Kerry Donoghue, 42, from Glasgow, died in a freak horse riding accident at the Penrith Horse Trials in Cumbria on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The experienced equestrian was taking part in the cross-country event when she suffered a fatal fall while riding Carneyhaugh Rua.
Emergency response
On-site medical teams provided emergency treatment, but the married mother-of-two could not be saved. Donoghue, a former NHS nurse, had previously spoken about her fears of injury rather than death. In a May podcast appearance on the Equestrian Performance Mindset, she said she was "this close to quitting" after witnessing a horse crush another rider.
She said: "You’re thinking to yourself, ‘Goodness, is this all worth it? Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to give it a go?’." She added: "I was really afraid of getting hurt, but hurt in a very specific way. I was afraid of how some people have had to live their lives, and the challenges that come with that."
Fundraiser launched
Despite her fears, Donoghue continued competing and celebrated completing her first British Eventing Novice competition with Carneyhaugh Rua, nicknamed ‘Roly Poly’. A GoFundMe page set up by friend David Smith has raised over £17,000 to help her family with unexpected costs.
The tribute statement reads: "Unfortunately on Saturday, July 18, one of my best friends lost her life in a tragic horse accident during a show. Kerry Donoghue who was so loved by her Husband Mathew, Children - Cara (13) & Josh (20) and of course the rest of her family and friends. Kerry was a passionate advanced nurse practitioner and always cared for others throughout her career."
Second tragedy
Donoghue's death was one of two horse-riding tragedies that day. Sophie Fouracre, 34, was killed while riding a five-year-old mare, Rhubarbsfox Brittania, at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire during the Burghley Horse Trials. Both horses were examined and found uninjured.
Rosie Williams, Chief Executive of British Eventing, said: “The British Eventing community is heartbroken. On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kerry and Sophie’s families, friends and loved ones at this devastating time. ... The loss of two members of our eventing family on the same day is almost beyond words, and we know the sadness of these events will be felt profoundly across the sport for some time to come.”
