Girl injured in accident at charity horse show

The accident happened just before 9.15am during the St Michael’s Hospice Riding Club’s Annual Horse and Dog Show at Horns Corner in Catsfield.

It is believed the horse was misbehaving and ended up landing on the 12-year-old rider.

The Kent Air Ambulance was scrambled to the scene, but she was taken by land ambulance to the Conquest Hospital with suspected injuries to her pelvis, leg and jaw.

One member of the public said he saw the ambulance arrive on the scene and thought it was part of a display until the air ambulance landed.

Phillip Ball said: “Three personnel in red overalls got out and attended the young lady for about one hour on the field. It was then announced over the PA that fortunately the young girl was not as badly hurt as thought at first and was being transferred to a local hospital via ambulance.”

He added: “I enquired from one of the organisers what had happened and was told that a young girl had ridden into the showground with her mother and that the pony started misbehaving. It then reared and instead of leaning forward she leant back holding onto the reins pulling the pony over backwards onto her.

“I understand the pony landed on her legs, but there was concern that she may have hit her head.”

Head of fundraising for the hospice, Perdita Chamberlain, said: “This was a very rare and unfortunate incident but we’d like to commend the St Michael’s Hospice Riding Club, which is one of several support groups raising money for St Michael’s Hospice, and a paramedic who was volunteering at the event for acting exceptionally quickly to ensure the best possible care was administered at the earliest opportunity.

“We understand that the little girl that was involved in the accident is being treated by the Conquest Hospital and we wish her a very speedy recovery.”

The girl has since been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home.