At the Blenheim International Horse Trials, three animals died of various causes. A rider was also injured.
Frankfurt – Shocking news from equestrian sport. Three horses have died at the Blenheim International Horse Trials, held near Oxford from September 15-18. This was reported by the equestrian portal Eventing Nation. The horses are a nine-year-old mare named Ricker Ridge Ricochet, 12-year-old gelding Fanta Boy and 13-year-old gelding Equador.
There are various reasons for the tragic deaths. The mare Ricker Ridge Ricochet, owned by rider Samantha Lissingtion, was doomed by a fall at a hurdle. Because the injuries were so severe, the horse had to be euthanized. Lissington himself was hospitalized with several broken ribs and a liver tear.
| Blenheim Horse Trials | |
|---|---|
| location | Woodstock/England |
| first event | 1990 |
Tragedy in equestrian sport – a cause of death remains hidden
The cause of death in the case of Fanta Boy is still unclear. The horse and its rider Georgie Goss had previously completed the course without any mistakes. The rider expressed her concern about the death of the horse via Instagram.
“It is with a broken heart that I can confirm that our Fanta Boy unfortunately passed away on Saturday night. He was an incredible horse and I will cherish the memories I shared with him and his wonderful owners Nicky and Lucy,” the Brit wrote on Instagram.
Equestrian tragedy – riders are affected, the sport has been under criticism for a long time
In the case of the gelding Equador, ridden by Briton Thomas Martin, a serious leg injury meant that the horse had to be put down. Martin also commented on Instagram. “Me and Eddie had a rotational fall at Blenheim yesterday and unfortunately Eddie sustained a leg injury. Because of that leg injury, we had to make the difficult decision to put him down this morning.”
“It won’t be the same on the farm without you. RIP, the best boy I could ever wish for. I will always love you,” Martin continued, visibly concerned about the loss of the horse.
Despite its great popularity – especially in Great Britain – equestrian sport is repeatedly criticized. Allegations of cruelty to animals keep coming up. After a scandal during the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, animal welfare organizations, among others, called for reforms in sport. (nki)
