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Young event rider killed in France
Julie Silly, who was tragically killed at an event in France

Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor

8 May, 2007
A 17-year-old girl was killed at a novice-level event in France on Saturday (5 May, '07).

Julie Silly, from Longvilliers near Paris, died instantly in a rotational fall while tackling what has been described as a "straightforward" fence in "perfect conditions" at Jardy.

Julie was an experienced rider, who had ridden to intermediate level and was qualified for the French National Championships next month.

The remaining competitions at Jardy, on the Paris outskirts, were cancelled as a mark of respect to the 17-year-old.

Julie has been described by her trainer, Yves Dufresne, as an "experienced, athletic rider" who had "a lot of feeling" on a horse.

Gautier Beaudoin, a spokesman for the French Equestrian Federation told H&H: "It was a sad, tragic accident for which there is, unfortunately, no explanation."

Julie Silly's death is the seventh eventing fatality globally in the past 10 months. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has said it will look "very seriously" at safety at events around the world.

Read more about the accident, and FEI reaction, in this Thursday's issue of H&H