Calls for change after rider severely injured at trot-up

Lisa Marriott was badly hurt when her horse kicked her as she waited for the vet inspection

- ELEANOR JONES

CALLS for change have been made after a rider suffered broken ribs and a lacerated liver when her horse kicked her ahead of a show trot-up.

Lisa Marriott was taken to hospital and was in intensive care after the incident at Addington CDI on 16 March.

Olympic rider Richard Davison, who has organised as well as taken part in many vet checks, told H&H the system had merit; it was designed to run one way to avoid accidents.

“But it was difficult to implement as it was spread over a large area, with the collecting area not visible from the stables and too far away from the horse inspection,” he said. “The stewards ushered too many horses out of their stables far too early and this resulted in queues. Horses were fresh in the wind and getting difficult.”

Richard said he would have expected stewards to take action to mitigate the backlog.

“Ultimately we riders are responsible for the control of our horses and the safety of ourselves and others. This type of accident can happen in any environment so I urge everyone to take care,” he said.