Top Italian dressage rider in a coma after fall

Italy’s top dressage riderValentina Truppa is in a coma after falling from her horse while competing at a show in Arezzo (7 June).

Unconscious

Valentina and seven-year-old Hot Point di Fonteabeti were entering the arena for the intermediaire I, when the horse spooked. He spun around and fell over, throwing the rider to the ground.

Although the 29-year-old rider was wearing a crash hat (not as pictured), she was knocked unconscious and taken to a local hospital, but was later transferred by air ambulance to a specialist hospitalin Siena.

Clinically stable

A family statement released yesterday (8 June) explains Valentina is under sedation and “clinically stable”. If her condition remains stable the doctors will gradually bring her out of her medically-induced coma.

Valentina hasrepresented Italy on a number of occasions including the World Equestrian Games in Normandy last summer and the London 2012 Olympics, where she finished 15th.