A RIDER was killed when her horse fell onto her after hitting a fence at the Spring Hill horse trials near Broadway.

Samantha Hudson, aged 33, was pronounced dead at the scene of her fall at the one-day event which is sponsored by the Journal Series.

She had been taking part in the competition on her own horse, Nightlight VI, when she fell at a Trakhener type fence with a log over a ditch.

The horse breasted the fence causing a rotational fall and landed on the rider, who was from Colwall, near Malvern, at the event on Bank Holiday Monday.

Trial organisers cancelled the remaining competition as a mark of respect.

Jane Holderness-Roddam, chairman of British Eventing, said; "On behalf of the whole sport, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Samantha's family.

"The thoughts and prayers of eventing people all over the country are with them at this sad time."

Police and paramedics were called to the trials near Broadway shortly after 12.30pm following reports that a rider had been injured in a fall.

Gloucestershire police spokesman Steve Partridge said: "She was believed to have been approaching a jump during the trial when she was unseated from her horse.

"Unfortunately, resuscitation atte-mpts were unsuccessful and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene."

The woman's body was taken to the mortuary at Moreton Hospital before being transferred to Cheltenham General Hospital where a post mortem was due to take place on Tuesday.

The coroner and the health and safety executive have both been informed of the death. The horse was believed to be unhurt.