Injured rider stabilised before flight

A 15-year-old girl fell off a horse on Sunday and had to be flown to hospital.

The teenager was at a horse-riding event in Taihape when the accident happened.

Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter pilot Lance Burns was unsure exactly how the girl fell and what happened, but thought the horse might have been on her at one point.

Mr Burns didn't know what type of event it was, but said it "did look like there was jumps there".

He believed the girl had pelvic injuries from the fall.

The rescue helicopter went to the scene about 11.30am.

St John paramedics stabilised the girl before she was flown to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment.

The helicopter was dispatched due to the distance involved and the nature of her injuries.