Paul Tapner tells inquest he would not have attempted jump that killed two teens

An elite international equestrian told an inquest into the deaths of two riders that a jump which killed one of the teenagers was “unacceptable” and he would not have attempted it without major safety improvements.

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An elite international equestrian told an inquest into the deaths of two riders that a jump which killed one of the teenagers was “unacceptable” and he would not have attempted it without major safety improvements.

Paul Tapner, a professional Eventing rider of more than 20 years who is a past winner of the Badminton Horse Trials, said he would have been “exceptionally unhappy,” to attempt the combination downhill jump which ultimately killed teenager Olivia Inglis in 2016.

“As far as the safety presentation of the fence it was not appropriate,” he said.

Mr Tapner was one of four experts in Eventing cross country course design who gave evidence on Tuesday at the inquest into the deaths of Olivia and fellow rider Caitlyn Fischer, 19, who both died in 2017 when their horses failed to clear jumps during competitions.

Olivia Inglis was killed in 2017 attempting a combination downhill jump.

Caitlyn Fischer died months later attempting a jump during a competition.

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Olivia died at the Scone horse trials at “Broomfield” in Gundy on March 6, 2016.

She was killed when her horse, a 16-hand thoroughbred gelding called Coriolanus, missed its stride on combination jump 8A/8B and had a rotational fall crushing Olivia’s chest.

Caitlyn died seven weeks later while competing at the Sydney International Horse trial on April 30.

Mr Tapner and three highly-experienced course designers all agreed that the combination jump which killed Olivia should have had a, “ground line” such as a bank of flowers or bush to make the obstacle clearer to the horse.

They also said the obstacle should have had frangible pins on the fence rails which would have allowed the structure to collapse harmlessly if the horse collided with it.

Elite equestrian Paul Tapner told the inquest he would not have even attempted it without major safety improvements.

The inquest had previously heard Olivia’s coach and mum, Charlotte Inglis, from a well-respected bloodstock auctioneering family, had told one of the course designers, Shane Rose, on the morning of the competition that the obstacle was more like a show jump with no fixed lines, ground lines, or “collapsible technology.”

Mr Tapner said because the sport is “inherently dangerous,” it was vital that all steps be taken to make the obstacles as safe as possible.

He said he suspected the course designer John Nicholson thought the combination jump was easier than it actually was.

“I definitely feel that there would be a very high likelihood that the majority of horses would have found that 8A/8B far more difficult than John Nicholson would have anticipated.”

The court also heard that the jump breached the Federation Equestre Internationale guidelines by having a combination jump on a downhill slope. Although the jump breached international guidelines for Eventing it complied with Equestrian Australia’s rules.

Olivia’s coach and mum Charlotte Inglis told one of the course designers the obstacle was more like a show jump. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

When it came to the jump which killed Caitlyn the experts all agreed there was nothing wrong with the “table-style” fence which had a ground line of flowers and bark.

The inquest had previously heard Caitlyn’s horse Ralphie misjudged the jump and somersaulted over it with his rider in the saddle. Caitlyn was killed almost instantly from catastrophic head injuries.

Mr Tapner said he watched the video of the fatal accident numerous times and believed Ralphie was distracted by something beyond the jump.

“He went to take off for the jump and almost at the same time the horse decided to attempt to put another canter stride in.”

He said Ralphie had his head too high and his ears pricked, “I believe the horse was distracted by something on the landed side of the jump in the distance.”

All four experts agreed that a race rail next to the jump did not distract Ralphie or cause the accident.

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Paul Tapner tells inquest he would not have attempted jump that killed two teens