Boy, eight, died after being kicked in head by horse when he entered fenced off area while his mother's back was turned, inquest told

An eight-year-old boy died after he was kicked in the head by a horse while his mother's back was turned, an inquest heard.

Louie Isaac Webster suffered a serious brain bleed after the animal lashed out in a fenced-off area at the Beeches Livery Centre in Warrington on June 15.

His mother then told him to sit on a bench while she got him a drink from a car 'around 15 to 20 paces' away.

But the schoolboy, who was described as 'challenging' due to suspected ADHD, slipped through a gap in the fence and entered the arena where his sister was sat on the horse using her phone. 

He then stroked the former racehorse's stomach, spooking the animal. It then bucked its hind legs and kicked the young boy in the head.

'It all happened in a split second,' coroner Victoria Davies said.

Ms Webster described being by her car 'for minutes when she then heard her daughter shouting at Louie to "get out", and then shouting "mum" in a panicked tone,' the coroner added.

Louie Isaac Webster died after he was kicked in the head by his sister's new horse on June 15

Louie Isaac Webster died after he was kicked in the head by his sister's new horse on June 15

The eight-year-old was visiting The Beeches Livery Centre in Warrington with his mother and his sister whose horse is kept at the stables

The eight-year-old was visiting The Beeches Livery Centre in Warrington with his mother and his sister whose horse is kept at the stables

CCTV footage captured Louie's sister running up to their mother, whose view of the arena from the car park was blocked by a horse box, before explaining what happened.

Alongside another livery user, the mother and daughter rushed to the arena where Louie was found unresponsive near the fence.

Several livery users stepped in to help perform CPR on Louie while emergency services rushed to the livery centre. 

He was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool in cardiac arrest but was pronounced dead at 7.45pm.

The young boy had suffered a brain bleed known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a post-mortem examination found.

Louie's sister told police that she previously owned two other horses and that her brother enjoyed stroking one of them on its belly. 

She had warned Louie about the new horse as it was a former racehorse and less docile than her previous horses, but he may not have understood.

The coroner concluded that the eight-year-old's death was accidental. She said: 'On June 15 2025 Louie was at the stables The Beeches Livery with his mother and sister. 

'This was the first time Louie had been to the stables because his behaviour could be challenging due to neurodiversity.

'His mother went back to the car to get Louie a drink as Louie complained of being thirsty. He was told to wait on a bench next to the stable.

'While his mum was gone, Louie went into the arena through the fence and touched the horse, touching its belly. 

'The horse was spooked and kicked out, hitting Louie in the head or neck area, causing him to fall.'

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Original source Boy, eight, died after being kicked in head by horse when he entered fenced off area while his mother's back was turned, inquest told

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