Ocala, Fla.—March 26  

After Laura Linback and HH Dauphin had successfully completed their jump-off round in the $25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the HITS Ocala Winter Championship at about 7 p.m., on March 26, HH Dauphin collapsed immediately after walking out of the ring and died suddenly.

Linback, 48, was treated on site immediately by medics and then flown by helicopter to a medical center. Details about her condition are unknown at this time.

HH Dauphin was a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by the Troy and Laura Linback’s Woodrun Farm and Alvin and Nancy Gorman. Laura had competed the horse since 2011 in the high amateur-owner jumper division and national-level grand prix classes. 

UPDATED on March 27 at 8:15 a.m.: HITS released this statement about the accident: “At the end of the day yesterday, Laura Linback’s horse collapsed about two minutes after competing in a jump-off. She was still mounted when he went down and Laura suffered a severe head injury. She was transported by helicopter to the hospital. Surgery was performed on Laura and all of us are awaiting word on her progress.

“This riding accident touches all of us at HITS especially as the entire Linback and Gorman families have been a big part of, and mean a great deal to HITS. All of our thoughts are with Laura and her family at this time.”