Equestrians from around the world have expressed an outpouring of sympathy following the death of a nine-year-old rider from Oxfordshire.
Accident
Bonnie Armitage was out with the Cotswold Hunt on Saturday (2 April), riding her Shetland pony Lindsay. She was following behind another horse, which then kicked out at Bonnie’s pony, hitting the young rider in the chest.
She was airlifted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she later died as a result of her injuries.
Bonnie’s family released a statement on Monday night, saying: “Our daughter, Bonnie, was a wonderful person. She was a beautiful, vivacious and compassionate girl, who touched the hearts of everyone who knew her. We will miss her more than we can say.”
Commemoration
To commemorate Bonnie’s life, her passion for horses and her favourite colour, riders have been encouraged to share their favourite riding images, using the hashtag #BlueforBonnie.
Photos have been posted from around the world, in a repeat of the outpouring of sympathy seen last month when teenage event rider Olivia Inglis died in an eventing accident in Australia.
Sad loss
The middle of three children, Bonnie lived with her family near Wantage, Oxfordshire. She was a pupil at St Hugh’s School, where her father is deputy head.
A statement on the school website pays tribute to a “truly lovely, talented girl who was bright, kind, compassionate, gentle and full of joy.”
Trolling
In contrast to the positive #BlueforBonnie tributes, some anti-blood sports activists have been posting cruel comments on social media following the tragic accident, with some online users claiming Bonnie’s death was ‘karma’ for going hunting.
A spokeswoman from Countryside Alliance saidthe comments were “absolutely disgusting – beyond contempt. Whatever your views on blood sports there is absolutely no excuse for posting views like this.”
The police are investigating some of the comments made online.