Woman Falls Off Galloping Horse At Rodeo, Dies After Hitting A Pole

A 56-year-old woman died after being thrown off her horse at a rodeo in Florida over the weekend.

The barrel racer's death happened at the Baker Area Community Center on Saturday afternoon, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The woman had just completed a barrel race and was making her way down an exit ramp when she was thrown off the horse. The woman fell down and struck a wooden pole. She sustained serious injuries, the sheriff's office said.

She was then taken to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.

The horse rider's identity was not revealed initially. However, officers said the woman was not from Florida, according to WFTV Channel 9. An Obituaries Notice report later identified the woman as Regina Short from Alabama.

"The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation after a barrel racer from out of state who had just competed at the Baker Rodeo Saturday was abruptly thrown from her horse, suffering a fatal injury," the sheriff's office said in a statement Sunday.

"Deputies say initial indications are the 56-year-old woman was leaving the area down an exit ramp when her galloping horse suddenly moved, causing the rider to strike a large wooden pole," it added. "She later died of her injuries at a local hospital. Our sincerest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the victim."

Many people offered condolences and shared messages on social media following Short's death.

"Just awful. So sorry for her family and the barrel racing community. Just another reminder of how fleeting life can be," one person commented, while another added, "Praying for all of Regina's family and friends!! She was a sweet and beautiful girl that loved the Rodeo!!"