was getting a bit delirious with the pain, but the staff were fabulous – they manually re-set the bone that night (a horrible but entirely necessary experience involving four people pulling my poor arm in opposite directions) and scheduled me for surgery the next morning.

Claire Paton is back in the saddle and enjoying common rides following her accident in 2015 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Three years later I have almost fully recovered thanks to the excellent surgeon who put my wrist back together with a titanium plate and a lot of screws, and the lovely physio who got me moving again.

“I have a small, neat scar on one side of my forearm and a little chip of bone missing from the other which leaves the wrist very subtly misshapen, and my arm lights up like a Christmas tree at certain airports, but otherwise it’s very hard to tell that there’s anything wrong.

“We call the plate my ‘Wolverine plate’ thanks to its shape. I have arthritis in that hand and never quite got over all the tendon damage, but I always marvel at the wonderful job they did and how well I recovered from a really unpleasant injury.

“In many other countries I wouldn’t have been so lucky.”

‘Freak accidents happen’: owner warns others to always wear a helmet

Rachael Turner — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 06:55:08 +0000

A rider who was knocked unconscious by her mare is urging others always to wear a hat when handling horses.

Cambridgeshire-based Sarah Doonan was pulling her 17-year-old mare’s mane when the accident took place (16 November).

Her horse, Lottie, reared up and struck her in the head.

“She reared and that is all I can remember before waking up in my tack room where she had flung me, either with her front hooves or her head,” said Ms Doonan.

“I’d knocked my head on the side of the door.

“I had my phone in my pocket and called a friend I had ridden with earlier. She and my other hunting buddy were around in minutes.

“An ambulance was called and an air ambulance. I was taken to hospital and lost consciousness several times”

Ms Doonan was X-rayed and the scan found that she had a non-malignant brain tumour that was unrelated to the accident.

She spent two nights in hospital and is having surgery this month for the tumour.

Ms Doonan, who enjoys hunting with chestnut Lottie, was not wearing a hat at the time of the accident.

She now always wears a helmet when at the yard and is urging others to do the same.

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“The moral of my story is always wear a riding hat whilst dealing with horses even if you know them very well — freak accidents happen,” Ms Doonan added.

“And always have your phone with you. I could have been there for hours as this was 10.30am and my husband wasn’t due home until much later.

“A few years ago my friend fell off in the middle of nowhere breaking her ankle in several places and didn’t have a phone. Luckily we came across her eventually.

“Also when we are out hunting we always at the beginning reiterate where our vehicle keys are.”

Young girl suffers ‘life-changing’ injuries in fall

Sarah Radford — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:04:32 +0000

An 11-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after suffering “life-changing” injuries when she fell from her pony out hacking.

Maisie Welsh, from Marske, North Yorkshire, was riding round farm tracks on Monday evening (14 November) when her seven-year-old Welsh section C Nero uncharacteristically spooked.

“She was out with another girl from the yard and they were on one of the tracks on the farm that they go down on a regular basis,” said her father Adam. “He spooked at what could have been a rustle or a pheasant.

“They would regularly ride out with head torches and hi-vis. It’s the only time they get to ride after school so the horses were used to it. He’s a lovely pony and doesn’t normally spook at many things.”

Maisie, who has been riding since she was three years old, was taken to James Cooke University Hospital where she underwent surgery for her injuries.

“We can’t say much more at the moment as we’re waiting for doctors and specialists to look at her,” Adam said. “She’s talking but has been in a lot of pain.”

He added that Nero, who they have owned for 18 months, had seemed upset since the accident and had even colicked.

“We think he’s been worried sick,” he said. “He came back after she fell off to check if she was OK. He’s been checking every person that comes round the corner since to see if it’s her.

“We’re hoping she can Facetime over the weekend to say hello to him. He’s a brilliant pony and she won’t have anything bad said about him at all.”

Adam added that he wanted to say “a big thank you” to all the people who had helped following the accident.

“We’d like to thank Jade Robson, who she was hacking with, and another girl Louise Barker who laid down on the floor with Maisie while she waited for the ambulance, which had trouble finding her and took 40 minutes.

“All our friends and family have rallied round and the nurses have all been fantastic.”

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Friend of the family Jo Byrne has since set up a GoFundMe page to help support Maisie following her injuries.

The page has already raised almost £2,000 in the first three days.

“We didn’t know anything about it beforehand,” said Adam, who works as a coach driver. “We think the money is likely to go towards hotel stays and similar to make life easier for Maisie when she has hospital appointments and anything else that might help her.”

Rider hospitalised after horse dies on beach

Caroline Bankes — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 07:25:56 +0000

A horse collapsed and died during beach ride at the weekend (Saturday 27 February), leaving the teenage girl who was riding it with shoulder injuries.

The unnamed 17-year-old girl from the Salturn area of North Yorkshire was taken to James Cooke University Hospital in Middlesbrough by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

Mike Lincoln, a member of the Cleveland Mountain Rescue team who was walking on the beach, called the ambulance.

There were fears the girl may have sustained spinal injuries.

“We were called out at 1pm to Saltburn beach with reports of a young women who had fallen from a horse. It transpired the patient, a 17-year-old women had injured her shoulder,” said a spokesman for the GNAAS.

The doctor and rescue team were dropped off at the beach where the accident happened, and the helicopter landed nearby to pick up the rider.

“The accident was not as serious as it could have been. We hope the patient makes a full recovery and is back riding soon,” said a spokesman for GNAAS.

The owner of the horse, which was not the rider, is “very upset” by the horse’s death.

In the last financial year from end of March 2014 to April 2015 GNAAS treated 52 equestrian related injuries.

The air ambulance’s area extends from York in the south to Berwick in the north, from Tyneside in the east to Whitehaven in the West.

‘Fairytales can happen’: rider makes winning return after serious head injury

Amy Mathieson — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 13:55:30 +0000

Scottish dressage rider Jo Hamilton is back competing seven months after sustaining a serious head injury.

And the rider has now qualified for this year’s National Dressage Championships.

“Fairytales can happen,” she told H&H.

Jo was riding at her yard near Edinburgh on 21 December when she fell from her horse Corchapin.

She was in hospital for around nine weeks, but was discharged in March. In April she was back in the saddle for the first time, taking it slowly at a riding school in a “safe situation”.

She said at the time: “My body felt like a beginner again but it’s a start and the desire is still there.”

Although based in Scotland, prior to the accident Jo continued to train with her former employer Carl Hester in Gloucestershire.

While she was off her horses were campaigned by another of Carl’s pupil’s, Kate Cowell.

“Corchapin returned home from Gloucestershire at the beginning of July,” said Jo.

Last weekend (1-3 August) the pair competed for the first time since the accident at the Scottish Regional Championships at Cabin EC, Aberdeen in the advanced medium.

“We won both the advanced medium 98 warm-up with 73.55% and the advanced medium open regional championship with 73.16%, which qualifies us for the British Dressage National Championships at Stoneleigh in September,” she added.

“It has been a long journey but so many have helped me along the way. It all seems slow but steady progress is being made.

“I ride at home and teach around doing my rehab work and exercises and yard work.

“Up till then I hope to do a few competitions locally and after the Nationals start training with Carl again.”

Jo was on her own when she fell, so no one is clear exactly what happened, but she was found shortly after the accident unconscious in the school. She had been wearing a crash hat.

“She was due to teach someone after she’d worked her horse, and she was found unconscious on the ground. The horse had sand on his knees and on his saddle so we assume he must have fallen,” her mother Flora told H&H at the time.

“It all happened really quickly. Jo always wears a helmet, thank goodness, as it could have been so much worse without that hat.”

Georgie Spence determined to compete at Burghley despite injury

Rachael Turner — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 10:55:28 +0000

Eventer Georgie Spence will be out of action for the next fortnight after fracturing her hand in a riding accident.

However, she is still determined to compete at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials next month (3-6 September).

The British four-star event rider was schooling at her Wiltshire base on Tuesday (4 August) when the horse she was riding snatched the reins and injured her hand.

Georgie thought she was just badly bruised, but two days later the swelling had not gone down so she went to hospital (6 August).

She found out she had fractured a bone in her hand and chipped a bone in her wrist.

“I assumed by the way it happened, that it was just a bruise, so I was surprised when I heard it was fractured,” Georgie told H&H.

“I am still aiming for Burghley — I am going regardless. I will rest it for two weeks and then I will start gradually riding.

“It’s not too painful if I don’t do anything with it that makes it sore.

“I am still pottering around on hacks riding with one hand as I don’t want to lose fitness.

“It’s lucky it’s just a fracture so it’s not in a cast.”

Georgie has entered 12-year-old gelding Wii Limbo for this year’s Burghley.

“I’m sure I will be fine for Burghley, it’s just one of those things,” she added.

“I am in a good place and the horses are going really well.

“It is a shame to miss Gatcombe but I know him [Wii Limbo] inside out so it’s not the end of the world not to have this one last run [before Burghley].”

Rider wins compensation in accident case

Lucy Elder — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:55:19 +0000

A rider whose horse bolted when a motorcyclist drove too close has won a case which solicitors say is a “step forward” for other riders.

Sarah Roberts was hacking along a bridleway in Harlow Woods, Mansfield, Notts, on 10 November 2013, when the bike passed her, causing her horse — Sky — to bolt.

Ms Roberts, who was 23 at the time, fell off the five-year-old cob x thoroughbred and broke her ankle.

The horse was physically uninjured, but Ms Roberts said he lost his confidence completely.

“Sky just didn’t know what to do with himself,” Ms Roberts told H&H.

“I think he must have stumbled — I don’t remember coming off.”

She was taken to hospital where X-rays confirmed she had broken her ankle.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

A claim was submitted to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) — a body responsible for compensating the victims of accident caused by untraced or uninsured drivers — but was rejected.

The MIB said that as the motorbike was being ridden on a bridleway, it was not likely to be a road bike that would need insurance.

HorseSolicitor, Ms Roberts’ legal representatives, argued that under the Highways Act and Road Traffic Act, a bridleway is a public place or road.

According to the solicitors, a witness had seen the motorbike had L-plates, which showed it was a road bike.

The solicitors also referred to a piece of EU Court ruling — Damijan Vnuk v Zavarovalnica Triglav — that addressed two relevant points.

These were what constitutes a vehicle and the circumstances for which it should be insured.

It was argued during the case, which finished on 29 June, that the judgement extends the MIB’s liability to victims of incidents involving all vehicles. This is provided they are being used in a manner consistent with their normal function and as a means of travel.

The case was accepted by the MIB.

Ms Roberts added: “I still can’t really believe it — I never thought anything would come of it.”

Final compensation figures have not yet been confirmed.

A spokesperson from HorseSolictor said: “This paves the way for future applicants to recover compensation for people whose injuries were caused by vehicles that would not fall under the pre-Vnuk definition of a vehicle.

“We still have some way to go before a definitive rule has been set but this is a step in the right direction.”

Ref: H&H 30 July, 2015

Remote riding schools can benefit from new life-saving device

Caroline Bankes — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 10:55:00 +0000

A new defibrillator launched for sports clubs could benefit riding schools in remote areas.

The Defibtech Lifeline VIEW automated external defibrillator (AED) by Martek Lifecare has been used by the airline industry for several years but is now available for the leisure industry.

The AED is the first to offer step-by-step visual feedback for performing CPR, rescue breathing and external defibrillation.

There are clear video instructions for checking and changing the pads, battery pack and data card.

The rescuer is taken through each step of the rescue via a full colour video screen.

There are over 100,000 deaths due to cardiac arrest (SCA) in the UK each year.

Without defibrillation to the heart within the first few minutes the changes of survival are dramatically reduced and without treatment 90-95% of victims of SCA will die.

Health clubs and gyms are prime locations for people of all ages to suffer from sudden cardiac arrest said Martek Lifecare.

Survival rates are as low as 2% if no electrical shock is provided to stimulate the heart.

“A number of sports facilities are realising the benefits of having an automated external defibrillator on site. Sudden cardiac disease is the world’s biggest killer and by simply providing an electrical shock to the heart that person’s chance of survival is improved by 20%. That’s the difference between saving a life,” said Steve Coulson, director at Martek Lifecare.

He said the company’s Lifeline range of defibrillators “has proven more popular in recent years” following cases of high profile footballers suffering “from the seemingly random effects of SCA.”

Julian Marczak of the the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) said the organisation welcomes any health and safety initiative which has the potential to save lives.

“However, before recommending to our member riding schools that they equip themselves with the defibrillator launched by Martek we would wish to be assured that the form of training offered is sufficient, particularly given the considerable level of responsibility placed on the user,” he added.

Air ambulance crews report spike in equestrian accidents

Rachael Turner — Sat, 16 May 2015 13:55:32 +0000

Air ambulance crews are urging riders to stay safe this spring after a recent spike in equestrian accidents.

Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) and Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) have both reported an increase in riding incidents they have been called to attend.

DLRAA saw a 66% rise in equestrian accidents during April compared to March this year. WNAA recorded a 62% increase across the same period.

“As the spring weather warms up and people get into the competition season, it is really important to remember to put on your safety gear before going out,” said critical care paramedic Philippa Gibbs.

Equestrian accidents remain the most common sports-related incidents both air ambulance units attend. DLRAA were called to 90 accidents involving riders last year, while WNAA assisted 62 injured riders.

In Case of Emergency cards

The air ambulances will be giving away In Case of Emergency (ICE) cards to riders this spring to encourage safe riding practices.

ICE cards help paramedics and health workers in emergency situations by containing any medical information that might be important, as well as contact details of family members.

The air ambulance advises that the cards, made from coated carboard and business card-sized, are carried in a clearly visible position, such as in an armband.

If this is not an option, riders are advised carry the cards in a pocket or inside their hat.

“ICE cards can help alert medical staff to important information about your health, and also identify you that much faster,” explained Philippa.

“This can be particularly important if an accident has happened in a remote location and there is limited information about your identity available.”

The air ambulance’s ICE cards come attached to a leaflet that contains safety tips for riders.

To get your own ICE card, call 08454 130999 or email enquiries@theairambulanceservice.org.uk and provide your name and address to have one sent out to you.

The cards will also be available for riders to collect at Chatsworth International Horse Trials (15-17 May) and at Rockingham International Horse Trials (22-24 May).

For more information visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk/ice

Top judge suffers broken leg when kicked at show

Ellie Hughes — Fri, 15 May 2015 15:25:34 +0000

A British senior judge has broken his leg after being kicked by a horse while judging at Balmoral Show in Belfast.

Richard Mills, (pictured top competing at Hickstead in 2012) who was overseeing the Hunter Supreme Championship alongside Chris Hunnable on Wednesday 13 May, had just mounted and was riding away from the line up when his horse started resisting and whipped round.

“Chris had just got on a horse at the other end of the line and unfortunately mine took me back towards him. We both met in the middle and in the confusion the other horse caught me hard above my ankle,” Richard told H&H. “I tried to carry on at first, but I soon realised that my foot wouldn’t do what I wanted it to and that I’d better get off.”

Richard was taken by ambulance from the showground to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, where X-rays revealed that he had broken his right leg. He underwent an operation and flew back to England on Thursday evening.

“It was such a shame, especially as I’d had to turn down my last invitation to judge at the show years ago because it clashed with my horse competing at Royal Windsor. [The accident] was nobody’s fault – just one of those things. Everyone, especially the show organisers, dealt with the incident very professionally,” continued Richard, who is now in plaster from his hip to his ankle and will be out of action for between six and eight weeks.

“It’s come in the middle of a really busy time and it sadly means that I will not be able to fulfil my forthcoming judging commitments,” he added. “But I hope to be back in time for Royal Norfolk Show [1 July].”

A spokesman for Balmoral Show commented: “Richard is an experienced judge and the accident was very unfortunate. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Dressage rider recovering from serious head injury

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 10:18:16 +0000

Scottish dressage rider Jo Hamilton has been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home, after sustaining a serious head injury in a riding accident in December.

Jo was riding at her yard near Edinburgh on 21 December when she fell from her horse Corchapin.

She was on her own so no one is clear exactly what happened, but Jo was found shortly after the accident unconscious in the school. She had been wearing a crash hat.

“Jo was in the school working her advanced horse,” her mother Flora told H&H. “She was due to teach someone after she’d worked him, and she was found unconscious on the ground. The horse had sand on his knees and on his saddle so we assume he must have fallen.

“It all happened really quickly. Jo always wears a helmet, thank goodness, as it could have been so much worse without that hat.”

Jo was in hospital for around nine weeks, but Flora told H&H Jo is now “making good progress, albeit slower than she would like”.

“It’s a huge road to recovery but her mobility and balance are getting better every day,” she added. “Walking was difficult to start with but now she’s out and about helping with the horses, though it will be a few months before she’s back in the saddle.

“Jo has been really encouraged by the many cards and messages of support she has received.”

Although based in Scotland, Jo has continued to train with her former employer, Gloucestershire rider Carl Hester.

Two of Jo’s rides — her own Corchapin (by Negro) and vet Olwen Lloyd’s home-bred Dahling — were ridden at Patchetts regionals (27 February-3 March) by Kate Cowell, another pupil of Carl’s. Dahling (by Lingh) won the medium open freestyle with 76.11% to Jo’s music.

Kate also picked up wildcards for the winter championships at Hartpury — one at advanced medium freestyle on Corchapin after coming second, and another on Dahling in the straight class at the level.

“It’s such an honour to have Jo’s horses while she’s injured,” said Kate, who had been riding the pair for just three weeks before the championships. “They are beautifully trained and Jo did all the hard work qualifying them for the regionals. We both train with Carl so possibly we have similar riding styles.”

Injured rider forced to wait 2 hours for ambulance [VIDEO]

Sophia Heath — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:55:09 +0000

An ambulance service has been forced to apologise after a rider had to wait more than two hours following a serious showjumping accident last month (26 October).

Charlotte Goord was catapulted out of the saddle when her horse, Ellie, paddled through a spread during a British Showjumping competition at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

“I remember coming to the jump and feeling her misjudge it really badly. Then I heard my neck crunching and then I blacked out,” she told H&H.

The 19-year-old hit the ground at speed, and a doctor and an on-site first aider were concerned that she might have serious neck injuries, and so called the emergency services.

(Image credit: free)

After waiting for more than two hours in the arena, with her head immobilised in a brace, the student was eventually taken to Gloucestershire Hospital in an ambulance.

“I have been incredibly lucky as it turned out only to be severe bruising,” Miss Goord said. “But it could have been much more serious and waiting for all that time was a bit ridiculous.”

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) told H&H that the hold-up was due to it “experiencing a particularly high demand in the area”.

“SWASFT would like to apologise for the delay in getting an ambulance to this incident,” said a spokesman.

“We are confident that the doctor on the scene was able to help the patient while an ambulance was on its way.”

A spokesman from Hartpury College added that he was “surprised” at the length of time it took.

“We have never waited more than 20 minutes for an ambulance in the past,” he said.

“It’s very difficult as obviously you don’t know what else was going on in the country at the same time, but it is something we are looking into with the ambulance service.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (6 October 2014).

iPhone app designed to aid in emergencies

Sophia Heath — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:55:29 +0000

Horse riders with iPhones can now download an app that might help in an emergency situation.

The new Health app — which is only available on iOS 8 — allows users to put emergency health information on the lock screen of their phone.

The software allows riders to enter their full name, date of birth, medical conditions, allergies, medications, blood type and more, so that first aiders can immediately access the information.

If a casualty is found with the phone anyone will be able to tap the screen, without needing to enter a passcode, to pull up the full medical card.

The app is being supported by medical professionals.

“When giving first aid in an emergency, the priority is to provide immediate care and attend to any major injuries a person may be suffering from at that time,” said Clive James from St John Ambulance.

“However, where these details would prove vital is if someone has become suddenly ill from an underlying medical condition that the person treating them needs to be made aware of, or when the patient arrives in hospital to receive ongoing or long-term treatment.”

Horse owners also think that the new app could help to improve safety, particularly if riding out alone.

“I urge riders to consider using this app,” said one H&H reader. “It could make a real difference in bad situations.”

Paralysed trainer takes claim to High Court

Sophia Heath — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:55:03 +0000

An Irish trainer, who has been left paralysed from her chest down after being run over by a horse in a warm-up area, took her case for more than €900,000 special damages to the High Court in Dublin last week (15-16 October).

Deirdre Bourns was knocked down by a four-year-old horse called Miss Red, who was being warmed up by Hayley Dunne at Cavan Equestrian Centre’s indoor championships on 19 September 2012.

Mrs Bourns, from Co. Galway, has sued the Showjumping Association of Ireland, Cavan Equestrian Centre Ltd and Ms Dunne.

She claims Showjumping Ireland did not provide adequate supervision and did not ensure the presence of a safety steward at all times.

She argues that Cavan Equestrian Centre allowed the fences to be positioned too close to each other and failed to remove Miss Red from the warm-up arena, even though the horse had reportedly shown dangerous behaviour.

She also alleges that Ms Dunne failed to exercise adequate control over the horse, which had reportedly run out of control on two occasions before the collision. All of the defendants deny the claims.

The incident has already led to some Irish shows introducing “horse-free zones” in warm-up areas to improve safety (news, 1 May). Plastic traffic barriers of 1.20m in height are positioned between fences to create safe areas “where a groom or trainer can retreat after adjusting the fence”.

Ms Bourns spent months in rehabilitation after the accident and still needs a number of carers to help with all aspects of daily living.

The court was told that after discussions on Thursday (16 October), progress had been made and the case could be adjourned for a month.

This news story was originally published in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 23 October, 2014

Police tracing motorcyclist who left rider with serious injuries

Sophia Heath — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:30:15 +0000

A woman has been left seriously injured after a motorbike spooked her horse on a bridleway in Sunderland last week (30 September).

The accident happened on an old railway line near Coxhoe Green in Houghton. The lady — who has been named locally as 40-year-old Gail Mawhinney — was taken to hospital with severe internal injuries.

Police are now trying to trace the bike rider who reportedly did not stop after the incident.

“Police are keen to speak to the motorcyclist who was riding the blue and white off-road style motorbike,” said a spokesman.

“He is believed to have been wearing a white helmet.”

A farmer — who employs Ms Mawhinney — has spoken out to local press warning that “next time someone could be killed”.

“We need to discourage other people from doing what has happened here,” Mr Broadwith said.

“It’s bad enough that some bikers are tormenting people by riding about at speeds of 50 or 60mph, but this person did not slow down and then sped off after it happened.

“He was somewhere he should not be and someone needs to make people aware that this is a problem.

“It’s not that we have an axe to grind against bikers, but next time, somebody could be killed.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191, quoting reference 942 300914, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Eventer Polly Williamson in an induced coma

Horse & Hound — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:59:06 +0000

Wiltshire event rider Polly Williamson, 41, is in an induced coma in Frenchay Hospital, Bristol after a fall on Thursday.

The four-star rider, who is a former young rider European champion, broke three vertebrae and suffered a serious head injury when her horse spooked during high winds and fell onto her.

Friend of the family Angela Tucker said the doctors are waiting for fluid and bruising to her head to subside.

“The doctors are not concerned about the broken vertebrae but just don’t know [the extent of her head injuries] at the moment,” said Mrs Tucker.

“She might be absolutely fine – we just have to wait and see.”

Polly won six European gold medals when she was in young rider teams, taking individual and team gold in 1987, 1988 and 1990.

Man airlifted to hospital after fall with Essex and Suffolk hunt

Horse & Hound — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:27:58 +0000

A man injured while out hunting with the Essex and Suffolk last Saturday (15 January) is making a good recovery in hospital.

Charles Williamson, 77, suffered a fractured pelvis when his horse reared up and fell over backwards.

Due to the isolated location of the accident, near Hadleigh, Mr Williamson was airlifted to Ipswich Hospital, and then transferred to the Norwich and Norfolk Hospital, where he had an operation to pin his pelvis.

Joint-master Gillie Cranfield was one of the hunt members who stayed with Mr Williamson while waiting for the air ambulance to arrive.

“Charles had been waiting for another rider to remount when his horse went up on his back legs and fell on him,” she said.

“But he seems to be recovering well — he’s sitting up in bed and complaining he is bored, which has to be a good sign.”

Big Bang Theory actress breaks leg in riding accident

Charlotte White — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:26:12 +0000

American TV star Kaley Cuoco, seen in sitcom The Big Bang Theory and Seven Simple Rules, has broken her leg in a riding accident.

The actress is laid up in an LA hospital after the accident on Saturday and has been given two weeks off from filming the Big Bang Theory to recuperate, US newspapers report.

Miss Cuoco has said that riding is her big passion after acting.

True Blood star Stephen Moyer injures knee in horse fall

Horse & Hound — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:20:47 +0000

True Blood star Stephen Moyer has injured himself falling off a horse during filming for the TV series.

Stephen, who plays Vampire Bill in the TV series based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, was filming a stunt scene when he fell off.

“I rode behind a stuntman and we were in a forest,” he told US press.

“I came off and the horse went back and I landed on this two-foot square piece of concrete. It was the only piece of concrete in the whole forest — and I landed straight on my knee.”

He has since recovered.

Riding accidents on the increase

Horse & Hound — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:37:42 +0000

Riding accidents are increasing, according to a BBC Inside Out investigation. In the past 12 months air ambulance crews in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire attended 150 injured riders compared to 97 five years ago – a 65% increase, the BBC’s research showed.

A consultant at Stoke Mandeville Hospital told BBC Inside Out that riders risk a serious accident once in every 350 hours spent riding. In contrast, a motorcyclist would expect to have a serious accident once in every 7,500 spent on a motorbike. This would make riding a horse 20 times more dangerous than riding a motorbike.

The British Horse Society (BHS) recommends all riders wear a riding helmet to current safety standards (PAS 015 or BS EN 1384) and take a Riding Road Safety test.

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