Zara Phillips devastated by friend's death

Britain's Zara Phillips has been left devastated after the death of another friend in a horrific horse-riding accident.Zara's close companion Eleanor Brennan, 21, died on Saturday (17.11.07) after she was tragically crushed by her own horse during the Florida International three-day-eventing tournament in Ocala.Eleanor is the 26-year-old royal's third close friend to die in a horse-riding competition.A insider said the royal equestrian star is "deeply upset" by the shocking incident.Zara - the daughter of Princess Anne - became close friends with Eleanor as the promising British rider spent several years training with Zara's father Captain Mark Phillips in Gloucestershire.Eleanor suffered fatal head and chest injuries when her horse Mr. Barnabus fell at a fence during the cross-country stage of the event, described by experts as "the most challenging in the equine industry". The horse twisted its neck as it fell, trapping the stricken Eleanor underneath its body.The horse died instantly.Event officials are reportedly planning to review tapes to determine what caused the accident.The British eventing team manager Yogi Breisner said: "It is always tragic when something like this happens. "My condolences go to her family and friends. She was a lovely, charming young lady and a good rider." Last year Zara's friend Sherelle Duke, 28, died when her horse fell and landed on her at Brockenhurst Park, near Southampton. Her other friend 42-year-old Caroline Pratt was killed when her horse fell on her at Burghley, Lincolnshire, in 2004.(C) BANG Media International

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CamillaNov 19th, 2007 - 19:58:21

USEF and FEI know there is something dreadfully wrong with the new SHORT FORMAT. Over the last year there have been 13 deaths and 4 of them have been CCI** young riders. There has been talk of improved safety and changes, but how many more need to die. Capt Mark Phillips has designed many of the courses where riders have died including those in Europe, Rebecca Farms in Montana and others.

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