Judith Faherty

YOUNG American rider Rebecca Weissbard was fatally injured in a fall at the HITS Horse Show in Saugerties, New York, last Wednesday, August 31st.

The 22-year-old from Manorville in New York was jumping a 1m track when, it is understood, her horse stumbled over the second fence and landed on top of her.

HITS Horse Show later confirmed the rider had died from her injuries.

Weissbard represented USA at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2013 where she won an individual gold medal and team silver medal in show jumping.

She had won a class earlier in the day at the show.

A Facebook page – Remember Becca Weissbard - has been set up in her memory and hundreds of tributes have been posted in her memory.

The Hampton Class Horse Show extended their sympathies on social media, writing: “The Long Island equestrian community is heartbroken that Becca Weissbard died in a riding accident yesterday.

“Our deepest condolences to her parents, Eric and Lynn, her family, and her many friends.”

deepest sympathy

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) released a statement which read: “It is with great sadness that the United States Equestrian Federation informs the equestrian community of an accident involving an athlete at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York, on August 31, 2016.

“The athlete suffered a fatal fall during a 1m jumper class. The USEF wishes to extend the deepest sympathy, on behalf of the entire sport, to the athlete’s family and support team.”