A 15-year-old Central Florida girl died Sunday, following a equestrian accident while riding in a competition at Fox Lea Farm in Venice, Florida.
Hannah Serfass was riding 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, in a hunter/jumper competition when the horse tripped and fell, according to a statement from the United States Equestrian Federation.
Serfass, a junior rider, was halfway through a hunter/jumper competition course, having just finished jump No. 5.
According to the Sheriff’s Office report, the horse landed successfully and took two or three steps to the next hurdle then planted its left front hoof, “which caused the horse to lean down significantly towards its left front hoof.”
“This action caused the rider to then topple forward and off the horse in the same direction and onto the ground. The horse then continued to fall in the same direction falling over and onto the rider’s head on the ground,” the report said.
Fox Lea Farm personnel and others began first aid, until Sarasota County Fire Rescue responded.
Serfass was taken via ambulance to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice campus, where she was later pronounced dead.
Both Sarasota County Fire Rescue and the Sheriff’s Office responded to a call after the Sunday morning accident.