Irish horse dies, rider injured on Burgham cross-country
Irish-bred eventing horse HHS Cooley was euthanised after sustaining a fracture during the cross-country phase of the Burgham Horse Trials in Britain on July 30.
Ridden by US eventer Liz Halliday-Sharp, the 12-year-old was competing in the CIC3*. He came to grief at an oxer when he tried to bounce the middle of the jump. A frangible pin was broken in the accident, and Halliday-Sharp was thrown clear, but fractured a vertebrae in her back.
Halliday-Sharp had taken HHS Cooley through the levels, and completed the Kentucky 4* earlier this year.
“To say I am devastated is an understatement,” Halliday-Sharp said. “He was my partner, my best friend, and the bravest horse in the world with the biggest heart who always tried his hardest and gave his best. He really loved eventing from the first moment and lived for the traveling and competing.
“Cooley gave me so much in my life, from my first international win, to my first opportunity on the USA training list, and my first 4* completion at Rolex this year. I will never, ever forget the amazing clear cross-country trip he gave me at Rolex and the joy of being there with a horse that I loved so much and had produced from the early stages of his eventing career up to the top. I totally trusted him and he trusted me, and what a ride we have had through the years.”
HHS Cooley was bred in Ireland by Thomas Hughes of Kilkenny. He was by Clover Echo (ISH) out of Flown (ISH) by Imperius (TB).
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