Hickstead RIP

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Ron

Ron

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Jan 25, 2011
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France
Hickstead, the “superstar” stallion that carried Canadian equestrian champion Eric Lamaze to Olympic gold-medal glory in Beijing in 2008, died suddenly during a competition in Italy on Sunday, tragically ending a partnership that helped push the country to the top of the sport of show jumping.

Montreal-born Lamaze, the world’s current No. 1 rider, had just taken Hickstead through a nearly faultless 13-fence course at the Rolex FEI World Cup in Verona, Italy, when the 15-year-old horse abruptly collapsed and died.

“We finished our round, I circled and was leaving the ring, and he collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack,” Lamaze said in a news release. “It is the most tragic thing that has ever happened. We had him until he was 15, and we had a great time together. He was the best horse in the world. We are all devastated.”

The Federation Equestre International, the sport’s global governing body, said the competition was stopped at the request of the competing riders, and “Lamaze’s fellow competitors gathered in the Verona arena to pay their respects to one of the greatest horses of all time, and to support their colleague in his moment of loss with a minute’s silence.”

FEI president Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, an equestrian competitor at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, said Hickstead “really was a horse in a million, and my heart goes out to Eric and everyone connected with this wonderful horse. This is a terrible loss, but Hickstead truly will never be forgotten. We were very lucky to have known him."

There are many tributes on the internet but I have chosen to show his last appearance at his home town Spruce Meadows, barely 2 months ago, winning the richest event in the world.

PS. Added 17th Nov. A beautiful tribute has been added to Youtube.

[video=youtube;dVFXmDbmb9g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVFXmDbmb9g[/video]



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I don't know alot about equestrian, but its a very sad story, it reminds me a little of when Best Mate collapsed at Exeter, I even shed a tear that day.

15 does seem a little old to still be competing Ron, how old do these horse's go on competing for? If so would he have been in London next year? :biggrin:
 
Yes Shergar; the intention was to retire him after the London Olympics, after which he would have been in high demand at stud. The age depends on the horse. Previous legends have gone on to 16/17 years. The Great Milton was retired at the The London Olympia Horseshow at the age of 16 and I believe Penwood Forge Mill, another legend, may have been older. So much depends on how they were looked after and produced as a youngster. Those that are brought on too early in their career don't last as long. Bear in mind it was only in September this year that he won the richest competition in the world (in video).

He was a very fit and super horse that always rose to the occasion. He knew he was a champion.
 
There's a tribute to Hickstead, on the Horse and Country Channel, tonight at 9.00pm.

It's on channel 280, it's repeated tomorrow if you miss it tonight.

King Shergar - you might be interested to know that a horse called Gammon, won the Hickstead Derby at the grand age of 21! This is quite rare but, as Ron says, showjumpers can often go on competing at top level well into their teens.

Very sad about Hickstead...RIP.
 
It was on last night also Epona. Replaced a scheduled program on Motor TV.
 
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