Avid horse-rider Gennie Psaila, who died on Tuesday after falling off her horse during a training exercise in Magħtab, will be laid to rest this morning.

Mass is to be held at the church of the Divine Mercy in San Pawl tat-Tarġa after which she will be buried at the Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery. Ms Psaila, who turned 50 on June 6, was the wife of former national football team coach Pippo Psaila. The couple had known each other for 35 years. She had two sons, Neil and Simon.

She was also one of the founders of the Equestrian Association in Malta.

The horse she was riding at the time of the accident had been a birthday present from her husband.

The accident happened at around 8.30 a.m. while Ms Psaila was riding in the training arena, a large field of gravel and sand, near the Magħtab Stables on the outskirts of Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. She did not have an instructor at the time but there were two other riders training in the arena. The horse is believed to have bolted, sending Ms Psaila crashing to the ground. She died instantly.

A magisterial inquiry was held on site and the autopsy conducted yesterday established that Ms Psaila suffered from head injuries among others.

The news of her death shocked the sporting community, which was still reeling from the sudden death of cyclist Cliff Micallef in a road accident last week.

Lifecyclist Maria Vella Galea, writing in the Lifecycle blog on timesofmalta.com, possibly captured the mood of the sports community: "I have a heavy heart," she said, having known both Mr Micallef and Ms Psaila.

"Not making it to the finish, on two wheels, has lost its importance. In less than a week I have lost two friends," she said in a comment inadvertently attributed to Ray Pace in the original report on the incident.