Apache Sauce, British eventer Mary King’s former four-star horse, was euthanized on Oct. 6 after suffering an injury at the Weston Park Horse Trials in Shropshire, England.
The 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Endoli—Saucy Secret, Colman) was competing in the CCI** with King’s 16-year-old daughter, Emily, when his front tendon ruptured between fences 2 and 3 on cross-country.
Emily took over the ride on the chestnut gelding this fall after Mary and owner Gillian Jonas decided to retire “Caffery” from upper-level competition. The horse had become wary of drop fences and galloping downhill.
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With Mary, Caffery completed 10 four-stars, finishing in the top 10 five times, including a fourth-placed finish at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI**** (England) in 2008 and a fifth-placed finish at Burghley in 2010.
“He had never been lame in his life,” wrote Mary on her facebook page. “We are all feeling very sad. Dear Caff, we are going to miss him soo much.”
