A horse died after suffering a suspected heart attack during the Viking Cup at Ballacooiley Equestrian Estate.

The incident happened during the tournament’s Ladies Day on Sunday, with organisers confirming the animal died suddenly.

Organisers confirmed the horse had died and that its rider suffered injuries to two ribs in the incident.

Isle of Man Today understands spectators were taken inside a marquee while the incident was dealt with, with a cover also put in place to prevent those attending from seeing the horse.

R&R Polo claimed the trophy after beating Locate IOM 2-1.5 in a dramatic final to conclude the three-day tournament.

Locate held the advantage deep into the fourth chukka before R&R scored twice in the closing stages to turn the match around and secure the title.

The tournament featured a programme of polo alongside social events, including Sunday's Ladies Day.

Organisers said the horse’s death occurred during play and emergency measures were taken to deal with the situation away from spectators.

The rider’s injuries were understood to have been sustained during the incident.

The Viking Cup has become an annual fixture on the polo calendar, attracting players and visitors from both sides of the Irish Sea.

This year’s event marked its fourth staging at Ballacooiley Equestrian Estate.