The former captain of nearby college's equestrian team was killed in a horse-riding accident in the Hudson Valley.

On Monday around 10:45 a.m., New York State Police from Dover Plains barracks investigated a horsing accident on Byrds Hill Road in the town of Dover. State Police responded to a family farm on Byrds Hill Road for a report of a woman who fell off a horse.

According to police, the horse reared for an unknown reason and fell on top of the rider, Samantha Calzone, 23, of Greenwich, CT. Calzone was pronounced dead at the scene.

Calzone graduated from UConn last year. The animal science graduate was the captain of the equestrian team at UConn.

"She served as a mentor and a true ray of sunshine to UCET and all people who were lucky enough to know her. Sam was a true horsewoman and loved our sport, and these animals, with her whole heart," UConn Equestrian Team said on Facebook.

Calzone started riding horses at the age of nine. She was considered a very experienced rider, who spent most of her life around animals, the New York Post reports.

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