A 61-year-old Californian man has died after his horse slammed him into a tree.
Buddy Dean Lilly was riding in the Hansen Dam Park in the San Fernando Valley at 12.30pm on Sunday (7 December) when the horse he was on spooked and bolted into the woods.
Mr Lilly had slipped from the saddle and his chest and head were slammed into a tree, throwing him from the saddle. He died instantly.
Local authorities said he was not wearing a riding hat.
He was riding in the 25 acre Orcas Gabrielino Equestrian Centre grounds, part of the 1,4000 acre park.
The horse was unhurt.
