A very sad day for horse lovers :(

[blackcad]

One of the greatest stallions to ever compete.....a Canadian...the legendary Hickstead, died yesterday of a heart attack during the world cup in Verona.

When I saw this my eyes welled with tears. The loss of the bond between human and animal can be so overwhelmingly poignant sometimes. My thoughts are with his distraught rider, Eric Lamazes, and all the fans who loved him.


The link I'm posting shows his death midway through....it's hard to watch.

Hickstead is jumping higher and farther than ever before....in horse heaven.:angel:

 

[uncleg]

Interesting..

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...1dW_BA&usg=AFQjCNGeeoyjbfp33PuqSGe46ZwdzwkuKA

 

[AngelaAurora]

That is so sad. The horse and rider are truly champions of the sport. My favourite teams where Ian Millar and Big Ben and Jay Hays with Zucarlos.

 

[laurel love]

Yes, it is hard to watch. I sat by my 29 year old mare and held her head in my lap while her legs pumped away like that as she died of a heart attack.

29 is pretty old and yet she could still grab the bit and take off at a tremendous gallop when she was feeling mischievous.

Heart attacks due to stress happen in Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, about 1/10,000 in the former. Horses in the wild do not run very often...they are walking lawn mowers and shrub grazers. Running and jumping is reserved for emergencies so these types of sports activities push their systems to the limit.

(same as humans, though eh? in our wild state we are generally couch potatoes: running and jumping are reserved for competitive acts like boxing day shopping)

One thing about horse people: I know very few that I respect. Most treat the animal with the same fondness as a pawn in a chess game: just a tool to massage their ego with.

It is nice to see a rider with with so much love for his horse that he would immediately think of the horses needs over his own concern for his image.

 

[Sasha Queen]

OMG... I need a hug, that was heart breaking.

 

[Guardian Angel]

You could certainly see the team of horse and rider, among the rest of the staff who no doubt have an ache in their hearts. I suppose this is life, and I know the loss of anything you are so close to leaves a void for a long time.

G.A.