10-Friederike Ruhle
25-year-old Friederike Ruhle was completing her daily routine at Caulfield racecourse, Australia’s
most popular horse-riding track, when she suffered a fatal accident. It occurred at 5.30 am,
while Ruhle was riding at the sandtrack. Since there were no witnesses to her fall,
the details of her injuries weren’t clear. The young woman was immediately rushed to the hospital
where she succumbed to her wounds. Ruhle’s was the second female rider to die as a result of an
accident at the Caulfield racecourse during 2015. Lizz Rice suffered serious head injuries in
January of that year, and was kept on life support for a month. After showing no signs of recovery,
she was disconnected, which lead to her death soon after.
9-Roy Kinnear
English actor Roy Kinnear starred in various movies such, assuming the role of Planchet in
‘The Three Musketeers’ and also appearing in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory film.
While filming for ‘The Return of the Musketeers’ in Toledo, Kinnear was required to ride a horse
for several scenes. He suffered a severe accident and sustained a broken pelvis for which he was
taken to the ER, where it was discovered he was also bleeding internally. On September the 20th
of 1988, Kinnear died from a heart attack, as a direct result of his injuries. The actor’s family
sued the director and production company. They claimed corners were cut to save money, which
consequently led to Kinnear’s accident. In 1991, they were awarded a £650,000 settlement. Richard
Lester, the movie’s director, walked away from the film industry as a result of Kinnear’s death.
What is it?
Popularly known as horseback riding, equestrianism has been around ever since we managed to
domesticate mares and stallions. It’s estimated that the first horses were ridden over 5,500 years
ago, and have greatly influenced the way humanity fought wars and worked all throughout history.
Though there are practical uses to horseback riding, it can also be a recreational, artistic,
and cultural activity. Horses are often used as therapy animals,
and can be a soothing presence for children with mental and physical ailments. There is no lack of
competitive sports involving these animals. Polo, rodeo, racing, vaulting, and show jumping are
among the most dangerous examples of challenging formats that rely on the use of horses.
8- Olivia Inglis On March the 6th of 2016,
equestrian star Olivia Ingles suffered a fatal accident during an event in New South Wales,
Australia. Inglis’ family was well-known in the industry as they raised and sold thoroughbreds
for competition. The event in which 17-year-old Inglis was participating involved dressage,
show jumping and cross-country. She was riding Coriolanus, her horse partner of
four years. The accident wasn’t witnessed but a fence judge did report hearing a loud crash.
It’s believed that Inglis and Coriolanus had tumbled to the ground after failing to clear a
jump. Minutes after the fall was reported, Inglis’ mother arrived to find her lying on the ground,
unresponsive. It was reported that the horse had fallen on the teenager, inflicting as well as
sustaining critical injuries. CPR attempts proved unsuccessful as Inglis had suffered
a fatal pulmonary artery rupture. Coriolanus sustained a fractured neck and was later
euthanized. In the wake of the teenager’s tragic demise, thousands expressed their condolences
online, paying tribute to her by sharing pictures of themselves and their horses with
#RideForOlivia. It’s estimated that the campaign reached 30 million people on social media.
7-Natasha Galpin
Natasha Galpin was an event rider working for a popular trainer in Carrutherstown, Scotland. She
also ran her own boarding stable, and had ample experience with horses, even though she was only
22 years old. While riding in a grass gallops, her horse suffered a sudden ruptured artery,
which led to Galpin’s fall. She was immediately hospitalized in Glasgow, but died early next
morning, her head injury proving too severe. The horse also didn’t survive the accident.
Where is it located?
Nowadays, horses can be found all around the world, with the exception of Antarctica.
After the last Ice Age, these animals went extinct in North America but were reintroduced
by European explorers after 1493. Showjumping was the first sport involving horses to be introduced
in the Olympics, back in 1900. Recently, awareness has been raised by animal rights
groups regarding the cruelty racehorses sometimes endure. The pressures of high-stake bets in races
lead to extreme conditions, injury, and death.
Animal Aid published a study proving 375 racehorses die annually, and those who
survive may endure debilitating illnesses such as bleeding lungs and gastric ulcers.
6-Caitlin Forrest
19-year-old rider Caitlin Forrest was competing in Australia’s Murray Bridge Gold Cup Day
when her horse, Colla Voce, stumbled. This caused three other horses to collide as well,
along with their riders. Though two of them were relatively unharmed,
one other racer was hospitalized alongside Forrest. Ultimately, the young rider died a
few hours later. Her horse had to be put down due to the injuries sustained during the fall.
5- Katharine Morel
In 2020, equestrian rider Katharine Morel and her horse, Kerry On, both passed away from
injuries sustained in a fall at the Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials, in Florida.
The accident occurred during an intermediate level cross-country course. 33-year-old Morel and her
horse collapsed while trying to clear fence 8 of the course. They suffered a rotational fall,
often described as being among the most dangerous incidents in equestrianism
and one that frequently results in severe injuries. After Kerry On summersaulted forward,
the 8-year thoroughbred landed on its back. Morel suffered critical crushing injuries and
was transported to Waterman Hospital in Tavares, where she was later pronounced dead. Kerry On also
died shortly after the incident.
How will it kill you?
Unlike most sports, horseback riding requires the athlete to rely on an animal, which can react
unpredictably even when properly trained. Not only do they have a strong flight or fight instinct,
making it easy to either spook or annoy these beasts, but they can also reach speeds of up to 40
mph. It’s been calculated that over 100 hours of practice are needed to reduce the risk of severe
injury while riding a horse. The most common incidents involve falling at high speeds and
being kicked or trampled. Injuries usually occur in the head area, making it particularly risky.
Over 60 people die every year in the US alone after a riding accident involving head trauma.
To put things into perspective, falling from a horse, without proper protective gear,
is as dangerous as being run over by a car. Dislocation, fractures and internal
bleeding are other common consequences of an accident while horseback riding.
4-Geraldine Louise Murray Jones
Geraldine Louise Murray Jones had decided to go riding on a Welsh beach,
when she lost her balance and plummeted to the ground. The woman banged her head against the
sand. At the speed Murray Jones was going, the soft surface didn’t help to cushion her fall.
The friend she was riding with administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. Murray Jones
wasn’t transported to the ER, as it was deemed there was nothing that could be done to revive
her. She was declared dead at 9:30 am, merely an hour and a half after she arrived at the beach.
The cause of death was determined to have been a traumatic brain injury and skull fracture.
3-Nick Montmans
Nick Montmans, a 27-year-old showjumper, was training in Lanklaar, Belgium. Unlike other
routine practices, something went horribly wrong and he plummeted to the ground.
Montmans badly injured his head as a result of the hard fall. He was immediately admitted to the
hospital, and underwent surgery. Unfortunately, he remained in a coma after the procedure, and
failed to wake up. He ended up dying soon after, unable to recover from his extensive injuries.
How to survive?
Training often is vital towards avoiding accidents, as is learning proper behavior
around horses. This activity involves interacting with a living, breathing creature that may react
unexpectedly to different stimuli. Approaching these animals from behind can spook them, leading
to riders being kicked, with potentially deadly consequences. Learning what positions to assume
while riding, as well as learning how to fall, in case of an incident, can help avoid injuries
and physical distress. Wearing helmets greatly decreases the dangers of head trauma. After an
accident, even a minor one, replacing the helmet is recommended, even if there’s no visible damage.
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2-Catherine Yates, Gabriel Donoso and Skeeter Johnston III
Skeeter Johnston III was the third polo player to die during the course of 8 months, in 2006.
Before him, Catherine Yates and Chilean’s highest-rated player,
Gabriel Donoso, both suffered accidents while participating in games. Yates crashed against
another rider, while Donoso was thrown off his horse and collapsed on the ground. Neither of them
survived. Johnston was practicing in his home, and was wearing protective gear but it ultimately
didn’t help save his life. He was dropped onto the ground and tumbled over by his own horse.
The polo player had to be airlifted to the ER due to the severity of the fractures to his face
and body. Though he underwent urgent surgery, he passed away the following night.
1-Christopher Reeve
World-renowned Superman actor Christopher Reeve had learned to ride horses while filming
Anna Karenina, in 1985. He was allergic to these animals, and had to take antihistamines in order
to be around them. By 1989, he began competing, and his allergies disappeared. By 1995, he was an
accomplished rider and had participated in several tournaments. However, on May 27th of that year,
his horse refused to complete a fence jump and came to a sudden halt. Reeve was sent flying
forward as he struggled to hold onto the reins. The actor struck his head against the fence,
breaking his first and second vertebrae. This led to Reeve becoming paralyzed from the neck
down and unable to breathe without assistance. During the first five days of his hospitalization,
he was delirious, and it was doubtful he’d manage to recover. Fortunately, upon regaining
consciousness, it was discovered he had suffered no brain damage. Reeve required multiple surgeries
after the incident, including a procedure to reattach his skull to his spine. While waiting
in his hospital room, he was famously visited by actor Robin Williams, reprising his role of Patch
Adams. Reeve recalled that as the first time he’d managed to laugh in weeks. Over the years, and
thanks to constant physical rehabilitation, Reeve managed to regain mild mobility in his fingers,
and could breathe without the aid of a machine for 90 minutes at a time. He did,
however, require round-the-clock assistance until his death, in 2004, at the age of 52.
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