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Two riders died in separate cross-country incidents on Saturday, British Eventing has announced.
Sophie Fouracre, 34, was fatally injured while riding five-year-old mare Rhubarbsfox Brittania during a cross-country accident at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire.
Kerry Donoghue, 42, died hours later while riding her 16-year-old horse Carneyhaugh Rua in the open-novice competition at the Penrith Horse Trials in Cumbria.
Both horses were examined by vets and found to be uninjured.
Fouracre is understood to have been an experienced rider who has ridden at Burghley Horse Trials, a prestigious three-day event which takes place every summer in Lincolnshire.
The mother of two has previously ridden for the late Queen, eventing four of her horses, and had previously acquired a three-year-old horse owned by the King, according to her competition profile.
She had 10 stables on her parents-in-law’s farm in Hook, Hampshire, and specialised in backing and producing young horses, often from Ireland.
‘Community is heartbroken’
Rosie Williams, the chief executive of British Eventing, said: “The British Eventing community is heartbroken.
“On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kerry and Sophie’s families, friends and loved ones at this devastating time.
“The loss of two members of our eventing family on the same day is almost beyond words, and we know the sadness of these events will be felt profoundly across the sport for some time to come.”
Comprehensive reviews of the accidents will be undertaken in accordance with British Eventing procedures.
Rhubarbsfox Brittania has previously finished tenth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2021 and completed Pau Horse Trials five-star. The pair had finished ninth at notice earlier in April this year.
The Penrith Horse Trials were cancelled following Donoghue’s death.
A British Eventing spokesman said: “At both venues, the event medical teams responded immediately and provided emergency treatment. Despite their best efforts sadly neither rider could be saved.
“We recognise the impact these tragic events will have across the eventing community.
“Anyone affected is encouraged to seek support through the British Eventing Support Trust Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 07780 008877.
“We respectfully ask that the privacy of both families is respected during this incredibly difficult time.”
‘Absolutely tragic’
Trudy Graves wrote on Facebook: “I have known Sophie since she was a little girl. This is heartbreaking and I am sending my heartfelt condolences to her family, and the other family too. Absolutely tragic.”
Sue Martin on Facebook said: “We drove past the Horse Trails event on our way home from the Penrith Show. You could see that something very serious had happened at that separate event.”
Eventing consists of three phases – dressage, showjumping and cross-country. Both deaths took place during the cross-country phases of the competitions.
British Eventing has faced a number of rider fatalities in recent years after its worst year in 1999 when five riders died in fatal falls.
In May 2024, Georgie Campbell, a professional eventer, died after her horse fell and landed on her at Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon.
Last August, British rider Sarah Yorke, 37, died during the cross-country phase of Aston-le-Walls horse trials on Daventry Racecourse in Northamptonshire.
Riders Minds, the mental health charity, said: “Our hearts go out to our community after the desperately sad news this weekend. Immediate support is available for everyone affected.”
