horse died at riding club hunter trial

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Gembo

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i was at our local riding clubs annual hunter trial today and a horse died. apparently it was quite elderly but it suffered a heart attack half way around the course. i was shocked as you just dont think things like this happen at little local events you imagine it more at badminton or the grand national
 
Thats very sad, thought to all those involved. I know you never expect it to happen to you, but its tragic when it happens so close to home. Do you know if the rider is ok/was hurt??
 
the rider was fine but i feel so sorry for them i mean imagine having to go home with an empty trailer/lorry :(
 
Sad, but it does happen.

I remember one had a heart attack at a local HT 15 years ago, horse fell on the rider and she was airlifted to hospital :(

At the same event the same year, a pony fell on the course, shattered its shoulder and had to be PTS. This was not a taxing course either.
 
How awful. Poor horse and owner, they must be devastated.

I remember when I was a teenager at a RC XC and a horse broke its leg. The poor girl held him until the vet came to PTS. It was so upsetting.
 
so sad wasnt a particulary hard course either so devastating but it least it was quick and doing what it loved
 
Wagtail said:
Why is someone competing an elderly horse?
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Why not? Age doesn't have much to do with it: fitness and preparation might well, but in the end a heart attack happens when it does.

I do feel for the owners though. Very sad for them.
 
Wagtail said:
Why is someone competing an elderly horse?
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I think the elderly part is neither here or there tbh, any horse can have a heart attack.

I've seen a 34 yo pony go round a small HT - seemed to enjoy himself, why write something off if they clearly enjoy themselves and are capable? One horse competing at Badminton (went clear xc) was 18 - is that elderly?
 
eldery? ummmmm know many horses and ponies competeing into thier teens and beyond and loving it - its down to fitness and condition - spring along at 19(? sure was his age) was fit and looking damn fine and ready for badminton but collapsed and died on course. so at what age do we wrap them up incotton wool - but my thoughts are with the owners/rider - your loss must be awful and my thoughts are with you - hope you find peace with your memories xxxxx
 
Sad as it is, it happens. When our farm hosted a mini HT (1ft - 2ft3'') we had a horse fatality. A 6 yr old TB, just walking around getting used to the sights, and boom, down he went. I remember a lady screaming for someone to come and do something, another person ushering kids out of the way, muttering something about a horse having a roll (good idea perhaps?) and the owner/rider just standing there looking a tad white. (she knew what was happening, experienced national hunt connections).
We had to shield the body using cars, someone came over with a tarporline, and the day continued. It had to. Just wasn't expecting it.
Just for the record, the drive home with an empty box IS the worst bit. Then its the empty stable at home.
Poor horses. Poor connections.
 
oh no how sad. this happened to a friend of mine once, her horse had won the class (having tanked round with her) and then he had a heart attack back at the box. he was fit and healthy despite his age...same as all these fit and healthy septegenarian people who suddenly drop down dead....

thoughts with all connections, glad the rider is ok
 
Yes is it east Kent, after working in racing for many years you don't just enjoy your job but you love the horses you deal with day in day out and a death off a horse is felt by everybody ESP the trainer and grooms who make the horses who they are. been there before and came home from the racers without my best horse, you watch the race, horse falls and the shield goes up and you feel sick and your heart goes.
 
Sad :(
There was a lady a about 10 years back who lost 2 horses in one year, one bolted and got trapped in a cattle grid and had to be PTS, same year her daughter was on her pony on the beach and pony had heart attack and collapsed :( awful it was.......
 
Wagtail said:
Why is someone competing an elderly horse?
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Why not - what would you class as elderly? Many Olympic Eventers are in their late teens.

Sadly these things happen - I've know a few that have gone with heart attacks in the middle of a competition. Not always elderly either.

Very sad for the owners though, I lost one of mine with a broken leg at a show and it is traumatic for everyone.
 
My friends horse had a heart attack whilst she was out hacking. really really sad :(

Depends what your definition of 'elderly' is doesn't it. I don't think even 18 is that old, look at Lenamore, I think he did far better coping with the XC course than some of those younger than him.
 
Obviously this 'elderly' horse was not fit enough or had a heart problem that meant that cross country was too much for him. There is a difference between competing an older fit horse at events where there is a heavy vet presence and checks, and the small riding club events where some people take out their old horse that has ben turned out 24/7 and ridden once a week. Not saying this was the case here, but it is a common enough occurance.
 
I don't know. If you say a horse has a possible lifespan of 30 years, and humans of 90 years, then competing a 20 year old is the equivalent of competing a 60 year old person alongside people in their twenties and thirties. I just think that there comes a time when we should allow our horses to take it easy. Yes, there are exceptions, but any 60 year old will tell you they don't have the energy they used to and have lots of aches and pains. The heart ages too.
 
Wagtail said:
Obviously this 'elderly' horse was not fit enough or had a heart problem that meant that cross country was too much for him. There is a difference between competing an older fit horse at events where there is a heavy vet presence and checks, and the small riding club events where some people take out their old horse that has ben turned out 24/7 and ridden once a week. Not saying this was the case here, but it is a common enough occurance.
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I would say it was an extremely UNcommon occurrence, and that it is not at all 'obvious' that this horse was either unfit or had a known heart condition, and that some people really are a bit small minded and vindictive.

What's your professional opinion on Spring Along?
 
Wagtail said:
I don't know. If you say a horse has a possible lifespan of 30 years, and humans of 90 years, then competing a 20 year old is the equivalent of competing a 60 year old person alongside people in their twenties and thirties. I just think that there comes a time when we should allow our horses to take it easy. Yes, there are exceptions, but any 60 year old will tell you they don't have the energy they used to and have lots of aches and pains. The heart ages too.
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Yeh, for goodness sake, it would be like a 55 year old riding like Badminton.

Oh. Wait.
 
Sadly my horse, Tommy Brown passed away yesterday at a hunter trial competition in Cambridge. He collapsed towards the end of the course and up until then he showed no signs of any problems and was enjoying himself. I did walk/trot most of the course as it was a hot day and a long course, although he did become a bit over exuberant coming towards home. At least he went doing something he enjoyed. He was 15 years old and was otherwise very fit and healthy and had not shown any previous signs of having any problems; competing at the same competition last year and being placed at local competitions only a few weeks ago.
I have owned him for over 2 years now and he has been such a star. He loved hacking out and jumping and was a pleasure to be around, he’ll be missed by all that knew him.
RIP Tommy, I’ll miss you.
 
MelenR said:
Sadly my horse, Tommy Brown passed away yesterday at a hunter trial competition in Cambridge. He collapsed towards the end of the course and up until then he showed no signs of any problems and was enjoying himself. I did walk/trot most of the course as it was a hot day and a long course, although he did become a bit over exuberant coming towards home. At least he went doing something he enjoyed. He was 15 years old and was otherwise very fit and healthy and had not shown any previous signs of having any problems; competing at the same competition last year and being placed at local competitions only a few weeks ago.
I have owned him for over 2 years now and he has been such a star. He loved hacking out and jumping and was a pleasure to be around, he’ll be missed by all that knew him.
RIP Tommy, I’ll miss you.
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Sympathies, MelenR, and you are quite right, he was enjoying himself on a lovely day, what more could any of us ask.
 
Wagtail said:
Obviously this 'elderly' horse was not fit enough or had a heart problem that meant that cross country was too much for him.
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There is no 'obviously' about it at all! Young horses are also known to drop dead suddenly as well, so there is no way you can automatically blame the horse's age for his death.

If you say a horse has a possible lifespan of 30 years, and humans of 90 years, then competing a 20 year old is the equivalent of competing a 60 year old person alongside people in their twenties and thirties. I just think that there comes a time when we should allow our horses to take it easy. Yes, there are exceptions, but any 60 year old will tell you they don't have the energy they used to and have lots of aches and pains.
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Many over 60s compete alongside younger competitors in quite exerting sports. There were 157 over 70s who finished in this year's London Marathon, which is much more strenuous for a human than a local hunter trial is for a horse!
 
So sorry for your loss MelenR, RIP Tommy.

Wagtail, please don't consign all 60 year old people to the scrapheap, I'm not too far off 60 and don't actually feel ready to be put out to grass just yet. :p
 
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