Heartbreak as two Australian equestrians killed in the same weekend
The Equestrian world has once again been shaken with the deaths of two Australian riders within the space of just one weekend.
Billie Mayson-Kinder
Billie Mayson-Kinder, A talented 12-year-old equestrian, was tragically killed on Sunday when she was leading her mother’s horse, Spotlight, back to the stable when it spooked and trampled her. There were no witnesses to the incident but Police state that Billie was caught in the lead rein, dragged and trampled. Billie was left with serious head, chest and abdominal injuries at Emcee Equestrian in Pitt town, Hawkesbury. She was discovered by her distraught mother, Danny Mayson, just after 5pm. It is not known how long it was after the accident happened that she was found, as she was on her own. Billie was flown by air ambulance to the children’s hospital at Westmead but tragically passed away at 6.45pm.
Billie, a junior champion equestrian, was a year six pupil at Arndell Anglican College in Oakville. She was also a member of Sydney Showjumping club where she regularly competed with her pony Diesel and was said to be very talented and well known. It is reported in The Daily telegraph that Equestrian NSW chief executive Bruce Farrar said Billie was a gifted rider.
“Billie competed at the NSW Interschools Championships in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, she was the Champion Primary School Showjumping Rider and Overall Primary School Champion Rider,” he said.
Heartfelt tributes have inundated social media, describing Billie as a beautiful, caring, loving, funny and mischevious little girl.
Hana Dickson
31-year-old, Hana Dickson a racehorse trainer from Perth, Western Australia was killed after being thrown from the three year old filly she was riding and colliding with a tree. The impact was so forceful that Hana’s riding helmet was shattered into three different pieces. She was found on Saturday, by a man who worked at a nearby airfield. She was then was also discovered by her partner, Aaron Pateman, when he was alerted to the shocking incident as the filly arrived home loose. The men administered CPR until the ambulance arrived. Hana reached the hospital but was tragically pronounced dead not long after arrival.
Hana was a renowned and respected racehorse trainer who also competed in other equestrian disciplines such as eventing and show jumping. On the day of her death her horse, Disciple, was entered to run at Belmont but was withdrawn shortly after the tragedy occurred. Hana had had a lifelong passion for animals and horses in particular, which began when she was gifted the ex-racehorse Key Enterprise, fondly known as Eddie, on her 12th birthday. Hana also had a beloved chicken named Rose, she was said to send selfies of herself and Rose to her sister every morning. Hana’s sister Sarah who she was said to be extremely close to Hana and now feels ‘lost’ posted a heartfelt tribute to her sister on Facebook: “I miss you already. I have lost my sister and best friend. I’m lost without you. Please let me wake up tomorrow and this was a dream. Walking away from you in the hospital was the hardest thing I have ever done. Somebody wake me up from this nightmare”
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In 2011 Hana broke her neck when a horse reared over on her, Hana is said to have always been especially cautious after this near miss, always carrying her phone, wearing her helmet and body protector.
Tributes have poured in commemorating Hana’s life and sending love and support to her family and friends. Hana’s family have also set up the Hana Dickson memorial fund to help with her funeral costs and the care of her horses.
From everyone here at Everything Horse we would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of both Billie and Hana.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.