Emergency crews say a woman is lucky to be alive after her horse collapsed onto her and died.

The incident happened Sunday at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien, a storied horse competition facility which dates back 101 years.

Police say the woman was riding the horse when it collapsed, pinning her down and briefly knocking her unconscious.

Darien EMT Emma Byrne says the horse was atop the woman for about 30 seconds before bystanders and police jumped in to lift the 1,200-pound mare off her.

The woman suffered minor injuries and is expected to be OK.

A spokeswoman for the club says that everyone involved in the accident is heartbroken by the horse's passing. She says the victim had been riding the horse for five years and considered it part of her family.