A heartbroken schoolgirl whose pony suddenly died has launched a brave campaign to stop other horse lovers losing their ‘best friends’.

Just hours after happily riding her ‘beautiful princess’, 12-year-old Hallie Brammer was left devastated after her pony was struck-down by grass sickness last Saturday afternoon.

But despite being devastated the Upton High School student took to the internet to set up a campaign to raise awareness of the disease in memory of her pony Seren , as she did not want her death to be in vain.

Hallie, who lives in Kingston Court, Saughall, fell in love with the 12.3 hand pony when her parents bought her as a family pet for Hallie and her sister, also called Seren, three-and-a-half years ago.

Seren Brammer, six riding her horse, also called Seren
Seren Brammer, six riding her horse, also called Seren

Now Hallie’s parents Nia and Dave have praised their daughter for her ‘determination’ and ‘bravery’ after she raised more than �500 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund – just four days following her pony’s death.

“She was riding her on Saturday morning but in the afternoon she sat on her and realised something wasn’t right,” said Nia, who said the girls loved travelling all over the country taking part in pony competitions with Seren.

“It all happened so quickly. The vets didn’t know very much about it and there wasn’t really anything they could do. This is the first experience of loss she has had, and the way she has turned it round and raised so much money is unbelievable.”

Ever since Seren – which is Welsh for star – was put down Hallie has dedicated her free time to raising awareness for the sickness, by selling charity pins to her classmates, friends and family, and fellow pony riders in Backford, where she was stabled.

But the death of the 11-year-old horse, who Hallie describes as her ‘best friend’ on her justgiving page, has been made even more painful for the whole family as her six-year-old sister also shares the same name.

“My daughter Seren was just three when we bought the pony which was already called Seren,” said Nia, who said her youngest daughter had only recently started riding the pony.

“The impact her death has had on both my girls and even my husband, who isn’t into horses, has been massive. We have been devastated by what happened.”

To date Hallie, who also has a four-year-old brother called Dylan, has raised more than �600 for the fund, which she hopes will help save ponies lives by helping the charity by much-needed antibiotics and raise owners awareness of the sickness.

“We are so proud of how she is going about it, she is really upset but she just wants to save one pony’s life so her death will not be in vain,” said Nia.