A Fife schoolgirl has been left with a broken heart after her beloved pony died in a freak accident.
Tia Lindsay’s seven year-old pet, named Helena, suffered a catastrophic head injury following a fall on Saturday.
The Dunfermline youngster’s family said she had been inconsolable since the tragedy and they have now launched a fundraising campaign to buy her a new pony.
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The accident happened as the 13-year-old was making her final preparations for a show jumping competition scheduled the following day.
Tragedy struck following Tia’s fall from from Helena after the horse had lost a head collar.
Onlookers had tried unsuccessfully to restrain the horse before she bolted.
The pony then slipped in a puddle and fell hitting her head on a concrete block killing the beloved pet outright.
Mum Maggie, said the freak accident had left her daughter and the family heartbroken with Tia so upset she was not able to attend school in the days afterwards.
She said: “Tia has been inconsolable since.
“It was heartbreaking to watch Tia laying in the puddle for over an hour with Helena stroking her and willing her to come back to her even though it was too late.”
She said friends put blankets over Tia and Helena and sat comforting the pair, who had been inseparable.
“As her mum, not being able to take away her devastation and that pain was just awful.
“Tia lived and breathed horses and loved Helena so much,” said Maggie.
“When she wasn’t with her, she was talking about all the great plans and aspirations she had for them both.”
Maggie said her daughter’s dream had been to compete with Helena at a future Royal Highland Show.
“Helena was a happy and healthy horse that had already won many rosettes with Tia on her back and everyone had high hopes,” Maggie explained.
“Horses and show jumping was everything to Tia, it has been her complete obsession since she was five-years-old.”
Fearing that without a pony to love and care for, her daughter will lose her purpose and passion to compete, Maggie has launched a donations page in the hope of raising enough money to get another pony.
“Tia had done everything to raise the money to buy Helena two years ago and they were inseparable ever since,” said Maggie.
“We just want to do what we can for Tia so she can fill this void and continue with her show jumping, reach her potential and realise her dreams with Helena always in her heart.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity heartfelt messages of support of those who have already made donations.”
