May Theodore O'Connor RIP

[texasreb]

Frodo Baggins and his rider Laine Ashker were both seriously hurt in a rotational fall during the Kentucky Rolex 3 Day in late April. The horse was euthanized.

During the same phase of the same event, Sarah Hansel and her mount, The Quiet Man fell. She was uninjured, but the horse was euthanized.

 

[Morgaine]

I did not know that Frodo was euthanized.

I know that there has been a lot of contraversy about the xcountry courses being too trappy and that too many horses and riders are being hurt because of it. I really hope that something can be done to insure the lives of both horse and rider.

 

[texasreb]

I know they've made new rules about rotational falls. I'm not sure of the particulars, but if you and your mount have one you are banned from competing for a certain amount of time (3 or 6 months, maybe) presumably so the horse can rest and heal before re-entering competition.

As a non-competitor, it sounds like a fair rule to me. It might prevent needless death and injuries of horses and riders. The USEA has tried like heck to keep photos and videos of horse crashes out of the media, but I've seen still photos of both Kentucky Rolex crashes and they are horrific. You can tell immediately that the horses do not survive and that the gates are too risky even for elite athletes.

Something needs to be done to keep the sport exciting and growing in popularity with out killing off all it's stars--human and equine.

Frodo was the second horse in less than a year to die under the ridership of Laine Ashker. Last year Eight St. James Place collapsed and died at the finish line of the Jersey Fresh event in June 2007.

 

[Cetawin]

aaaawwww RIP guys. This had been a hard few years for equestrian competitors. Barbaro, Eight Bells, now Big Brown with his crack.

I grew up with a family who raised TB and Quarter Horse racers and so I follow those more than the other events but it is still so sad to lose even one competitor. I wish these animal activists understood how much these horses love what they do.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

It's a shame, but honestly I really don't see the attraction to eventing. I, myself am a casual dressage rider, sadly outgrew my horse so I haven't ridden in a while, but I just don't see the benefit in eventing.