Verdict on death of instructor
A coroner has returned the verdict of “accidental death” after a riding instructor dies from head injuries after falling from bolting horse
A verdict of “accidental death” has been returned on the instructor, who died from head injuries following a fall last year at the Cheltenham Ladies’ College’s equestrian centre in Glos.
Elaine Eyre, 28, from Hayden Hill, Cheltenham, worked as a riding instructor at CLC equestrian centre in Great Witcombe, Gloucester.
On 17 November 2001, she was escorting a group of four girls from Cheltenham Ladies’ College around the cross-country course when according to witnesses, the horse she was riding bolted through a gateway onto a concrete road.
An eyewitness told the hearing: “One horse was out of control and charged out of the gate onto the concrete road.”
“Elaine’s horse went down and made an awful noise. There were children and horses everywhere not knowing what to do.”
Elaine was airlifted to Cheltenham Hospital and then transferred to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital, where she later died the next day from head injuries. A health and safety inspector confirmed she had been wearing a hat.
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A spokesperson for Cheltenham Ladies’ College said: “The equestrian centre closed in April this year due to financial reasons, not because of the accident. Alternative arrangements have been made for girls wishing to continue riding.”
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