The U.S. Eventing Association has reported that Juan Larrazabal’s Atlanta was euthanized on Feb. 12 at the Ocala Horse Properties Winter II Horse Trials in Ocala, Fla.

The Venezuelan rider was competing in an open intermediate division. According to eventer Hallie Coon, who was on the scene and discussed the incident with Larrazabal, Atlanta fractured his leg on the takeoff before a fence. He landed successfully on the other side, and Larrazabal pulled him up immediately and jumped off. The 9-year-old Argentinian-bred (Aiglefin—Gama Cherry, Cor d’Alme II Z) was immediately attended to by the on-site veterinary team, but the injury to his leg was too serious, and the decision was made to euthanize.

Larrazabal, 26, rode Atlanta at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and completed two additional CCI**s with him last year.    

“It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to my partner Atlanta,” Larrazabal posted on his Facebook page. “He truly was one of a kind, always trying to high five me at jogs, always performing admirably and stepping up to every challenge in every occasion. He had everything you could wish in a horse. Great temperament and mind, all the scope and power, and carefulness. He was really cocky of course, since he knew he was that good! I am so sorry we didn’t have more time together, and I will miss you Atlanta!”