A champion horse rider was found dead in a public garden just hours after posting joyful pictures celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her husband at a luxury spa resort.
Abigail Garside, 30, a gifted dressage rider, had spent the day marking the milestone with husband Samuel Garside at the exclusive 300-acre Rudding Park resort and spa in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
She had shared beaming photos of the couple as they toasted the occasion sipping Champagne in a hot tub.
Writing online on August 17, Mrs Garside told friends: ‘Lovely day in Harrogate celebrating our first wedding anniversary with my love.’
Mr Garside also posted on Facebook that same morning, sharing wedding pictures and declaring: ‘1 year since you became my wife!! I love you more and more everyday, happy anniversary.’
In a heartbreaking twist, Mrs Garside’s body was discovered in gardens in the centre of the spa town early the following morning on August 18.
Devastated Mr Garside shared the tragic news of his wife’s sudden death.
Posting a photo of the loved-up couple taken the previous day, he wrote: ‘My absolute world, my best friend and my beautiful darling wife.
Abigail Garside, 30, a gifted dressage rider, had spent the day marking the milestone with husband Samuel Garside at the exclusive 300-acre Rudding Park resort and spa
Mrs Garside’s body was discovered in gardens in the centre of the spa town early the following morning on August 18. Just hours earlier she wrote: ‘Lovely day in Harrogate celebrating our first wedding anniversary with my love.’
The day before her body was found, Abbey and her husband Sam were posting on social media about their luxurious time away at the Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate
Mr Garside posted photos of their time together on Facebook, declaring: ‘1 year since you became my wife!! I love you more and more everyday, happy anniversary.’
It was a year on from the couple’s big day on August 17, 2024 at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, Lancs
‘I will love you forever and you will never leave my heart xxx.’
North Yorkshire Police confirmed a woman’s body had been discovered in the gardens on Montpellier Hill, in the heart of Harrogate, shortly after 6.15am on Monday, August 18.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘A cordon including screening was put in place to allow the investigation into the circumstances to take place.
‘At this stage, we do not currently believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.
‘Our thoughts at this time are with the woman’s family.’
The exact circumstances of Mrs Garside’s death have not been made public. An inquest is scheduled to open at North Yorkshire Coroner’s Court on September 11.
A memorial website has been set up to raise money for the mental health charity Mind and the Dog’s Trust.
A post on the page reads: ‘This site is a tribute to Abigail Garside, who was born on November 24, 1994. She is much loved and will always be remembered.
Mrs Garside, who was seemingly fit and healthy with no pre-existing medical conditions, was well-known in equestrian circles, winning at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in 2019
Friends of the couple have flooded social media with messages of shock and sorrow
‘We hope that you find this tribute to Abigail a place of comfort, support and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.’
Friends of the couple have flooded social media with messages of shock and sorrow.
Jessica Goodier wrote beneath Mr Garside’s post announcing his wife’s death: ‘Still absolutely gobsmacked, Abbey was and always will be a shining star, sending you all the love in the world. So very sorry for your loss’
Emma Butterworth added: ‘I’m heartbroken…Abbie was the most talented, bubbly and beautiful girl inside and out.’
Lucinda Stockley-Battams added: ‘This is just heartbreaking. Can’t believe I’m reading this. Abbey was kind and wonderful! I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending love to you and abbeys friends and family.’
Mrs Garside, who was seemingly fit and healthy with no pre-existing medical conditions, was well-known in equestrian circles, winning at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in 2019.
Ribble Valley Riding Club, where she had been a member for more than two decades, told of its ‘great sadness’.
‘Abigail was a great supporter & highly valued member for over 20 years. Abigail will be sadly missed by everyone in the horse world that’s for sure.
Mrs Garside and her husband had posted photos of their lives together on social media including foreign holidays. When they wed, she wrote on Facebook: ‘Today I get to marry the man of my dreams.’
‘Sending all our love to the family at this very sad time.’
The post included a collection of photographs showing her journey through the club.
The couple had married at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, Lancashire, on August 17, 2024.
Mrs Garside had written on Facebook on the day of the wedding: ‘Today I get to marry the man of my dreams.’
Her funeral will take place on September 2, with a horse-drawn carriage procession from her home on the outskirts of Blackburn, Lancs, to a nearby church.
