Rolex Kentucky

This past weekend was the US's only 4 Star CCI Event, the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day.... I wish I could say that it was a wonderful, joyous occasion for all who attended, and that nobody was injured, or killed, and that all the horses made it out alright. Unfortunately, I can't. This year, two horses either died on course or were euthanized at vet hospitals after their cross country runs. Both horses, Frodo Baggins and The Quiet Man, fell on course, and both were the dreaded (and controversial) rotational falls that seem to be occurring more and more at the upper levels of this sport.

The Quiet Man fell at the Sunken Road (I believe). His rider will be alright, though she has a concussion. Quiet Man fractured his shoulder in the fall and was humanely destroyed following examination at a local veterinary hospital. An image of his fall can be found here. If you choose to look at the image, you can clearly see that his shoulder hits the large, stationary top rail of the jump, and he rotates over it.

Frodo Baggins fall occurred at Fence 5, The Flower Basket, which was one of the most straightforward fences on the course. Something went terribly wrong, however -- Maybe Frodo slipped on takeoff, maybe he was coming in to the fence too quickly; I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure...but he caught both of his front legs on the top of the fence and flipped over onto his rider, Laine Asker. Laine is hospitalized with a closed head injury, lung contusions, 4 broken ribs, and a broken jaw. She has lost most of her teeth and is currently on a ventilator while her lungs heal.... Frodo broke his neck in the fall and was euthanized at a local veterinary hospital not long afterwards.

This is the second time I've posted about this on my blog....

How many horses have to die before we see a change in this sport?

Why is the short format better than the long format?

(to me, it's clearly not...we've had SO many more deaths and injuries in the last 5 years since it's been adopted....)

Why are we not using frangible pins in cross country fences?? Why do they have to be so completely solid??

What will it take to make a difference??

How many times does THIS have to happen to make people sit up and take notice??




(Image courtesy of Jen from the UDBB...thanks so much Jen for letting me use it!)