Hannah Serfass: Florida's rising equestrian star, 15, dies after horse fell over her and onto her head
SARASOTA, FLORIDA: A Florida teen equestrian died on Sunday, April 30 after the horse she rode knocked her off and then landed on her head, according to officials. At Sarasota's Fox Lea Farm, Hannah Serfass was practicing and was halfway through her jumping exercise and riding the horse when the tragic incident took place, said the United States Equestrian Federation.
According to officers, at one point the horse leaned forward by placing its foot and bucked Serfass off its back and then onto the practice ground. Onlookers quickly ran to the young rider's aid after the animal then fell on top of her. After the arrival of the emergency responders, she was immediately shifted to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital where she was declared dead, reported New York Post.
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'She was known for her passion for horses'
Describing Serfass as a "very talented up-and-coming young rider," a statement from the US Equestrian Federation stated that the Webster native trained with Robin Swinderman. "She was known for her passion for horses, her natural ability, and her work ethic," read the statement.
The young rider's tragic death came as a shock to the local equestrian community. "We send our sincere condolences to the family, trainer, friends, & the whole equestrian community. We are all heartbroken," the Fox Lea Farms said in a statement.
'I just got into it and never wanted to stop,' said Serfass
As per a March magazine profile, Serfass had a "meteoric" ascent in the field and was considered a promising figure in the sport. Talking to the World Equestrian Center, the young rider said, "I just got into it and never wanted to stop. And now, I just want to learn everything I can about it. I want to keep going with it."
The horse named Quaxx, which is a 12-year-old gelding was uninjured in the accident that left the 15-year-old girl dead. The horse was not wounded as it suffered a "rotational fall," which was not related to the jump. "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," stated the federation.