A rider fatality is being reported out of Somerford Park International Horse Trials, according to numerous reports on Facebook and Twitter. Competition was abandoned shortly after the incident occurred. Due to sensitivity to the family and friends of the rider, we are not releasing a name until an official statement has been released. This is a tragic day in the eventing community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. We will follow up with a more detailed report shortly.
Update 1:38 p.m. EST: I have been in contact with officials at Somerford Park, who told me the family of the deceased has not yet been notified. An official statement will be made by British Eventing once the family has been informed. British Eventing has requested via Twitter that people refrain from posting about the victim on Facebook and Twitter until the family has been contacted. British Eventing has posted a statement on its website, but it appears their servers are flooded due to high traffic volume. I will update this post with the statement as soon as I can view it.
Update 1:48 p.m. EST: British Eventing just posted the following statements on its Facebook page:
A rider suffered a fatal injury at Somerford Park International Horse Trials today (Sunday 18th August 2013). No further information will be released until the next of kin have been informed.
Statement from BE Chief Executive Mike Etherington-Smith: “We would ask that at this extremely sad time that people using social media respect the fact that the rider’s family may not be aware of the accident today.” We will not be posting any further information today.
Update 4:21 p.m. EST: Equestrian Sports NZ, the governing body for equestrian sports in New Zealand, just released the follow statement on its Facebook page:
Equestrian Sports New Zealand announces with great regret that a New Zealand eventing rider has suffered a fatal injury at the Somerford Park International Horse Trials in Cheshire, UK on Sunday 18 August 2013. Injuries were sustained during a fall on the cross country course of the 1 star event.
A further statement will be made once next of kin have been fully informed.
Jim Ellis, ESNZ Chief Executive, states “This is a tragic day for our sport and thoughts of everyone in the NZ equestrian community are with the rider’s family at this terrible time. ESNZ would ask that the media and those using social media do not publish further details until the rider’s family have been fully informed and a subsequent statement has been made.”
