HARROWINGLY, five event riders worldwide were killed in cross-country falls throughout the year, four of the falls being immediately reported as rotational.

Sadly, two young riders lost their lives in Australia where the racing and sport horse worlds were hugely saddened in March following the death in a CNC** class of 17-year-old Olivia Inglis of the famous Australian bloodstock sales family at Scone horse trials in New South Wales. In May came news of the fatal fall of Caitlyn Fischer (19) in a CCI*class at the Sydney International.

Later that month British-born Philippa Humphreys was killed while competing in a CCI*** class at the Jersey Fresh International in the USA. The 33-year-old is survived by husband Pete and daughter Millie who was just six months old at the time of her mother’s death.

In September, promising young Russian rider Nikita Sotskov (21) lost his life when making his three-star debut at the Ratomka horse trials in Minsk, Belarus, while the following month 34-year-old father of two Santiago Zone was killed while competing in a national event at Campo de Mayo near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Another young rider who suffered a fatal fall during the year was American amateur show jumper Rebecca Weissbard (22), who was competing in a 1m class at the HITS show in Saugerties, New York on the final day of August.

Sadly, the year began with news of the death in a car crash in Florida of the Venezuelan show jumper Andres Rodriguez (31), who had entertained spectators while competing at the RDS in 2015, while 18-year-old British show jumper Ella Popely lost her life in a traffic accident in early December.

At home, 12-year-old Sean Doyle from Clondalkin was killed when his pony and trap was in collision with a truck in February. In late October came the sad news of the death out hunting with the North Downs of amateur event rider Claire Lowe (39).

It would be impossible to list all those involved with horses who died in Ireland during 2016 but, in this Olympic year, two women deserve special mention. Sarah Gordon, who rode Rathkenny at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, lost her long and brave battle against MS in April, while Ita Brennan, who bred Greg Broderick’s Rio de Janeiro mount MHS Going Global and many other top-class horses, died in May.