Chopper to rescue after rider comes a cropper

11:32am Friday 5th October 2007

A HAMPSHIRE cross- country rider, who had a miraculous escape after her horse slipped and fell between fences in a trials event at Nether Wallop, this week thanked the numerous people who rushed to her aid.

With rain having made the surface quite slippery, Jacqui D'arcy-Grover, 42, parted company with her mare Lottie as she cantered round a corner It was her first serious fall in 30 years of riding.

An eye-witness said: "The horse's back legs went from underneath it, the rider was thrown to the side.

"Luckily, the horse recovered and did not fall on the rider, but I could see something was wrong when she didn't move."

Mrs D'Arcy-Grover was unconscious and one of the first on the scene was her husband Robert, who said: "I thought she'd broken her neck. It was terrible."

The St John Ambulance crew attending the event also responded extremely quickly and Jacqui remembers: "They were fabulous. They wouldn't let me move and they held my head; and they were assisted by two lady doctors who happened to be walking the course at the time."

The Hampshire Air Ambulance, which had been attending another incident at the time of the fall, arrived as quickly as possible and rushed Jacqui to Salisbury District Hospital.

There, she was given the all-clear, but her husband said: "The consultant examining Jacqui said if she had now been wearing such a good riding hat and back protector the outcome would have been very different."

Jacqui praised the Chilworth Riding Club for its superb organisation of the event and for stipulating proper back protection for all riders, as well as having radio contact all round the course.

"Everyone was so helpful. My 15-year-old daughter Philippa had just started her round and Andy Smith of Ads Commercials came and took her and my two horses home.

"And my nine-year-old daughter was looked after by Mr and Mrs Hacksford and Talbot.

"Now I just want to thank everyone who helped - the whole community were wonderful - and say sorry to the riders who had their day lengthened by this freak accident."

On the bright side at another event - the New Forest Hunter Trials at Landford - Philippa and her horse Tempo finished an impressive sixth out of 94 riders after gaining a clear round. Jacqui also achieved a clear round but ina slower time.