Tragic end for Pikap

Irish show jumper Billy Twomey has returned home after suffering a horrific fall at Grobbendonk CSI*** in Belgium on 25 April, which resulted in his promising ride Pikap being destroyed.

Unconfirmed reports say it appears the eight-year-old stallion broke a bone in his leg on taking off over a jump and then fell on top of his rider.

Billy, 31, is thought to have been unconscious for around 40min and underwent a series of tests before being released from hospital on Sunday.

Pikap, a son of Kannan, was owned by Sue Davies and was a finalist in the 2007 Horse of the Year Show seven-year-old final.

He had been making his mark on the international circuit and was one of the horses Billy rode at the British Open championships in April.