A SHOWJUMPER competing in The Pony Club nationals was taken to hospital after her horse fell on top of her.

Nicola Stevens was competing in the jumping and showing section of the two-day event at Malvern when the accident happened yesterday.

New Forest gelding Moortown Firethorn is thought to have tangled its legs while attempting a jump and collapsed on its rider, who suffered a hip injury.

"I looked up and saw her collapsed in the fence with the horse on top of her," said Red Cross medic Brian Baxter, who was first on the scene of the accident at the Three Counties Showground.

"Paramedics from Rowan Medical Services and the Red Cross were at the scene and called an ambulance," said the event's health and safety officer, Martin Jones.

"Ambulance control called an air ambulance which arrived but didn't land."

Chief steward Edwin Schofield commented: "The air ambulance should never have been sent to an event with small children and horses around."

Miss Stevens was taken to Worcester's Ronkswood Hospital and was later discharged.

The horse, exhibited by Lucy Patey, was uninjured.