Woman dies after being kicked in the show ring

A woman died in West Yorkshire on Sunday (5 August) after being kicked in the head by her pony at a show.

The 38-year old mother from Shelf in Halifax was leading her coloured yearling before the judge in an open young stock class at a Shibden Dale Riding Club show at Royd Farm in Northowram when it kicked her twice — once in the back and once to the head. The woman was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, where she died at about 1.30pm.

Doreen Kent, who sits on the riding club’s committee and was stewarding at the time, said: “It was traumatic for everyone who saw it. No one knows what to say or do. She and her filly were in the middle of the ring on their own at the time, so there was nothing to spook it.”

The woman was wearing a riding hat without a chinstrap that became dislodged in the incident. Mrs Kent said she was not sure whether it moved after the first or second kick.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed that a coroner’s inquest was due to be opened “probably later this week”.

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