British horse rider Sarah Yorke dies following freak accident at equestrian event
A British horse rider has died after a horrific incident at an equestrian event in Northamptonshire.
Sarah Yorke and her horse, MGH Hera, were competing at the Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials on Friday (8 August), when the fatal accident took place, a statement from British Eventing confirmed.
At the third fence of the course, which featured cross-country obstacles, dressage and showjumping, Yorke, 37, fell and sustained severe injuries.
The Brit was attended to instantly and given medical treatment, but unfortunately, she died as a result of the fall.
Advert
It was later announced on Facebook by British Eventing that the event would be abandoned.
"Due to a serious incident that took place this evening, all competition at Aston (3) on Saturday 9th August has been abandoned," the statement read.
Yorke's horse, MGH Hera, was uninjured following an assessment by the vets on-site and walked back to the stable.
The pair were competing at the BE100 level at the competition for the first time together.
At this level, the maximum height of show jumping fences stands at 105cm and cross-country fences are maxed out at 100cm.
Yorke and MGH Hera recently won in the BE90 class at a competition at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire last month.
The three-day trials at Aston-le-Walls were set to go into their final day on Saturday.
In a full statement released this weekend, British Eventing stated: "It is with the deepest sadness that we confirm Sarah Yorke (GBR), 37, suffered a fatal accident while competing at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in Northamptonshire, England, on Friday 8 August 2025.
"Medical professionals attended immediately following her fall at fence 3; however, tragically, she could not be saved."
They confirmed that MGH Hera was healthy before Rosie Williams, the chief executive of British Eventing, addressed the tragic incident.
"On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Sarah’s family and friends. The thoughts of the entire eventing community are with them at this incredibly difficult time," she began.
"A full review of the incident will now be undertaken by British Eventing in line with our established protocols.
"To respect the family’s privacy during this very sad time, no further details will be shared."
It is currently unclear whether the third day of events at Aston-le-Walls will be rescheduled for a later date, as an unrelated showjumping and cross-country schooling day was scheduled to take place today at the same venue.
Joshua Nair