15-Year-Old Rider Killed After Horse Knocks Her Down And Falls On Her Head

A 15-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries while participating in an equestrian competition in Florida. Her horse knocked her off and then fell on top of her.

Hannah Serfass, of Webster, was competing in the Fox Lea Farm Spring Concours I in Venice, about 70 miles from Tampa, on Sunday when her horse fell on top of her.

The teenager was riding Quaxx 2, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Serfass and the horse managed to complete half the course and successfully landed the number six jump, reported NBC News.

The accident happened as the horse galloped toward the next hurdle.

"The horse landed the jump successfully and took two or three steps/gallops toward the next hurdle and for unknown reasons planted its left foot, which caused the horse to lean down significantly towards its left front hoof," the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said.

"This action caused the rider to then topple forward and off the horse in the same direction and onto the ground," they added. "The horse then continued to fall in the same direction falling over and onto the rider's head on the ground."

The U.S. Equestrian Federation, in a statement, said the horse had tripped and suffered a rotational fall that was unrelated to a jumping effort.

The young equestrian was provided first aid and was transported to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It was not clear if she was wearing a helmet while riding the horse.

The equestrian federation said the horse did not suffer any injuries in the incident.

Serfass was described as a very talented and up-and-coming young rider.

"She was known for her passion for horses, her natural ability, and her work ethic," the statement read. "The Federation takes every accident very seriously and will be reviewing the accident thoroughly to learn what we can do to minimize risk and increase safety in equestrian sport."

Florida passed "Nicole's Law" in 2009, mandating all equestrians below the age of 16 to wear helmets when they are riding a horse, according to CBS News. The law came into effect after a 12-year-old girl stumbled while riding a horse and suffered a fatal fall.