Caitlyn Fischer, from Bairnsdale, fell during a cross-country competition at the Sydney International Horse Trials on Saxony Road, Horsley Park, around 10:40am. Equestrian Australia chairwoman Judy Fasher said the horse hit its foot on the fence it was jumping and fell onto Ms Fischer. "I don't know how it actually happened, but the horse fell and fell on the rider," Ms Fasher said. The teenager was treated at the scene but was unable to be revived. Ms Fasher said the teenager's mother was at the event and her father and brother are flying to Sydney now.
"It was shocking for everybody involved," she said. "The thoughts and prayers of horse people all over the country are with Caitlyn's family and friends at this sad time." She said Ms Fischer was a young, but experienced rider. "We scrutinise very carefully the level of experience that riders have and she would not have been allowed to enter this competition unless she had met the credentials that the sport sets out," she said. Ms Fasher said the fence where the fall happened was not a complex obstacle. "Our course designers always try to make the first few fences on a course like this, very simple, so they are easily understood by both horse and rider," she said. "She would have started off at a good pace, but not a fast pace." The rest of the trials have been cancelled.