Amy Tryon on Le Samurai had a foot-perfect round until the last fence, the Rolex Arch. Sparky seemed to stumble before the fence, and gamely jumped it. Amy pulled up after crossing the finish line, and Sparky was assisted immediately by the Rolex veterinary staff. It was announced later this afternoon that Amy had withdrawn. In a statement given by Rolex veterinarian, Dr. Catherine W. Kohn V.M.D., "Le Samurai had experienced an injury, and it appears that he lost the supporting ligaments in his left front leg. He was given a mild sedative to keep him comfortable, and hes being treated at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute."
[ QUOTE ]
Amy Tryon on Le Samurai had a foot-perfect round until the last fence, the Rolex Arch. Sparky seemed to stumble before the fence, and gamely jumped it. Amy pulled up after crossing the finish line, and Sparky was assisted immediately by the Rolex veterinary staff. It was announced later this afternoon that Amy had withdrawn. In a statement given by Rolex veterinarian, Dr. Catherine W. Kohn V.M.D., "Le Samurai had experienced an injury, and it appears that he lost the supporting ligaments in his left front leg. He was given a mild sedative to keep him comfortable, and hes being treated at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute."
Coming round to the final fence, a good few hundred yards before the horse looks to stumble and goes badly lame (something similar to when you see a racehorse do a tendon running and there legs go everywhere).
The rider looks down and even though the horse is in certain dicomfort and injured she carries on and make him jump the last fence- which the game boy does- and then goes on for a further 100 yards or so to pass the finish lane- It was a disgusting act of selfishness and the horses damaged would have increased considerably.
I don't exactly know as i didn't see it.. but sounds like horse broke down, rider looked down,saw it, and then decided to push on and try and jump the last fence, which it did.. not sure if it crossed the finish line or not, but i guess it must of done, as they have w/d not retired 'on course'..
its such a bad example from a top rider...the horses welfare should obviously always come first...this just shows how some riders can be toooo competitive...i hope the horse is back to run another day but lets hope the owners swap riders