The legal case over the death of a world-class dressage mare has concluded, three and a half years later. H&H speaks to all parties involved in the case
THE owner of a world-class horse who drowned in a slurry pit while at stud in 2017 says she is glad the legal action has concluded, as it is “validation of [the mare’s] life”.
Jane Sewell’s 16-year-old mare Die Callas died at Newton Stud, Devon, in July 2017, when she got through a gate to a slurry lagoon, having been turned out as a barn was on fire. Newton Stud admitted liability, and the stud’s insurers and Mrs Sewell have now settled out of court.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
Speyksbosch Diablo.
‘It might sound dramatic but it’s like a member of the family has been murdered’
Credit: RSPCA
H&H speaks to established equine welfare charities to find out how this recent court case demonstrates the need for licensing
Credit: Taken free from google
A yard owner who faced a six-figure personal injury claim after accepting £30 from a novice rider to help her
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
H&H news editor
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
