Hickstead

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I watched the 2011 CN International Grand Prix equestrian show jumping event at Spruce Meadows last week. The announcers were talking about Canada's Eric Lamaze. They were saying that Lamaze has a new partner this year. They didn't go into detail why Lamaze was riding a new horse. I figured that his former horse Hickstead was retired.

I watched an show jumping event from 2010 and Eric Lamaze was riding Hickstead. After watching the event, I Googled Hickstead to find out what happened to the horse. I saw that Lamaze and Hickstead were gold and silver medalists in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in show jumping on his Wikipedia page. After a description of what breed, how tall and what color he was, it went on to his career. It mentioned his wins and then it ended so suddenly. On November 11, 2011, Hickstead collapsed after jumping a round in Verona, Italy and died. Hickstead died from an aortic rupture.

I found a video from the day he died. I watched him jump his round and he was flawless. Hickstead collapsed after the round and was shaking on the ground. I only saw that for a second and stopped the video. I wasn't too familiar with Hickstead, but I couldn't bear to watch a horse die.

I have never owned a horse, but I know people that have. They become family, just like regular pets. It must have been extremely painful for Lamaze to go from jumping with Hickstead to losing him forever.

Rest in Peace Hickstead (1996-2011).