The fourth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 series at Verona, Italy was stopped following the sudden death of the stallion Hickstead, ridden by reigning Olympic champion and world number one Eric Lamaze (CAN).
Drawn 22nd of the 39 on the startlist, the Canadian partnership had just completed Rolf Ludi’s 13-fence track with a single rail down in the middle of the combination when Hickstead collapsed and died.
The competition was stopped at the request of the 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.
HRH Princess Haya, FEI President added her condolences to those that have poured in since news of the horse's death. "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."
FEI Jumping Director, John Roche, said “shortly after finishing his round of jumping Hickstead collapsed in the arena and died. As yet the cause of death is unknown, but our deepest sympathies go out to the owners, to Eric and to all the connections of one of the greatest Jumping horses of all time. Hickstead’s presence on the circuit will be very sadly missed”.
Preliminary findings from the post mortem on Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s 2008 Olympic gold medal horse that died during the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifier at Verona (ITA) on 6 November, have confirmed an aortic rupture, resulting in heart failure.
Further tests are to be conducted to establish the cause of the rupture, but these tests will take a number of weeks to complete and may prove inconclusive.
The 15-year-old stallion collapsed and died after completing his round of jumping with just four faults. Eric Lamaze (CAN) was uninjured in the incident.
"The sudden loss of any horse, but especially one with the character and history of Hickstead is a shock to everyone, but our thoughts are especially with Eric Lamaze and John Fleischhacker at this difficult time”, said FEI Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke.
“Under FEI regulations any equine death at an FEI event must be investigated and a post mortem undertaken. The preliminary findings have revealed a catastrophic rupture of the major blood vessel, the aorta, which very rapidly led to heart failure. This is an unusual incident in Jumping and while we are investing the very many possible causes of a rupture of this nature, it is possible we may never know the real reason behind it.”