‘You never think it will happen to you’: injured event rider urges others to get insured
An injured eventer is urging other riders to consider insuring themselves in case of an accident.
Sophie McCormack had a crashing fall in the cross-country at Rockingham Horse Trials last year (24 May).
Sophie was airlifted to hospital where she was treated for a serious head injury.
Her horse, As You Like It IV (Pete), was put down as a result of his injuries.
After leaving hospital two month’s later, Sophie began visiting the Injured Jockeys Fund’s (IJF) Oaksey House for rehabilitation.
As Sophie is not a licensed jockey, her treatment at the facility has been entirely self-funded and she has struggled to cope with the costs of her rehabilitation.
“Rehabilitation is expensive,” she told H&H. “My mother and I have used all our savings.
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“It’s made me realise how many other riders are in a similar position to how I was — I didn’t think about insurance before the accident. There should be more of an emphasis on self-insurance.”
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British Eventing (BE) offers certain coverage with membership, but this did not cover Sophie’s rehabilitation.
“I didn’t realise I had any insurance until I spoke to BE,” Sophie said. “You never think an accident that would stop you from working and riding will happen, but there’s always a chance.
“You buy safety equipment because there’s a chance of you being in an accident and insurance should be thought of in the same way.”
BE covers a maximum amount of £10,000 for accidents resulting from equestrian activities, “which lead to death, loss of limbs or eyes, or permanent total disablement which leave you unable to follow any gainful employment.”
The organisation told H&H it would advise anyone taking part in equestrian activities to take out additional personal accident insurance.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.