A nine-year-old girl has died after being kicked by a horse while out trail hunting with the Cotswold Hunt in Gloucestershire. She has been named locally as Bonnie Armitage.
Paramedics were called to a farm in Miserden, near Stroud, at 11:25am on Saturday. Bonnie was airlifted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in a life-threatening condition but later died. A source said she was riding slightly behind a larger horse that 'kicked out' at her pony and 'caught her'.
In a statement, Bonnie's family described her as 'a beautiful, vivacious and compassionate girl who touched the hearts of everyone who knew her'. Her mother Polly said it was 'just a tragic accident' and they did not blame anyone. Bonnie loved riding and was 'never happier' than when out with her Shetland pony, Lindsay.
The Cotswold Hunt said the meeting was 'over-shadowed by the tragic death', adding that hounds were taken home immediately and trail hunting cancelled. The joint masters expressed shock and sadness, saying 'a young life lost is very, very hard to bear'.
Gloucestershire Police said the incident is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed. A Miserden resident said the hunt is well known in the area and described the event as a 'terribly tragic, sad event'.
