The husband of a professional rider who died while competing in Devon has described her as “strong, beautiful and phenomenal”.
British event rider Georgie Campbell died on the fourth and final day of the Bicton International Horse Trials on May 26.
The 36-year-old woman could not be saved after she and her horse Global Quest fell into the water at a fence at the cross-country track, according to the website Horse and Hound.
Campbell’s death was described as a “fatal accident” by governing body British Eventing.
Paying tribute in a statement on Thursday, Campbell’s husband, New Zealand horseman Jesse Campbell, described her as “a strong, beautiful and phenomenal woman who simply loved everyone and everything”.
He shared a photo of Campbell on their wedding day in 2020, which he said was his “favorite photo of my beautiful wife.”
He said: “People will talk about G’s smile, and it was incredible – it would make you feel like you were the center of the universe. But what I love about this photo is how it captures her strength.”
‘So proud to be your husband’
Campbell said the equestrian world was “not an easy life,” involving many hardships and dark days, but said his wife would “navigate it by throwing so much joy and love into every situation.”
“She would be as happy drinking a Greggs tea on the way home from gallops as she would be teaching a client in the pouring rain or jumping and galloping around the world’s greatest courses.
“It was just incredible to be by his side and feel that energy.”
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He added: “I am very proud to be your husband. Rest in peace, my beautiful girl.”
Campbell ended the statement by thanking the Bicton team for their support and encouraged everyone competing this weekend to “smile at each other, don’t feel embarrassed about laughing, and most of all, try to love everyone and everything.”
The Global Quest horse was unharmed and taken back to the stable after being evaluated by local veterinarians.
Campbell was two when she was taught to ride by her mother, Debbie, a former GB endurance rider, in Kent and was initially a high-level cyclist before turning to eventing.
She was selected for the British junior team as a teenager and made her five-star debut in 2009. She progressed quickly, representing Great Britain numerous times in Nations Cup squads.
In 2010, Campbell won the best placed under 25 rider award at the British Open at Gatcombe.
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