An eight-year-old boy died after being kicked in the head by his sister’s horse at a livery centre in Warrington, an inquest at Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard. The incident occurred on June 15, 2025, at The Beeches Livery Centre during the boy’s first visit to the facility with his mother, Rebecca Webster, and his teenage sister.

According to the coroner, Victoria Davies, Louie Isaac Webster had been watching his sister ride and helping with chores around the stables when he asked for a drink. His mother instructed him to sit on a bench while she went to her car, located about 15 to 20 paces away, to fetch a drink. During this time, Louie left the bench, slipped through a gap in a fence, and entered the arena where his sister was seated on her new horse, a former racehorse.

Louie stroked the horse on its stomach, causing the animal to become spooked. The horse then kicked out, striking Louie in the head or neck area and causing him to fall. The boy was found unresponsive by his family and another livery user after his sister ran to call for their mother in a panicked state. He was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool in cardiac arrest but was pronounced dead later that evening.

The post-mortem examination revealed that Louie had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a type of brain bleed. The inquest also heard that Louie’s sister had previously owned two horses, and while Louie had enjoyed stroking those animals, their new horse was less docile and had been warned against approaching it without caution. It was suggested that Louie, who was described as “challenging” due to suspected ADHD, may not have fully understood the risks.

CCTV footage showed Louie’s sister running to their mother after the incident, though the mother’s view of the arena was obstructed by a horse box from her position near the car. After considering the circumstances, the coroner recorded the boy’s death as accidental.