What Happened to Equestrian Hannah Serfass?

May 2024 · 4 minute read

What happened with #RideForHannah? Learn more concerning the motion and how the equestrian neighborhood came together for Hannah Serfass.

Elizabeth Randolph - Author

While many kids grow up sharing with their loved ones what they want to be after they’re older, 15-year-old equestrian Hannah Serfass was smartly on her manner to making her desires come true. The teen horse lover competed in more than a few displays and turned into a liked member of the equestrian neighborhood.

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However, in April 2023, tragedy struck Hannah and her circle of relatives. The coincidence ended her promising profession and devastated her family members.

Keep studying to see what happened and why #RideForHannah exists.

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#RideForHannah: What happened to Hannah Serfass?

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, Hannah died right through one in all her equestrian competitions. The Miami Herald stated that the tragic match befell at Fox Lea Farm in Venice, Fla.

Hannah and her horse usually competed in hunter/jumper occasions and went over fences. However, they have been midway through an equitation magnificence when the horse abruptly “planted its left entrance hoof, inflicting the horse to lean down in opposition to its left front hoof,” according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Hannah took a “rotational fall” in entrance of the horse. The horse additionally suffered a rotational fall and landed on Hannah, instantly sending her to the health facility with severe injuries. Hannah didn’t live on the autumn and died later. The horse wasn't injured all through the accident.

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Hannah and her horse weren't leaping at the time of the twist of fate. Reports haven’t been shared if Hannah wore a helmet whilst driving. However, the competition was known through the USEF (U.S. Equestrian Federation), and the USEF has required all riders to put on a helmet while fixed at the competition grounds since 2012. But due to the horse’s weight, Hannah likely would’ve succumbed to her accidents with or without a helmet.

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Following Hannah’s demise, the rising equestrian received more than one condolences from other riders and those that followed her occupation. Soon, the hashtag #RideForHannah scattered throughout social media, bringing more awareness to Hannah’s incident on platforms like Instagram.

In May 2023, Allison Moynihan, a fellow equestrian group member, presented the hashtag to her fans and shared its significance.

“As lots of you may have heard, our fellow equestrian Hannah Serfass tragically misplaced her lifestyles on April 30th while competing,” Allison mentioned on Instagram underneath a photograph of Hannah. “ On behalf of her folks and teacher, Robin Swinderman Mitchell, we would like to display our love and make stronger for Hannah and her interest for horses by means of tagging #rideforhannah on social media.”

“We hope to give some enhance to her family and friends all through this extraordinarily difficult time, so let’s come in combination as a community and show our love for Hannah,” the put up continued.

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Hannah Sefrass’s oldsters stated the 15-year-old “died doing the thing she absolutely liked.”

Several days after the hashtag #rideforhannah surfaced, a fellow equestrian, Kate Egan, created a GoFundMe page to honor Hannah. The GoFundMe temporarily exceeded its $10,000 purpose for Hannah to have a memorial at one in every of her favourite puts — World Equestrian Center-Ocala in Florida.

The WEC-Ocala memorial will coincide with a smaller tribute to Hannah together with her private family members.

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The outpouring of improve from the equestrian neighborhood is one thing Hannah’s folks, Janine and David Serfass, didn’t see coming initially. After reflecting on their daughter’s quick however impactful life, they expressed gratitude for the community.

“Our daughter died doing the object she absolutely cherished probably the most in this global,” they said, in keeping with The Chronicle of the Horse. “If from this tragedy, one particular person can also be stored and in finding God. Then her dying may not be in useless.”

“We are deeply touched via all of the love and prayers everyone has sent us all through this very tricky time,” they persisted. “It way the sector to us to every one that has taken the time to achieve out or submit one thing in Hannah’s honor. We cherish seeing the #rideforhannah campaign and those selected to get dressed in her favourite colour, azure blue. We thanks again from the bottom of our hearts! God Bless.”

To donate to Hannah’s GoFundMe, click the hyperlink here.

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