Rider Chris Hall told today how his favourite horse collapsed and died during the Blenheim International Horse Trials.

The 11-year-old horse, McCadam, had a heart attack as Mr Hall prepared to jump a fence at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Saturday.

Mr Hall, who had been riding McCadam for a year, said: "He was going superbly. We were two fences from home and he had a heart attack.

"He came out of the last water and he was pulling like a train and basically it just happened. He was dead before he hit the ground."

Mr Hall, who runs stables at Fifield, near Chipping Norton, said he was glad the dark bay gelding had not suffered. He said it came as a shock because earlier this year the horse had come 15th at a more punishing event, Punchestown, in Ireland. Mr Hall could tell there was something wrong with the horse and managed to dismount before he collapsed.

He said: "He was my top horse. He was such a brave, bold horse and he loved cross country. In a way, it was a nice way for him to go, but on the other hand, I've lost a friend."

McCadam was owned by Roxana White, who also lives in Fifield.

Winnie Murphy, spokesman for the British Horse Trials Association, said horses were given health checks at intervals throughout the events. She said if there was any doubt as to an animal's fitness it was not allowed to take part.

"Horses can have a heart attack at any stage, it's like humans," she said.

"This could have happened anywhere."

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