Two horses die at Bramham

Lead the Way hit a jump very hard going into the second water I think? What i've heard is that he cracked his stifle/s - don't know whether this has been confirmed or not - just what i've heard through the rumour mill. I stand to be corrected however!
 
Lead the Way hit a jump very hard going into the second water I think? What i've heard is that he cracked his stifle/s - don't know whether this has been confirmed or not - just what i've heard through the rumour mill. I stand to be corrected however!

Quoted from Eventing Magazine on Facebook.
Very sadly Clea Phillipps' Lead The Way and Michael Jackson's Jagganath both fatally collapsed today at Bramham.
 
Eventing magazine FEI Veterinary Delegate David Green said something medically went wrong with both horses and postmortems are likely to be carried out.
 
I just DON'T understand, yes it's all very sad and for heaven's sake something OBVIOUSLY went medically wrong with both horses, breaking a leg is surely "medically" wrong too?
I am seriously struggling to understand the difference between these totally regrettable deaths at a FEI eventing competition and those that occur in racing and particular The Grand National when all hell breaks loose about how cruel it is, yet I'd be very surprised if the death of the same number of horses at Bramham as in the 2012 GN even merits a mention in the national press. Don't let 's kid ourselves these horses would not have died when they did if they hadn't been asked to compete at a high level. No doubt the statisticians would argue there were more horses in this CCI 3* than in the GN, true, but not many in the 3* actually were anywhere near the time and horses running in The GN don't have the luxury of a "good " dressage or hope to make up places in the SJ phase. "He who is without sin" is ringing in my ears, hopefully someone will be able to explain the difference to me. FACT remains 2 horses are dead due to competing at high level eventing
 
Silu - is a horse suffers a heart attack over a fence, gravity, speed and weight is going to make it fall, most likely hitting the fence in the process so a broken leg could well happen.

Just sad that ANOTHER thread descends into 'is eventing cruel?'

One HHO member sadly lost their horse yesterday due to a kick in the field... :(
 
I was there today and went to watch the XC again in the afternoon but there was a long hold on course and this was when Clea Phillips had fallen. I assumed it was just a 'normal' fall but from the sounds of this thread, evidently not. I think it happened at a failr inocuous (spl?) fence too (13 or 14?). So sad, the weather and ground there was perfect for XC today. I hear the other horse collapsed after completing the course - not sure if that's correct, got that from another thread in NL.

There was a heck of a lot of horses competing there today though so, to be honest, in the world of horses I guess the stats are that something may get injured. They still have the CIC XC to run tomorrow as well. I think Bramham have done a fantastic job with the course and getting things sorted at relatively short notice due to Badminton and Chatsworth being cancelled and, from the sounds of it these two horse deaths were nothing to do with the actual course or fences.

Just very very sad :(
 
It's heartbreaking for all of those involved, my condolences go to all the connections of two hugely talented horses. My thoughts especially are with Carole, who owned and bred Jagganath, as I can only imagine how upset she must be right now.

Silu, this isn't the time or the place to preach about the GN. I imagine you are mostly preaching to the converted, but suggest that your case might carry more weight if you didn't hi-jack threads that were (I presume) designed to offer support to those who have lost their beloved horses today.
 
Very sad. :(

Unfortunately most horse sport carries a risk to both horse and rider, some more than others. Personally i like the races, the horses are bred and trained for it. I'm not anti racing despite some fatalities. Equally i'm not anti eventing. It all carries a risk. We too lost our horse 3 weeks ago to an apparently minor wound sustained in the field. Unfortunately field injuries are far more likely to result in serious injury than ridden work.

My heart goes out to those who lost horses today, no matter the reason its never easy to have to deal with.
 
I don't really understand Silu - do you have horses? What do you do with them? How is what you do less dangerous than these eventers today? If you just hack your horse on the roads you put it in danger. If you travel a horse in trailer/wagon you are putting it at risk surely? I just don't get the point of your post - do you not enjoy ANY horses sports or events? If yes then surely you have to realise that accidents do happen or, as it seems in this case (possibly), horses can just die without there being any prior warning whether thsi be when they're galloping and jumping or when just ambling in a field.

I think these horses are fantastic and I love watching them go round these courses and I don't believe for one second they don't enjoy it. They are NOT racing in a herd like in the GN - it is them and their rider, that is all. It is about trust - we all know horses are more than capable of letting us know when they don't want to do something!!

My biggest fear is going to a competition and not coming back with my horse but I enjoy competing and, it would seem, so does my horse so i shall continue and i am sure those that also love competing will continue to do so!
 
Im another who can testify the ground at bramham today was absolutely fantastic.

So so sad to learn about the fatalities (we didnt know whilst we were there) but unfortunately it can happen anywhere and at anytime. A friend of mine was walking her horse along the road two years ago and he collapsed and died :(

I have to say I was most impressed with the fitness levels of the horses we saw today. None looked wobbly or very tired towards the end of the course and bar one horse leaving a leg and taking a ducking at the water everything we saw jumped beautifully.

I think the organisers of bramham should be applauded for a wonderful course and great going.

My thoughts go out to all those involved with the lost horses today. Coming home with an empty box doesnt even bear thinking about.
 
Horses looked fit and well, althought a few of the riders were puffing a bit:D
Condolences go to those connected with the lost horses.
 
Obviously people didn't get/want to get the point I was trying to get across. I am pro racing evented to 2* level and show jumped at around Foxhunter AND dearly love both my retired, (both injured, but not life threatening) horses.
It is the double standards that stick in my throat, racing people are seen as just in it for the money and don't care if they loose horses while it's "so sad" when an eventer/showjumper etc dies in the process of doing it's job. I certainly was NOT hijacking this thread and I'm still waiting for somebody to explain why there is a difference in people's attitude to death on the race track to that in other horse discipline's.
I have sympathy to all those connected with the 2 horses that died at Bramham today and remember only too well what a wonderful horse Lead the Way was having seen him win the advanced at Auchinleck a few years ago.
 
I'm still waiting for somebody to explain why there is a difference in people's attitude to death on the race track to that in other horse discipline's.

This is exactly what hijacking a thread is about, wanting an answer to your question, start a new thread. Then I would post an answer, IMHO this is a thread for sympathy not debate.
 
Sympathies to all those connected with these wonderful horses. I know what it's like to lose an event horse. So sorry...RIP.
 
Sleep tight and run free Horses. Thought with all concerned its a sad day when you lose your friend and partner in crime. Gods bless all invoved with these lovely equines xx

Horses can have heartattacks or break legs in the field, out a hack, in the school, doing dressage, jumping XC/SJ/HT, out hunting, doing games, Racing, driving, horseballing, playing polo do i really need to continue??? I mean I could go onto the Western pursuits as well if you wish??

Horse riding in general has its risks and I for one see no difference in competing or just happy hacking. Shame on those who see cruelty in everything, we all do the best for our horses whether they are much loved pets or winning competitons horses at the top of their game, someone loves them :mad:
 
Silu, one of the horses I used to ride (Blobby) died of a heart attack just standing in his field, things like that happen :(

ETA: For the record, I am equally as sad when any horse meets it's end. Whether it be on the track, jumping, in the field or on the roads etc and I always feel so very sorry for those who knew the horse.

R.I.P Horsies, thoughts are with everyone who was involved with them.
 
Last edited:
Clea's horse has his accident at the coffin fence. I had just taken a photo of her galloping past, towards the fence which was just in front of me. Her horse jumped in bravely and then there was an almighty bang and we could see him down. On the landing dude of the ditch, with his legs pointing up the incline do he could get up. I will never forget how brave poor clea was as she jumped into the ditch to try and hold her poor horse's head up.

Bramham did a WONDERFUL job in horrific circumstances. Barriers were up around the injured horse in minutes. However... Shame on the horrible people who were trying to take photos and one disgusting woman who was trying to take a video on her mobile phone!!!! I am a photographer, and am have a press pass for bramham but I walked away in tears thinking of the last galloping **** I'd just taken of horse and rider looking fit and happy,

The going at bramham has been awesome! The XC looks immaculate even after the full CCI and under 25s classes.

Unfortunately accidents will happen. I don't know what happened to clea's horse (though suspect he must have broken something in the fall) and I heard on the grapevine that Michael jacksons horse collapsed from a heart issue back at tent at the end of a course. Eventing is a fabulous sport but it has it's risks. I still love it though.

My heart goes out to the two tides who will still be devastated at the loss of their horses. And of course, to the horses themselves. May they enjoy a horsey heaven galloping and jumping to their hearts' content
 
Top