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Stable girl killed by kick from a horse giving birth
Last updated at 23:07pm on 08.05.07A stable girl has died after being kicked in the head by a horse she had been helping give birth.
Lucie Simpson, 20, was knocked down just weeks into her new job at a riding school after being asked to assist a vet in delivering a foal.
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Lucie Simpson: Helping to check a foal
Despite frantic efforts to revive her she never regained consciousness and later died in hospital.
It is believed the Irish Draught cross kicked out in a bid to protect her newborn as Miss Simpson helped the vet check to make sure the foal was healthy.
Her devastated parents said it had always been her dream to work at a stables.
In a statement Keryn and Mick Simpson said, "She just wanted to work with animals, particularly horses.
"They had instantly taken to her, and on the day she died she was offered the chance to be in charge of looking after the younger staff at the centre.
"We always used to tell her that if she wanted to do something she should give it her all. She took that to heart and was going to fulfil her dreams.
"She was a lovely girl who always put others first."
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Tradegy: The riding centre where Miss Simpson was killed
Mrs Simpson, 45, and her 59-year-old husband, from Carlton, Nottingham, said their daughter had also been looking forward to moving in with her boyfriend, Darren Phimister.
"She had fallen in love with Darren and our family love him to bits," they added.
"Like us, he is completely devastated that she has been taken away."
Mr Phimister, a car valet, said they had been planning to buy a house together and had discussed it just days before her death at the West Bridgford Equestrian Centre in Nottingham.
"We were so excited about it," he said. "We thought we would have the rest of our lives together.
"Since we met a year ago we had never gone a day without seeing each other. I couldn't bear being away from her away even for minutes."
He added, "When I was told she had died I felt like I had died with her."
The tragedy unfolded last Friday after local vet, Simon Pollard, was called in to supervise the birth of Treacle's foal.
But as he turned his back to check the foal's blood sample for antibodies the eight-year-old horse kicked out at Miss Simpson.
A spokesman for the veterinary surgery said, "We were asked to attend a horse giving birth to a foal to ensure it had its first milk and antibodies to protect it for life.
"Mr Pollard went into the foaling box and asked the woman to help him get hold of the foal so he could take a blood sample to check it had the antibodies.
"When he went to do the tests outside he heard some commotion inside. When he went back in to see what was going on he found the woman unconscious.
"He attempted CPR and got centre staff to phone for an ambulance."
The riding centre refused to comment on Miss Simpson's death, but a former rider at the stables claimed the horse had a reputation for being hard to handle.
He said, "Everyone I know who used the centre knew that Treacle had a temper. I know people who made a point of never going anywhere near her."
Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched separate investigations into Miss Simpson's death.
Officers have already interviewed staff at the centre, which is home to 30 horses and ponies, but confirmed they were not treating the death as suspicious.
A Nottinghamshire force spokesman said, "A file is being prepared for the coroner, and the Health and Safety Executive is conducting its own inquiry."
Reader views (4)
What everyone needs to remember about accidents like these is that the horse is 9 times out of 10 not at fault. Us horse people know the risks when we choose to work with what are essentailly wild animals which WE mould to our wills.
I'm not saying what happened is anyone's fault - why does there always have to be blame? It was an accident!!! I'm sure if you were to ask someone who has been on the receiving end of such a horse kick (such as my sister, who was double-barrelled in the head last year), they will tell you they still choose to work with horses.
People that make such outrageous claims as above are evidently not animal poeple, and we just ahve to hope for the sake of these noble animals that they do not go anywhere near horses...
My sincerest sympathies to Darren and the Simpsons - you'r ein my prayers!
- Jess, Pietermaritzburg; Republic of South Africa
Horses are like humans they show compassion and love. I work and own horses the only time their dangerous is when their scared. I hate people who judge horses before the know what their capable of. I was a little girl when I was under a wild stallion and he protected me like I was a foal. They do feel love for us. We as stupid humans are messing around with animals that have been wild since the beginning of time.
- Kenna, Minot ND
Chevideco, don't be so ridiculous! Go and wrap yourself back up in cotton wool...
- Daizy, UK
Horses are dangerous animals. Legislation is needed to classify these animals as dangerous and make sure our little children are protected from their savage brutality.
- Chevideco, Kaufman, TX, USA
