Tribute to West Lothian teenager killed by horse kick
The uncle of a girl who died after apparently being kicked in the head by the horse she got for her birthday has told of the family's "devastation".
Lauren Bryant, 16, was found with serious head injuries at Duddingston Farm stables in Newton, South Queensferry, on Sunday afternoon.
The Linlithgow Academy pupil died as she was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
It is understood her injuries show she was kicked in the head by the horse.
The horse, named Solo, was a present from her family for her 16th birthday last May.
John Tait, Lauren's uncle, told the BBC Scotland news website how his niece was walking the Irish sports horse down from its field to the stables to be ridden when the tragedy happened.
He said: "My wife, Louise, was at the stables at the time but we don't know exactly what happened.
"Lauren was a natural with horses and loved hacking and galloping. She loved horses and went to the stables every day after school.
"She got into her hobby when her grandmother bought the family a pony when she was young.
"She loved Solo, he is not a bad horse, and there is no way he would have hurt her deliberately."
Mr Tait said Lauren's family and friends were "shocked and devastated".
He added: "She was a quiet girl in her own way but very witty and could say the funniest things.
"Most teenagers can be cheeky but she never was, she never moaned and would do anything to help anyone. You couldn't fault her or ask for a better person."
He added that he would now be looking after Solo and learning to ride him.
A post-mortem examination into the death is to be held this week.
Lauren's funeral will be held on Friday at St Michael's Parish Church in Linlithgow.
Friends at her school are collecting money for disabled riders in memory of Lauren.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "We responded to a field in South Queensferry after a 16-year-old girl died following a horse-riding incident.
"The girl sustained serious injuries to her head and was taken to the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline where she later passed away.
"There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."