Young rider dies out hacking

A 13-year-old girl has been crushed to death by her horse while out hacking with friends.

The accident happened yesterday morning (Monday 19 August) near Beverly, in Yorkshire. The girl, who has not yet been named, was cantering through a field of stubble with friends at about 10.45am when her horse stumbled and she fell to the ground.

It is believed that the horse then rolled onto her, and, although she was wearing a helmet, she suffered severe head injuries. She was taken to Hull Infirmary, but died later in the day.

Police have said that she was a competent rider, and was riding for leisure at the time of the accident.

The girl’s friends, who were with her when the tragedy occurred, will receive counselling from specially trained officers during the next couple of days to help them recover from the shock of the incident.

The officers who attended the scene say that the family is too distressed to speak, and that their thoughts are with them at this terrible time.