British Eventing is cooperating with Lincolnshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the death of 47-year-old rider Ian Olding at Belton Park International Horse Trials on Sunday (26 April).
Mr Olding, an experienced event rider and his 12-year-old horse Gran-Kiki (“Alfie”) suffered a rotational (somersault) fall at the table element (pictured) of a combination about halfway around an advanced section at the Lincolnshire course.
Alfie was uninjured and has gone to co-owner Sue Kirkpatrick.
The course was designed by Sue Benson, who will create the cross-country course for the 2012 London Olympics.
She told H&H: “We have used this fence combination for two years now, although it was sited elsewhere on the course.
“We had not a single deputation to the rider’s representative or other officials [about the fence] before Ian’s accident.”
Mr Olding’s death is the first at Belton and Mrs Benson said she was “saddened beyond words” by it.
