Elaine
05-29-2008, 11:27 AM
The U.S. Equestrian Federation reports today that Theodore O’Connor was humanely euthanized today, May 28, as a result of an injury sustained in an accident at Karen and David O’Connor’s barn in The Plains, Va.
"The 13-year-old eventing super pony defied odds and gravity throughout his career. Standing only 14.1 hands, the Shetland-Arabian-Thoroughbred cross gelding was the reigning team and individual gold medalist from the 2007 Pan American Games and had top six finishes at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2007 and 2008. He was the 2007 USEF/Farnam Horse of the Year and recently had been named to the USEF Short List for Eventing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Ridden by three-time Olympic veteran Karen O’Connor, ‘Teddy’ made friends and picked up fans everywhere he went. Seeing was believing with Teddy as it seemed impossible to imagine that a pony of his size could do his job with such tremendous ease."
Not a lot of details are know, but supposedly Teddy was out for a hack this morning, got a bit frisky, his rider dismounted to walk him back to the barn. Teddy spooked and got loose, "ran back to the barn where he suffered a catastrophic injury to one of his hind legs and the decision was made to euthanize him."
Very very sad end for such a very very special horse. :(
Here is a link to a YouTube Video of Teddy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ytruy_Zrog
Here is a link to to the USET page http://useventing.com/blog/?p=222
http://useventing.com/blog/?p=222
"The 13-year-old eventing super pony defied odds and gravity throughout his career. Standing only 14.1 hands, the Shetland-Arabian-Thoroughbred cross gelding was the reigning team and individual gold medalist from the 2007 Pan American Games and had top six finishes at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2007 and 2008. He was the 2007 USEF/Farnam Horse of the Year and recently had been named to the USEF Short List for Eventing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Ridden by three-time Olympic veteran Karen O’Connor, ‘Teddy’ made friends and picked up fans everywhere he went. Seeing was believing with Teddy as it seemed impossible to imagine that a pony of his size could do his job with such tremendous ease."
Not a lot of details are know, but supposedly Teddy was out for a hack this morning, got a bit frisky, his rider dismounted to walk him back to the barn. Teddy spooked and got loose, "ran back to the barn where he suffered a catastrophic injury to one of his hind legs and the decision was made to euthanize him."
Very very sad end for such a very very special horse. :(
Here is a link to a YouTube Video of Teddy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ytruy_Zrog
Here is a link to to the USET page http://useventing.com/blog/?p=222
http://useventing.com/blog/?p=222