'We all have to weigh up our risks'

H&H’s Pippa Roome on recent tragedy, Hartpury and Burghley entries

- Pippa Roome

I CAN'T start this column without acknowledging the indescribably sad passing of Sarah Yorke in a cross-country fall at Aston-le-Walls on 8 August (news, 14 August).

The thoughts of the whole eventing community are with her family and friends, as well as the Aston team and medics.

Any fatal accident makes every person who rides cross-country think about their decision to do so. This one, at BE100 level for a rider who had a good record, will hit grassroots competitors particularly hard. But in the end, the huge joy, excitement and fulfilment many take from the sport makes them decide to continue.

I'm not eventing at present, but I made that decision time and again when I was competing. Even with some health issues now that mean any accident could be particularly complicated, I still choose to do another quite dangerous sport in skiing. I love it and, for me, the risk versus benefit stacks up, which is what every individual has to calculate.

Meanwhile we must continue to push for ongoing safety improvements so the number of such falls decrease, while accepting that riding horses can never be risk-free.