The following item was gleaned from the online pages of the Winnipeg Free Press, Friday April 15th, 2011.
WINNIPEG -- A 20-year-old Winnipeg woman, who was thrown from a horse Sunday at an equestrian centre in the RM of Springfield, has died, RCMP reported today.
Oakbank Mounties had been dispatched to the scene about 6 p.m. The woman was in critical condition when she was transported by helicopter to hospital in Winnipeg. She died Wednesday.
The name of the woman is not being released by police.
The helicopter, brought here nearly two weeks ago for flood rescues, set down around 6 p.m. at The Pine Ridge Equine Centre on Oakwood Road just northeast of the city. It rushed the woman to hospital.
Obviously this is a tragic event and I am sure everyone who reads this will do 2 things. The first is feel the sorrow the young ladies family is experiencing and the second I hope is to reflect on how easily this could happen to any one of us.
Horses are big, powerful and fast animals. Over time we become somewhat over confident and comfortable with our abilities and our relationship with our horses. There is no indication of the nature of this unfortunate accident however the significant fact is that riding a horse is an inherently dangerous activity.
Protect yourself from becoming a statistic. Always wear a helmet and a safety vest. While they may be uncomfortable the protection offered may make the difference between a simple fall and a lifetime of problems. And yes I practice what I preach. I never ride or drive without a helmet and my safety vest. You shouldn’t either!