LOUISA Lockwood escaped serious injury when she and Desert Island suffered a fall during Sunday's cross country stage of this year's Mitsuibishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Unfortunately Desert Island had to be put down due to the extent of its injury, sustained at fence nine (the corner at Huntsmans Close).

The 11-year-old bay mare, which finished 17th at Blenheim last year, was owned by Donald Birts, Carol Seymour-Newton and Elleke Carling and trained by Louisa at her Winterbourne Stoke stables.

An investigation into the fall is ongoing and a statement is to be issued by the event's organisers once more information is available.