Tributes paid to 'beautiful' daughter killed by horse

A TEENAGE girl has died after she was kicked in the head by a horse she was given for her birthday.

Lauren Bryant, 16, from West Lothian, suffered serious head injuries after her pet, Solo, struck her as she prepared to go for a ride.

She died on Sunday afternoon after the incident at Duddingston Farm stables in Newton, West Lothian.

Paramedics rushed the teenager to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline but she died from her injuries.

The Linlithgow Academy pupil's devastated parents reportedly said their "beautiful" daughter had been a horse-lover and they would not be putting down her pet.

Stewart, 41, and Andrea, 39, from Linlithgow, added that she would never have blamed Solo.

Mrs Bryant said: "We're absolutely devastated. Lauren was a beautiful daughter. This has been a tragic accident and has come as a massive shock.

"Lauren lived for horses and had her heart set on working with them after she left school."

She added: "Her uncle and aunt are going to look after Solo, which is what Lauren would have wanted. She would hate it if anyone was blaming her horse."

Stable workers were alerted to the incident on Sunday afternoon after the gelding escaped from his field and was spotted galloping around without the schoolgirl on his back.

Although nobody witnessed the incident, her severe injuries indicated that she had been kicked in the head.

Mrs Bryant said Lauren had ridden horses for years and was an accomplished rider.

She said: "We got Solo as a present for her 16th birthday and he was her third horse.

"Lauren has been around horses since she was eight years old and really loved them."

Mr Bryant, a builder, added: "We got the news on Sunday after our niece called us from the stables. We're heartbroken and our only consolation is that Lauren died doing the thing she loved most. She was a lovely girl who worked really hard at school and never complained about a thing.

The teenager's aunt, Louise Tait, who will now care for Solo, also paid tribute. She said: "Lauren was a star and a natural with horses. During the recent freeze she would battle through the snow to come and help out at the stables twice a day. She never once moaned."

A postmortem is being carried out and a fatal accident inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Her funeral will be held on Friday at Linlithgow St Michael's parish church. Friends plan to wear jodhpurs and full riding gear as a mark of honour.

Dozens of friends have joined a Facebook page in Lauren's name to leave tributes.

One read: "In memory of a gorgeous girl who never deserved to go so soon. She will be missed greatly and a lot of tears shed over her."

A police spokesman said: "There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."