Margaret Davies, an 80-year-old lifelong equestrian, died after being knocked to the ground and trampled by one of her horses in an accident near her home in Wood Dalling, Norfolk, an inquest has heard.
Area coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a verdict of accidental death, finding that Davies suffered traumatic chest injuries after the horse she was leading lurched sideways on August 8. She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, treated on the high-dependency unit and later developed pneumonia. Davies died in hospital on August 24, just over two weeks after the incident.
Davies was unaccompanied at the time of the accident, the inquest heard, and it was not possible to determine what had startled the animal. Evidence read to the hearing described her horse, Benny, as a bay-coloured Connemara that suddenly shied and knocked Davies to the ground before standing on her.
The coroner told the hearing: "Margaret Davies suffered traumatic chest injuries as a result of being knocked over and trampled on by a horse on August 8. She was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich [University Hospital] for emergency care and was treated on the high dependency unit. She was provided with appropriate care but died there as a consequence of the injuries she suffered in the accident." Thompson concluded the death was accidental.
Davies, who had devoted her adult life to equestrianism, competed in dressage, cross-country and showjumping and took part in local and international horse trials, the inquest heard. Her husband, Peter Davies, a retired eye surgeon, told the court that she was well regarded in the Norfolk equestrian community and had been passionate about horses from childhood.
Peter Davies said his wife had suffered previous injuries from falling from horses and that her age may have reduced her agility, possibly contributing to her inability to avoid being knocked down when the animal shied. He said she had not ridden for about six months before the accident but still kept two horses. A statement from her general practitioner read to the hearing indicated that she had been advised to give up riding in 2018; when urged to stop, she replied, "Never."
Davies served as president of the Carousel Riding Club, a Norfolk-based organisation that has run regional events since 1965. A tribute posted on the club's website described her as a "staunch supporter" and said she was "very knowledgeable about all things horsey." The tribute added, "Maggie may have moved on to look after a new stable in heaven, but she will remain in our hearts forever."
The inquest provided no further detail on what might have spooked the horse or whether any third party was involved. Coroners typically record findings of accidental death when there is no evidence of deliberate harm and when injuries result from unforeseen events.
Davies's death highlights the risks associated with handling large animals, particularly for older handlers, and follows a history of the deceased sustaining equestrian-related injuries. Emergency treatment and subsequent complications, including chest trauma and hospital-acquired infections such as pneumonia, were cited as contributing to her death during the period she was treated at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
The coroner's conclusion closes the formal inquiry into the circumstances of the accident. Family members and members of the local equestrian community have paid tribute to Davies's long-standing commitment to the sport and to her role in regional riding activities.