Canadian Olympic Team mount Hickstead has died unexpectedly while competing in Itay. Eric Lamaze's great stallion, who won gold and silver medals in the 2008 Olympics, collapsed and died during an event in Verona, Italy.
According to a statement released by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Lamaze and Hickstead had just completed a 13-fence track with a single rail down in Sunday’s event in Italy when the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood collapsed and died. Attempts to revive the horse were not successful.
The event was stopped, with other competitors gathering in the arena for a moment of silence.
On Sunday afternoon, Lamaze’s publicist issued a statement saying the horse suffered an apparent heart attack.
“It is the most tragic thing that has ever happened,” Lamaze said in the statement.
In addition to his success at the Olympics, Lamaze and Hickstead claimed bronze at the 2007 Pan-American Games and 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Their last major triumph came in September at the Spruce Meadows Masters just outside of Calgary, where the duo became two-time winners of the $1 million CN International.
This is a very sad day for all of us who love these athletic animals but certainly our thoughts go out to the Canadian Team and Eric Lamaze.
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