THIS rider was saddled with a soggy experience after taking the plunge at one of the UK’s top equestrian events.

Jonelle Richardson, a New Zealand equestrian, was given an unscheduled dunking after being unseated by her mount at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, which have reached their 40th anniversary and came to a close yesterday after four days of competition at Bramham Park, near Wetherby.

The trials at the estate are regarded as being among the biggest tests of a rider’s ability as they have to perform three completely different activities – dressage, cross-country and showjumping – within the same competition.

The event regularly attracts more than 50,000 visitors and William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips and Nicola Wilson, the UK’s Olympic silver medal trio, were among those competing this year alongside other leading British riders and rivals from New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Italy and France.