Tributes have been paid to an “exceptional horse woman” who died from injuries she sustained while clipping her horse.
Mary Hancy, 55, from Norfolk was fatally injured in the accident, which happened on Sunday 11 January.
Her daughter, Kelly, told press that it was case of her being in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.
“We were just clipping at the time and it was the last horse that she had bred,” she said.
“He was only five years old and he was a bit spooked by something and kicked out and caught her.”
East Anglia Air Ambulance (EAAA) confirmed to H&H that it had attended the accident (stock image used).
“Dr Temesvari and critical care paramedic Rod Wells were called to an equestrian accident in a small village near Thetford,” a spokesman said.
“The team arrived at 12.27 to assess, treat and transfer a female in her fifties who had suffered trauma due to an equestrian accident.
“The East of England Ambulance Service was on scene, but called on EAAA after the patient rapidly deteriorated.
“The patient had suffered injury to the head and abdomen.”
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The EAAA crew flew Mrs Hancy to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge in a critical condition. She later died of her injuries. An inquest has now been opened into her death.
“She had dedicated her whole life to horses,” her daughter added.
“She was very passionate about breeding Hanoverian and German warmbloods for many years and had helped run a riding school and stud with her very close friends Howard and Valerie Rose.
“She was always a familiar and friendly face at local showjumping competitions.”