Juliette Brown died after opening a soda

[w8ng4msrgt]

This story is so sad because dad was with her and couldn't do anything.



Haltom family in shock after spooked horse drags, kills 9-year-old girl

By SUSAN TALLANT

A 9-year-old Haltom City girl died Saturday after being dragged a mile and a half by a horse near Benbrook Stables.

The horse carrying Juliette Brown was likely spooked by the sound of her opening a soft drink can, Cathy Wickwire, a family friend, said Sunday.

Juliette was riding with her dad, Shane Brown, when she became thirsty around dusk, so they stopped to get a drink, Wickwire said. After Juliette opened the can, the horse jumped, bucked her off and dragged her.

"It's a tragedy. There's no doubt about that," Wickwire said.

Police and emergency personnel were dispatched to the stables at about 9:30 p.m. Juliette was flown to Cook Children's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:20 p.m.

Ana Brown said her daughter loved to dance, sing and entertain others. She said Juliette, the fourth-born of 10 children, liked to help take care of her brothers and sisters.

Ana Brown said she hadn't gotten much sleep since her daughter died. She said she was just numb.

She had just one request for friends and well-wishers: "Please don't say, 'I'm sorry.' It sounds so final. Plus it makes you want to cry all over again."

There were plenty of tears at the Browns' house Sunday afternoon when friends, neighbors and relatives gathered to offer support.

Joyce Brown, principal of East Fort Worth Montessori Academy, had known Juliette since she was 3. She said Juliette was a fourth-grader at David E. Smith Elementary School but had planned to return the academy this fall for fifth grade.

"She was just precious; she was kind and caring," Joyce Brown said. "She would often run up, give me a hug and say, 'I am coming back soon.'"

Juliette's baby sitter, Tasha Linthicum, has been caring for the Brown children for five months. She, too, will miss Juliette's hugs.

"She was always the first one to run up and give me a hug when I arrived," Linthicum said.

Ana Brown said she is blessed to have had time with her daughter, even though it was short. "She was just amazing. God trusted me for nine years with her, so who am I to complain?"

Link

[Unamused Cat]

That is just so sad.

[CPL CHUD]

It's not often that I read an article here and feel extremely bad for the family. Call me callous and uncaring, but shocker after shocker kind of leads one to feel numb. It's self assuring in a way that I read this one and it was tugging my heart strings.

[ashdavus]

I too feel sad for this family. I know NOTHING about horses...but I have to question why in GOD's name they would have given the child ANYTHING that makes a sudden noise while she was even anywhere NEAR a horse, let alone while she was SITTING on one. These seem like intelligent enough people to me, so I just don't understand.

[Miss. Hill]

Aww this is so sad, she was such a beautiful little girl! I feel for her family, I don't think I could go on if one of my boys died! At least they have a large family and have each other to get through this!

[maryhaze]

i just now saw this. i DO know about horses & this seems like a "riding stable". this kid didn't do anything wrong & neither did her parents, but these horses are overworked & usually abused. i've got a couple of ponies from places like this & they are nuts. yes, horses can be ridden all day with no ill effects, but a working horse forms a tight bond with the owner. i've got a 9 yr old who would give me no problems if i could get my crippled ass up on him & he hasn't been ridden in 3 yrs. why? because he knows & trusts me. these poor "by the hour" animals never develop that. & by 5:00, they know its dinner time & are going back to the barn, no matter what. i truly feel for these parents but, IMO, these places should be shut down.