During her final hours, horse management sophomore Amanda Awalt was doing what she loved most - riding her 20-year-old quarter horse, Rocky, in the wide open spaces of her parents’ Mason residence.

The 20-year-old died after sustaining serious injuries from an accident involving the quarter horse Thursday morning.

While riding with her MSU roommate, Awalt’s horse lost his balance while trying to cross a ditch bank that separated the Awalts’ house from an asphalt road. The plummet resulted in the horse falling on top of Awalt, injuring her head and chest.

However, Jennifer Baker, one of Awalt’s older sisters, assures Rocky was not at fault for the accident.

“We don’t blame the horse,” Baker said. “It was a very freak accident, no one had control over the incident.”

More than anyone, Baker understood her younger sister’s ability. They have ridden together since Awalt started riding horses at the age of 9.

“We rode together 90 percent of the time,” Baker said. “She was an excellent rider, I can’t even remember the last time she came off a horse.”

Not only was she a talented rider, Awalt was also very conscious of the horses she used, Baker added.

“She always took precautions, especially when it came to horses,” she said. “She also took care of them physically.”

Awalt would ride three or four times a week and sometimes more in the summer, Baker said.

Camie Heleski, coordinator of horse management at MSU, knew of Awalt’s admiration for horses.

“It’s been a big part of her life,” she said.

Awalt met Heleski, also a Mason resident, when she was 13. Heleski got to know Awalt even more during her time as Awalt’s instructor in the horse management program.

Awalt also completed an internship at an Arizona horse ranch this summer.

“She was just an absolutely sweet, wonderful person,” Heleski said. “I can’t think of a person in the world that wouldn’t like her.”

Funeral services for Awalt take place at 11 a.m. today at All Saints Lutheran Church in Mason.

Steve Bossi can be reached at bossifre@msu.edu.