Okidoki died of septic shock - autopsy

Albert Zoer and Oki Doki © Pierre Costabadie/FEI

The autopsy, carried out at the Equine Clinic of the University of Berne in Switzerland, said Okidoki's cause of death on July 21 was "a severe acute purulent inflammation leading to a septic shock. The severe inflammation affected many organs, such as abdominal lymph nodes and the lungs."

Okidoki had initially recovered well following surgery on the tendon injury sustained during competition in Cannes, France, in June (video below). The horse had returned to owner José Larocca's stables near Geneva, Switzerland, but subsequently developed the complications that resulted in his death.

The clinic said no route of entry of the bacteria could be found, and there was "no evidence for an association of the abdominal infection with the chronic injury of the tendon. No other pre-existing lesions were found, in particular no macroscopic intestinal lesions."

Okidoki died in the trailer on the way to the clinic, despite treatment administered prior to transport.

Larocca bought Okidoki from Albert Zoer earlier this year and was to ride the horse at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.