Rider thrown from horse during parade on life support

Authorities say a rider on horseback is on life support after being thrown from his horse while on patrol during a Memorial Day parade in southern Michigan.

The Branch County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday that 39-year-old sheriff’s posse member Deputy Mike Winter of Coldwater is on life support after his family decided to donate his organs. According to the sheriff’s office, Winter was on parade detail Monday in Quincy.

The sheriff’s office says the horse was frightened by an unknown noise and threw Winter onto the ground, where he hit his head.   (AP)