THERE was tragedy at yesterday's Somerford Park Horse Trials in Cheshire when a rider was killed.
Rider Tom Gadsby died after a horse fall at an eventing competition.
The 26-year-old was from New Zealand and had been based in Britain riding for Tiny Clapham for the past year.
The event at Somerford Park was abandoned after the incident.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand head Jim Ellis said it was a "tragic day".
Mr Ellis said Mr Gadsby was in Europe to "fulfil his dream of competing as a professional event rider - a dream he achieved but which has been tragically cut short".
Mr Gadsby was from Kerikeri, north of Auckland and had competed at grand prix-level show jumping, including two years in Germany, before changing back to eventing last year.
Mr Gadsby was competing in the one-star class on The Drover when the accident happened at the fourth fence. The seven-year-old skewbald gelding was not injured in the incident.
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