Sunday, November 6, 2011

RIP Hickstead

My heart truly goes out to Eric Lamaze and his team today for their loss of Hickstead. Hickstead was an absolutely amazing horse and I can't imagine having been in Lamaze's shoes.

For those who wish to see what happened in first-person and in full detail, as it aired live on tv:
(Caution: it IS graphic - this is not video of Hickstead's round but rather of his going down)



I've never seen a horse go down like that, but many with such experience are saying it looks like the equine version of a heart attack.

I still can't believe it happened; I saw him last in September at Spruce Meadows, competing, alive and healthy.

I am REALLY anxious to see how his foals go; Eric bought a foal by Hickstead recently: http://www.woodlawnfarms.com/fortknox.htm.


Edited to add:

Here is the full 34min CBC press conference with Eric Lamaze present. COD was determined upon necropsy to be acute aortic rupture.Link
Spruce Meadows has made a video tribute to Hickstead.

A wonderful article, Hickstead: The Little Stallion who Became Canada's Champion.

CTV broadcast, including Hickstead and Eric's last round at Verona, Italy, before the stallion collapsed (does not show the collapse).

4 comments:

Art of Olivia Burrage said...

My heart goes out to Eric and his family. Hickstead was an amazingly talented individual and he will be greatly missed in the worldwide horse loving community.
Liv.

Anonymous said...

I loved watching Hickstead. He was a truly talented, great horse.

Wild Horse

Anonymous said...

Wow I'm so sorry for eric......I do showjumping with my horse and I couldn't amgin how heart brokein I would be.....hickstead will always be with us and missed dearly!! U guys were both my ideals

graceyshowjumping said...

Wow I'm so sorry for eric......I do showjumping with my horse and I couldn't amgin how heart brokein I would be.....hickstead will always be with us and missed dearly!! U guys were both my ideals you guys got me to were I am now!
<3-alisha