WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS),
the nation’s largest animal protection organization, today
reiterated its concern for the equine athletes in the 2004
Olympic Games after learning of the death of a horse following
an injury the animal sustained during competition.
According to media reports, the horse, Over and Over, was
euthanized earlier this week after suffering a fractured left
distal femur at fence 26 of the cross-country portion of the
three-day event competition. The horse was ridden by a member
of the Belgian team.
Following the fall, the horse was immediately taken to a
veterinary clinic where, during surgery, a veterinarian
diagnosed a fatal injury and euthanized the horse.
In addition, a British rider was forced to withdraw from the
competition when his horse also suffered an injury, although
the horse is expected to recover.
“All horses competing in three-day equestrian
events have the potential for sustaining an injury due to
the rigorous and lengthy competition,” stated Melissa Rubin,
HSUS's vice president for field and disaster services and a
former equestrian competitor. “Although the International
Equestrian Federation and the United States Combined Training
Association have made significant changes and improvements in
the Olympic three-day events, we are asking them to redouble
their efforts to ensure that courses are as safe as possible
for horse and rider and that no horse is pushed beyond his
capabilities to compete.”
The United States Combined Training Association is the
governing body for all sanctioned horse trials and three-day
events in the United States.
Previous Olympic Games have also been marred by serious
injuries and deaths among equine competitors in the three-day
event.
The competition takes place over three days and features
several tests of a horse and rider’s skills. The cross-country
portion of the competition places horse and rider at risk as
they traverse a specially designed course with a series of
jumps and other obstacles.
Over the past ten years, equine experts from The Humane
Society of the United States have worked with three-day
eventing officials to modify the competition to provide more
safeguards for the care of the horses.
