Seven-month-old girl dies after pony kicks her in rural Minnesota
A seven-month-old girl, identified as Ruth Stutzman, died in hospital after a startled pony kicked her in the head while she was riding in a wagon near her home in rural Minnesota. The incident is under investigation by county deputies and the medical examiner.
Authorities said an adult family member was with the child when the incident happened north of Harmony on Tuesday. Emergency crews were dispatched at 1.56pm, and the girl was flown to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys, where she later died. The report also notes a separate collision involving a horse-drawn buggy in Becker County on 2 October, in which two adults, an infant and a toddler were injured.
- A startled pony kicked a seven-month-old girl in the head.
- The child later died at a Minnesota hospital.
- Authorities are investigating the incident.
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Horses and ponies are commonly used in rural farming communities for transport and work. In some areas, horse-drawn wagons and buggies serve as the primary means of getting around. Whilst these animals are generally manageable, they can be unpredictable and dangerous if startled or frightened.
A seven-month-old girl named Ruth Stutzman died after being struck by a pony near her home north of Harmony, Minnesota, on Tuesday. The child was in a wagon when the animal was startled and kicked her. County authorities are investigating to determine the circumstances and whether the incident could have been prevented.
Accidents involving large animals and young children are a significant concern in rural areas where horses and livestock are part of everyday life. Horses can weigh hundreds of kilograms and react unpredictably, creating serious risks to people nearby, especially small children. Understanding how such incidents occur is important for communities that depend on these animals.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Baby girl dies after being kicked in the head by pony in rural Minnesota”.