Lance spears horse rider

2003-12-17 22:16

Elsje Neethling

Bloemfontein - A young equestrian has been seriously injured in a freak accident while competing in the South African junior gymkhana championships in Worcester.

The accident happened when a horse in front of the Aliwal North rider stepped on a lance, which shot up in the air and then bored through her horse, Solly, before piercing the 14-year-old rider's stomach.

The accident happened on Sunday morning in front of a large crowd.

The injured rider, Claire Tredoux, is a member of the North-eastern Cape under-14 team. She was taking part in a practice round when the accident happened.

According to a hospital spokesperson, Tredoux sustained serious injuries and was in the high care unit at the Worcester Medi Clinic on Wednesday.

Her condition has however, been reported as stable.

The teenager's shocked father, Jacques Tredoux said that she had been practicing in formation and had been in the fourth and last position. The second rider lost her lance. The third horse stepped on the fallen lance, which shot up and bored through Tredoux's horse.

According to Lammie Hugo, the father of one of the other riders, a psychologist was called in immediately to help calm the girls. "You can image how upsetting something like this is," he said.

Tredoux's coach, Jean Venter, said what happened was a freak accident.

The horse was not seriously injured.

- Volksblad