Equestrian influencer Sarah wanted to take her trick-training to the next level. Inspired by viral videos, she trained her Norwegian Fjord horse, Barnaby, to perform a deep “bow and stretch” right over her body while she lay on the ground of the riding arena.
For weeks, the trick went flawlessly. But on Tuesday afternoon, tragedy struck. Just as Barnaby extended his front legs over Sarah’s chest to strike the pose, a nearby tractor engine backfired. Spooked by the sudden, explosive sound, the massive animal panicked and lost his footing.
Instead of stepping safely away, the 1,000-pound horse came crashing down, pinning Sarah beneath his immense weight before scrambling away in a panic. Onlookers rushed to the arena, immediately calling an ambulance.
Sarah was airlifted to the nearest trauma center with three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and a partially collapsed lung. While she is expected to make a full recovery, her terrifying ordeal is serving as a stark warning to the online equestrian community: no viral photo or video is worth risking your life underneath an unpredictable prey animal.
Should social media platforms ban videos of dangerous stunts with large animals? Let us know what you think below! 👇🐎
