The British Eventing community is in mourning after two riders died in separate cross-country accidents on Saturday, the sport’s governing body has announced.
Sophie Fouracre, 34, was fatally injured while riding the five-year-old mare Rhubarbsfox Brittania at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire. Hours later, Kerry Donoghue, 42, died while riding her 16-year-old horse Carneyhaugh Rua in the open-novice competition at the Penrith Horse Trials in Cumbria.
“Two riders, Sophie Fouracre and Kerry Donoghue, died in separate eventing crashes on the same day.”
Both horses were examined by vets and found to be uninjured, British Eventing said. The Penrith Horse Trials were cancelled following Donoghue’s death.
Fouracre, a mother of two from Hook, Hampshire, was an experienced rider who had competed at the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials and previously ridden for the late Queen, eventing four of her horses. She also acquired a three-year-old horse owned by the King, according to her competition profile. She specialised in backing and producing young horses and kept 10 stables on her parents-in-law’s farm.
Her horse Rhubarbsfox Brittania had finished tenth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2021 and completed the five-star Pau Horse Trials. The pair finished ninth at notice earlier in April this year.
British Eventing chief executive Rosie Williams said in a statement: “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.”
A British Eventing spokesman added: “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.”
Comprehensive reviews of the accidents will be undertaken in accordance with British Eventing procedures.
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 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.”
The British Eventing Support Trust Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 07780 008877 for anyone affected.
