Social critic and author Camille Paglia has stated that Madonna brought her recent riding accident upon herself.

The singer fell from a new horse whilst celebrating her 47th birthday last month, although Paglia has little sympathy for her, saying that it is her own fault for using horses as fashion accessories.

"We are told she has been throwing herself into country pursuits to please her macho husband Guy Ritchie. As a professionally trained dancer, tireless jogger and practitioner of extreme yoga, Madonna is an accomplished athlete. But riding is not just another routine challenge she can master through sheer willpower.

"Along with physical skills, riding requires relaxation and self-subordination, an intuitive opening to the horse. Knowledge of horses needs to be accumulated by riders over a lifetime.

"She will surely persist and may well triumph as a rider. But until then, let's hope she avoids the facile, disrespectful use of horses as props and fashion statements."