Companion tells of fall from mare that killed horse-lover

Jayne Goodwin, 44, had been out for an evening trot with two friends when her six-year-old Friesian, Kali, suddenly bolted as she tried to mount her.

The horse darted off with Ms Goodwin not properly attached and she was found bleeding and unconscious on the ground just yards from the stables.

Ms Goodwin suffered massive brain injuries and died three weeks later.

Long-time riding companion Georgie Adkin, 20, a law student who was thought of as the “daughter she never had”, said: “Kali was Jayne’s baby, she was her pride and joy. She knew she was a bit flighty and spooky but she always said she wouldn’t have her any other way.

“Jayne had dismounted to open and shut the gate behind us as we were making our way back to the stables.

“Kali had got into this terrible habit of starting to move off on that final stretch as Jayne was mounting because she was eager to get back and have tea. So on that night she did that as usual, and Jayne even laughed as Kali started to move when she was just half on, then she went faster and Jayne said: ‘Oh Christ, she’s going’.

“Jayne was sat in the saddle but she didn’t have the right stirrup on.

“I have no idea what happened next because it was so dark. I heard Jayne fall but she did not make a noise. I think that she was maybe harmed on the way down, which may explain why she had fractures to her left cheek.”

Since the accident on January 9 Miss Adkin has been staying at her friend’s home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, looking after and re-homing her animals, including six cats and three dogs. She had seven horses and six are remaining in her care at Ms Goodwin’s Springs Wood Black Horses Stables.

Kali is being looked after in the Lake District.

Miss Adkin added: “The ironic thing is Jayne knew of the dangers and was the most safety- conscious person I have met.

“She always wore a body protector in case of a fall, and she was even wearing a new helmet that night.”

Ms Goodwin, originally of Stockton-on-Tees, was a teacher at Half Acres school in Castleford.

Miss Adkin added: “There will be a Jayne-shaped hole in my life forever but I hope I can make her proud.”

Close friend Janet Heald, 50, said: “She was a lovely, beautiful person who was dedicated to all her animals. It is such a tragedy that something like this has to happen to such a special person.”

Ms Goodwin’s funeral is at Rothwell Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday at 1.15pm. Family flowers only, with donations to Leeds General Infirmary neurology ICU and Hope Pastures horse sanctuary.