Eventing Mourns Brennan Death

One of Britain's most promising young three-day event riders has been killed by a falling horse during an equestrian competition in Florida. Eleanor Brennan, 21, was crushed when her 11-year-old horse Mr Barnabus stumbled at a jump during the cross-country stage of the Florida International Three-Day event in Ocala on Saturday and tumbled on to her.

Last night the British team manager Yogi Breisner offered his sympathies. "It is always tragic when something like this happens," he said. "My condolences go to her family and friends. She was a lovely, charming young lady and a good rider."

Brennan, who in 2005 became one of the youngest competitors at the Badminton Horse Trials, spent several years training and riding in Gloucestershire alongside some of the biggest names in British equestrianism, including the Olympic gold medallist Mark Phillips and his wife Sandy; Nick Burton, a five-time Olympian, and Breisner.

After studying equine business management at Hartpury College, she sacrificed a promising career on the British riding scene to take a job training horses and riders at a farm in Virginia. She and Mr Barnabus had become regulars on the American eventing circuit.

Brennan suffered head and chest injuries in the fall on Saturday and died in hospital shortly afterwards. Event organizers said Mr Barnabus struck a gate while attempting to clear a fence and rolled over on to its neck, trapping Brennan underneath. The horse died instantly. "It's a tragic experience for all of us," said Tom Warriner, the chairman of the Florida Horse Park.

Brennan's death is the second tragedy to hit the Florida event after another rider was killed in a fall in 2006.