Horse Sport Ireland has extended its deepest sympathies to the family of 15-year-old Tiggy Hancock, who died yesterday afternoon following a tragic accident at an event in Dublin.

Tiggy was taking part in a team training exercise at Greenogue Equestrian centre in Rathcoole in County Dublin when the accident, which is believed to have involved a fall, occurred.

Emergency services and Gardai were called to the scene and the young rider was rushed to Crumlin Children's Hospital, where she later died.

Tiggy, from Bagenalstown in County Carlow, was a member of the Pony High-Performance Eventing Programme.

A member of the Carlow and Kilkenny Hunt Pony Club, she was selected to represent Ireland at the Under 16 European Eventing Team Championships in Poland, where she and her teammates secured a team bronze medal.

Only recently, Tiggy had impressed against senior counterparts in the CCI2* S in Millstreet with Coppenagh Spring Sparrow finishing just outside the podium, seeing off seasoned athletes who have competed at European and World Level.

In a statement, Horse Sport Ireland said:

"Tiggy was well-liked among both junior and senior members of the Irish equestrian family and her passing will be mourned by all. The Hancock family are known throughout Ireland for their commitment to the equestrian community and those who know them will share in their grief.

"The loss of a young person is always particularly hard to comprehend. This will be a difficult time for many of Tiggy’s teammates and friends in the sport. Horse Sport Ireland has a designated support person to assist individuals affected, and would encourage them or their parents to come forward and seek support."