UK: Veteran rider died after fall from horse while hunting, inquest told

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/regional-news/veteran-rider-died-after-fall-10444506

08/21/2025

A riding enthusiast suffered fatal injuries when he fell from his horse while trail hunting, an inquest heard.

Guy Avis, 76, had been a lifelong member of the Heythrop Hunt, where he was known as the Singing Secretary.

He died while taking part in a trail hunt with 90 other riders near Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire, on November 2.

Gloucestershire Coroners’ Court heard Mr Avis, who also performed with Giffords Circus, had been riding his horse Jasper.

The inquest was told Jasper refused to jump a fence, which led to Mr Avis falling forward over the horse’s head.

Mr Avis, of Dean, Chipping Norton, landed head first on the ground and died from a fractured cervical spine.

Roland Wooderson, area coroner for Gloucestershire, reached a conclusion of accidental death on Thursday.

The coroner said: “It is clear from the evidence that on November 2, 2024, at the farm in question, Mr Avis died as a result of injuries sustained when he fell from his horse.

“I accept the medical cause of death as 1a fractured cervical spine and 1b horse riding accident.

“On that information, on the balance of probability, the appropriate conclusion is one of accidental death.”

In a statement read to the court, Hannah Goffe said Mr Avis had been taking part in a Heythrop Hunt event.

Mrs Goffe described overhearing someone saying there had been an accident, at about 2pm.

“I ran towards the jump and I saw Guy lying on the floor,” Mrs Goffe, who had known Mr Avis for 30 years, said.

“Guy was unresponsive and I started CPR. I was aware that someone was on the phone to 999.”

Pathologist Dr Terry Jones reported how Mr Avis had been riding his horse when it refused a jump.

The inquest heard paramedics were told Mr Avis was seen to fall forward and land head first on the ground.

He was found on the floor by friends and received medical attention before his death was confirmed at 2.50pm.

In a report, health and safety officer Beth Pritchard told how Mr Avis was a volunteer with the hunt.

“He was an experienced horse rider and was riding his own horse, Jasper, using his own tack,” she said.

Her report described how Mr Avis had laid a trail earlier that day but was riding as a hunt participant when he died.

In November last year, Giffords Circus said it was “so saddened” to hear of Mr Avis’s death.

The travelling circus posted an image of Mr Avis taking part in the 2019 show, Xanadu.

It said: “We are so saddened to hear of the passing of Guy Avis.

“Guy worked with Giffords Circus over the years in many forms, here he is in 2019 in Xanadu while working alongside Nell in the ring.