‘She will be so missed’: popular rider dies in fall
Tributes have been paid to an “extremely popular” Scottish showjumper who died in a riding accident last weekend.
Fortrose-based Caroline MacAskill fell from her horse on Saturday (1 October).
Mrs MacAskill was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but died on Sunday (2 October).
The 52-year-old worked as the head of customer services at Cairn Housing Association and was a member of the Caledonian Riding Club (CRC).
Mrs MacAskill had been due to receive a club league winner rosette at the British Showjumping (BS) Awards Ball on 4 October.
She had won the 2015-2016 70cm and 80cm Scottish club leagues.
“Caroline was an extremely well-liked and popular competitor within her region where she competed with regular success and we are all deeply saddened at the news of her death,” a BS spokesman told H&H.
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“Our thoughts and condolences are with Caroline’s family during this extremely difficult time”.
Tributes to the rider have flooded social media.
“The club, committee and members have been shocked and saddened by the death of Caroline MacAskill,” said a spokesman for the CRC.
“Caroline was a popular and well-known figure at so many riding events both in the Highland area and beyond.
“She gave terrific support to the CRC, most recently at the Brechin Area 22 weekend.
“Her good-humoured enthusiasm for her sport shone through everything she did. She will be so much missed and was a wonderful example to everyone else of doing what you love most with commitment and courage.
“Our condolences to Ian (her husband), and to all her family and close friends, on their irreplaceable loss.”
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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.