It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Hannah Francis, one of eventing’s most inspirational young athletes, on Monday 1st August 2016.

A talented event rider, 2013 marked her very first season with British Eventing where Hannah notched up no less than eight top ten placings out of 11 runs. The following season Hannah moved up to contend BE Open Novice under 18 classes where she continued to prove her competitive ability winning on just her second attempt at this level. A determined and clearly gifted rider April 2015 saw Hannah accepted onto a national rider development pathway assessment day and from there was selected out of 13 riders to attend the training camp in July.

Sadly in May 2015, just days after her 17th birthday, Hannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of bone cancer. The following week Jayne Smart, Hannah’s show jumping trainer, and her daughter Emily stumbled across the now famous Willberry the Wonder Pony at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and this would spark the beginning of Hannah’s incredible fundraising efforts.

Fellow event rider, Olivia Robertson set up the Willberry Wonder Pony website in June last year and, even though she never met her, decided she wanted to do something to help Hannah raise the £800 she needed for a wig. With this, and despite a gruelling treatment schedule, Hannah and Willberry rallied the entire eventing community, starting out with selling #kickingcancersbutt wristbands before moving onto auctions, charity events and a host of Willberry the Wonder Pony merchandise.

Before long Willberry the Wonder Pony had united eventing fans, international riders, pop stars, actors and celebrities, exceeding all expectations and blowing the fundraising target way out of the water. To date Willberry the Wonder Pony and Hannah have raised in excess of £115,000 and in May 2016 Willberry the Wonder Pony was given official charity status to support bone cancer research and grant horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses.

Earlier this year Hannah set to make her lifelong ambition a reality, to compete at an international competition under the GB flag, and in June at the Tattersall International Horse Trials, and through enduring pain, Hannah did just that as she and her beloved mare ‘Mavis’ completed a beautiful dressage test for the CCI2* guinea pig ride.

Upon hearing of Hannah’s passing condolences flooded in from friends, fans and riders across the world -

William Fox-Pitt on Facebook:

We are so very sad to hear of the death of Hannah Francis, she was an incredibly brave and inspirational young woman. She has left an amazing legacy for us all to support with Willberry Wonder Pony.

Kitty King, via Facebook:

You inspired me daily and taught me so much. I'm just so glad I got to see you just the other day, where you were your usual smiley amazing self. Rest in peace and gallop over all those cross country fences in the sky. I will be riding in Rio for you. I just hope Sprout who you rode so beautifully in the winter and I do you proud. Thoughts with your wonderful family.

Our thoughts are with Hannah’s friends and family at this difficult time.

You can donate to the Willberry the Wonder Pony charity HERE.

Image from Willberry the Wonder Pony's Facebook Page