Superstar stallion Hickstead dies suddenly
This handout picture released on November 6, 2011 by the 2011 Jumping Verona International Horse Show of horse Hickstead and his Canadian rider Eric Lamaze performing during the competition in Verona. Hickstead, Beijing 2008 Olympic gold winner, suddenly collapsed on November 6 at 15.25, as he was leaving the arena after his successful jumping round. The veterinary services were immediately in attendance, but unfortunately the horse was already dead.
Photograph by: BRUNO DE LORENZO, AFP/Getty Images
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 15yearold 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."
Spruce Meadows, the Calgary equestrian facility which has been a playpen for Lamaze and Hickstead through the years and where the tandem recently showed throughout a very successful summer, released this statement:
"All of us at Spruce Meadows, and in the horse sport community, are stunned and saddened by the passing of Hickstead. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Eric, the Fleischhacker family and Eric's entire team.
"As fans, we can be thankful that some of their greatest moments together took place at Spruce Meadows, including their incredible 2011 season, where they firmly established themselves as No. 1 in the world in the Rolex Rankings.
"Hickstead and Eric Lamaze are truly one of the greatest combinations in the history of our sport.''
The 43-year-old Lamaze bolstered his top ranking after a first-place finish with Hickstead in September at the $1-million International Grand Prix during the Masters tournament at Spruce Meadows.
"Everybody dreams of winning this," Lamaze, who lives in Schomberg, Ont., said at the time.
"For me, it's just as exciting as it was the first time," added Lamaze, who had won the same competition with Hickstead in 2007. "When you have a great horse that tries so hard, you want this title attached to his name as many times as possible. Sure, the money is great. But there's more to it than that. It's the best horse in the world."
American rider Beezie Madden, a frequent competitor at the Meadows, expressed her shock on Sunday.
"It's obviously very sad,'' the Cazenovia, N.Y., rider told the Calgary Herald. "He's not only lost his best horse, it's like losing a part of your family. (The way it happened) it's such a rare occurrence.''
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."
FEI jumping director John Roche said the official cause of death hasn't been determined.
Canada's equestrian community had sounded its own note of grief within hours.
"Hickstead and Eric have been one of equestrianism's most legendary partnerships," said Akaash Maharaj, CEO of Ottawa-based Equine Canada.
"We will always be grateful for the time and triumphs we all shared with Hickstead," Maharaj added. "We know that generations of future equestrians will draw inspiration from his life."
Hickstead, born in the Netherlands, was named for a famous equestrian showground in Britain. Lamaze purchased Hickstead in 2004.
Lamaze, who also led Canada to a silver finish in the team jumping event at the 2008 Olympics, said after the victory in Calgary he expected Hickstead to be healthy enough to travel to London to defend their individual title at the 2012 Summer Games.
"He's going to have the winter off - no jumping at all - and come (to Spruce Meadows) next year," Lamaze in September. He said he saw the horse doing "exactly what he's been doing every single year, not changing anything, and go to the Olympics . . . He's healthy at the moment and jumping better than ever."
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 15yearold 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."
Spruce Meadows, the Calgary equestrian facility which has been a playpen for Lamaze and Hickstead through the years and where the tandem recently showed throughout a very successful summer, released this statement:
"All of us at Spruce Meadows, and in the horse sport community, are stunned and saddened by the passing of Hickstead. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Eric, the Fleischhacker family and Eric's entire team.
"As fans, we can be thankful that some of their greatest moments together took place at Spruce Meadows, including their incredible 2011 season, where they firmly established themselves as No. 1 in the world in the Rolex Rankings.
"Hickstead and Eric Lamaze are truly one of the greatest combinations in the history of our sport.''
The 43-year-old Lamaze bolstered his top ranking after a first-place finish with Hickstead in September at the $1-million International Grand Prix during the Masters tournament at Spruce Meadows.
"Everybody dreams of winning this," Lamaze, who lives in Schomberg, Ont., said at the time.
"For me, it's just as exciting as it was the first time," added Lamaze, who had won the same competition with Hickstead in 2007. "When you have a great horse that tries so hard, you want this title attached to his name as many times as possible. Sure, the money is great. But there's more to it than that. It's the best horse in the world."
American rider Beezie Madden, a frequent competitor at the Meadows, expressed her shock on Sunday.
"It's obviously very sad,'' the Cazenovia, N.Y., rider told the Calgary Herald. "He's not only lost his best horse, it's like losing a part of your family. (The way it happened) it's such a rare occurrence.''
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."
FEI jumping director John Roche said the official cause of death hasn't been determined.
Canada's equestrian community had sounded its own note of grief within hours.
"Hickstead and Eric have been one of equestrianism's most legendary partnerships," said Akaash Maharaj, CEO of Ottawa-based Equine Canada.
"We will always be grateful for the time and triumphs we all shared with Hickstead," Maharaj added. "We know that generations of future equestrians will draw inspiration from his life."
Hickstead, born in the Netherlands, was named for a famous equestrian showground in Britain. Lamaze purchased Hickstead in 2004.
Lamaze, who also led Canada to a silver finish in the team jumping event at the 2008 Olympics, said after the victory in Calgary he expected Hickstead to be healthy enough to travel to London to defend their individual title at the 2012 Summer Games.
"He's going to have the winter off - no jumping at all - and come (to Spruce Meadows) next year," Lamaze in September. He said he saw the horse doing "exactly what he's been doing every single year, not changing anything, and go to the Olympics . . . He's healthy at the moment and jumping better than ever."
How sad.
ReplyDeleteFantastic horse!
ReplyDeleteDeb, excuse my ignorance, but how long does a horse trained like this one generally live? 15 years seems like a short life span.
Scooney a horse like him could very well have lived to 25 or 30 years (30 is not unheard of in horse years). He probably would have been retired at 17 or 18 and put out to stud to put some little Hicksteads out there.
ReplyDelete