An investigation is continuing after a moving vehicle struck a horse and rider on course at the Hartpury College Horse Trials (Great Britain) on Aug 10.

While approaching fence 8 of the CCI** cross-country course, Tom Rowland, 23, and his mount, the 10-year-old gelding W Iridium, were hit by event director Sarah Phillips’ moving vehicle. W Iridium received immediate veterinary attention.

Rowland reported on Twitter Aug. 11, “ ‘Viz’ is a little stiff but astonishingly normal and unscathed. He will be having full x-rays and scans this week, and hopefully we can then start thinking about an autumn season.”

Rowland went on to compete in the one-star the next day, finishing eighth aboard The Carnival Cavalier. Phillips’ vehicle sustained damage in the accident. 

Claire Dubowski, owner of W Iridium, and Russell Marchant, Hartpury College principal and president of the organizing committee for the Hartpury Horse Trials, stated: “Both the College and the horse’s connections will continue to work together to ensure that, through the investigation, we learn from this and ensure the event organizing committee take all the steps necessary to minimize the risk of an incident like this happening again.”

According to reports, Rowland and Viz had been going well around the course before the collision.

Of the whole ordeal, Rowland tweeted Aug. 10 that it was “an utterly terrifying experience.” Rowland also reported that Hartpury is covering all of Viz’s veterinary costs as well as refunding his entry fees.