Woman airlifted to hospital from NPS Spring Festival

A woman was airlifted from Three Counties Showground on Saturday (24 April) after being kicked unconscious by her pony.

Gail Evans was talking part in the National Pony Society’s (NPS) Spring Festival at Malvern when the accident happened at 10.30am.

NPS chief executive Peter Durrant told H&H that Mrs Evans was taking the back boots off one of her Highland ponies when something caused the animal to kick out.

“The blow caught Mrs Evans on the back of her head and knocked her out. She fell down on the concrete like a rag doll, her daughter told me,” said Mr Durrant.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service attended and the Midlands Air Ambulance took Mrs Evans to Worcester Royal Hospital where she remained under observation on Monday morning.

“The emergency services were brilliant,” said Mr Durrant. “We hope to donate money to the Midlands Air Ambulance later this year.”

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