Tributes to ‘outstanding horsewoman’ who died after hunting fall

A vice-chairman of the British Show Horse Association has died following a fall with the Mid-Surrey Farmers Draghounds on Saturday (4 March).

Sue Webb, 64, and her horse Ron (pictured together on a different occasion) fell at the first fence of the day on Saturday.

Mrs Webb, of Vines Cross, East Sussex, was secretary of the hunt; her husband Peter is its senior master. He was not hunting on Saturday, as he was checking the course for the hunt’s point-to-point.

Mrs Webb — who was wearing a safety hat — suffered severe head and spinal injuries and died at 6pm on Sunday (5 March), when her life support machine was turned off.

“By our standards, it was a small hedge,” Mr Webb told H&H, describing it as a holly hedge of about 3’6”, in Dallington, East Sussex.

The mid-Surrey country is “demanding”, he added, but stressed that Ron, who was unharmed, was a “good horse”, who “jumped like a stag”.

Mr Webb believes the horse may have been distracted by ponies in a neighbouring field.

H&H showing reporter Tricia Johnson, a close friend of Mrs Webb, said there was no one better at crossing country.

‘You could not meet a more accomplished, all-round horsewoman,” she said. “She was never afraid to take on the biggest hedge — but with the utmost regard for her horse.

“Sue was not only an esteemed colleague and a respected judge, but great, great fun.”

Mrs Webb was a prolific showing judge, a keen gardener and a competitive and successful sailor during the summer on her brother Nigel’s yacht, describing herself as a “winch wench”, Mr Webb said.

“She was always the life and soul of a good party, intelligent and determined and did so much for other people,” he added.

Mrs Webb had been organising a side-saddle “dash” for the Southdown and Eridge point-to-point at Godstone, Surrey, on 9 April.

“It was typical of her, wanting to do things for other people,” added Mr Webb. “Not to have her name up in lights, but making a difference for other people.”

Sue Webb also leaves her parents Roy and Sheila and a son, Christopher Kenny.

By Flora Watkins

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now