Woman sues top polo player for £2m after horse falls and crushes her pelvis

01 February 2024 , 09:54

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Catherine Lamacraft who plays polo in high level competitions (Image: Supplied by Champion News)

A top international polo player is being sued for £2m after her horse fell on a groom and crushed her pelvis.

Elena Thorman was 20 when she and suffered the pelvis injury and multiple other fractures after Catherine Lamacraft's horse 'Harri' reared and fell on top of her. Ms Thorman was caring for the animal before a tournament in the grounds of the Knepp Castle Estate, in West Sussex, when the accident happened in July 2018. She said her "life-changing" injuries robbed her of a dream career in the army and had a massive impact on her physical abilities.

She is suing Ms Lamacraft - known as "Lottie" and a top amateur who has represented England several times - for around £2m under the Animals Act 1971, which governs the responsibilities of owners of potentially dangerous creatures. Lawyers for Ms Lamacraft, of Somerset, admitted liability for the accident in June 2020, guaranteeing Ms Thorman a payout.

Former polo groom Elena Thorman suffered serious injuries in the accident (Supplied by Champion News)

Ms Thorman was caring for Catherine Lamacraft's horse Harri at the time of the accident (Supplied by Champion News)

But they are disputing the amount claimed and the impact of the injuries and asking her to prove she would have had a glittering army career but for the accident. In documents lodged in the High Court in London, lawyers for Ms Thorman, of Petworth, West Sussex, say tshe was employed by Ms Lamacraft at her Verdley Farm yard in Fenhurst, at the time of the accident.

Ms Thorman, now 25, began working for Ms Lamacraft at the age of 19 as a "polo groom looking after the defendant's horses and accompanying her to polo tournaments". The accident happened three months after her 20th birthday at the Knepp Castle Estate. Her lawyers said: "She had prepared one of the defendant's horses, known as 'Harri', ready for the defendant to ride as one of the seven horses due to be used for the soon-to-be-commencing match. The claimant mounted Harri in readiness for the start of the match, but play was delayed. Ms Thorman was riding Harri for about 30 minutes when suddenly and without warning the horse reared, throwing her backwards.

Housebound ex-serviceman enjoys special window visit from physio's horse

The Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex where the polo tournament was held (Supplied by Champion News)

The lawyers added "The claimant was unseated and fell to the left onto the ground. Harri then landed on top of the claimant, before rolling off to one side. It was immediately apparent that the claimant had suffered serious injury and the emergency services were called. Paramedics and an ambulance attended." The former groom's lawyers added on, on 5 June 2020, lawyers for Ms Lamacraft "admitted liability pursuant to the Animals Act 1971 and/or negligence".

Ms Thorman suffered a smashed pelvis, plus fractures to her hip ribs and ankle when she was crushed by the horse, say her lawyers in court filings. During a pre-trial hearing at the High Court, her barrister Emily Read said she had also suffered PTSD and her pelvis injuries may lead to possible complications should she chose to have children in future. She said liability for the accident is "not in issue" and told the judge, Deputy Master Alexandra Marzec, Ms Thorman had intended to join the army or the police but for her injuries.

Top polo player Catherine 'Lottie' Lamacraft who is being sued (Supplied by Champion News)

Ms Thorman had already tried to to get into the army once and failed, but claims that she would have succeeded on a later attempt and enjoyed a long career She added: "She was only a 19-year-old girl. Much younger than most people who apply...she was very very fit at the time and was essentially a professional sportsperson."
Ms Read asked the judge's permission to call army officers to give evidence supporting her, including a Major General. She added: "Clearly she fractured her pelvis in many places. This was a life-changing injury," adding outside court that Ms Thorman is claiming around £2million in total.

Michael Rapp, for Ms Lamacraft, said outside court said the defence are reserving their position on the valuation of the claim and waiting for Ms Thorman to present her evidence. He told the judge: "We know the claimant has improved in the last couple of years. She has made quite impressive progress."He said the claimant now lives in a shared house with friends and worked in a physical job as a housekeeper in 2021. He said: "The defendant submits that the claimant now lives a normal life, despite admitting that her injuries will affect her in the future."

Catherine Lamacraft is a top international polo player (Supplied by Champion News)

Ellie Thorman was seriously injured after a horse fell on top of her (Supplied by Champion News)

He asked for the number of the claimant's witnesses to be limited, submitting that the army officers were not experts and their testimony would be "wholly opinion not factual." But the judge said: "I'm not going to limit the number of witnesses. All the heads of claim have been challenged. The claimant intends to prove her case by calling a number of witnesses and she is entitled to do so."
The judge said there would be a six or seven day trial to accomodate all the witnesses and experts.

Graeme Murray