IRISH international event rider Aoife Clark, who has had three falls in her last six starts in public, is recuperating at home having been diagnosed early this week as suffering from two fractured cervical vertebrae.

Oxfordshire-based Clark rode four horses at the Millstreet International late last month, finishing fourth in the CIC*** with Wasting Light and seventh in the CCI*** with Pink Gin who led going into the final show jumping phase but lowered four of the coloured poles.

However, on the Friday she took a heavy fall with the overnight leader Jensen III in the CICYH* for six-year-olds and, the following day suffered another tumble in the CCI** with Colorfast who had been lying third after dressage.

Competing at Blenheim Palace last weekend, Clark finished 26th in the Event Rider Masters’ CIC*** with Fernhill Adventure but this followed a fall at the final CCI*** cross-country fence on Saturday from Wasting Light, a first elimination for the combination.

After the event, Clark was persuaded by her support team to attend hospital where the fractures were discovered. The rider was pragmatic about her situation, being relieved to know why she had been suffering pain and numbness but knowing her injuries could have been worse.

Clark is disappointed that her season is at an end. “This ‘enforced holiday’ is going to be tough,” she told the Irish Horse World. “Hopefully, with a bit of rest it will heal up quickly.”