EIGHT people, including a 12-year-old boy and an 83-year-old man were injured at today's county show, it has been confirmed.

Paramedics and police cordoned off one of the central walkways through the showground, after a horse taking part in a competition threw its rider and jumped a fence into the crowd.

Five people were taken to hospital. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society has said tomorrow's show will continue as planned, and a full review will be carried out into the circumstances around the incident.

'Out of control'

A witness said: "An out-of-control horse jumped into the crowd from the horse area, several people are reported to have been injured as it galloped through the trade stands.

"The area has now been closed off, people being treated, and a vet is attending to the horse."

Western Telegraph:

"It's the one main are where all the stands are," said another. "The horse jumped out of the ring into that.

"The horse is also injured. People are walking away from there fast in shock.

"It's not what you expect to see at the show."

'Carnage'

Another eye witness described the scene as “carnage”.

“The horse came charging down, it was running blind,” she said.

"There was no room to move, no time to get out of the way. It probably passed about 30 trade stands."

'Nothing or no-one was getting in its way'

Another witness said: "It all happened so fast, my kids were about to go into the lifeguard display; we heard a commotion, then this massive brown horse galloped past us.

"We saw it running towards people and then the first man was hit from behind and fell straight to the ground, then we saw someone else get hit.

"I was comforting my kids by then, so didn't see anyone else getting hurt. However, we carried on down the path and saw other people on the ground hurt.

"If my kids had've stepped further to the right they would have been knocked as well.

"The horse was seriously spooked; nothing or no-one was getting in its way. It was really frightening to see.

"I have been going to the show since I was a child and never seen anything like that before."

Our reporters at the scene said banners and boards from nearby trade stands were used to screen the casualties while paramedics treated them.

Eight casualties

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society has this afternoon issued the following updated statement:

"A horse taking part in a competition - on the second day of the Pembrokeshire Show - threw its rider and jumped a fence into the crowd.

As a result there were eight casualties.

"Five people were taken to hospital including a 12-year-old boy and an 83-year-male.

"None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

"Medical crews on duty at the Withybush showground helped treat the injured along with other members of the emergency services.

"An Air Ambulance attended the scene but was not required."

Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s trustees, Mike Davies, said: “At the moment our thoughts are with those who were injured.

“We also want to thank the emergency services who were on the scene very quickly and assisted the injured.”

He said there would be a full review into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Mr Davies also paid tribute to members of the public attending the show who reacted to the accident in a calm and helpful manner and who rendered valuable assistance.

He added that the show would continue as planned tomorrow (Thursday, August 16).