A horse died Thursday evening after an accident that occurred during a $50,000 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* class at World Equestrian Center—Ocala (Florida).

Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve, a 9-year-old Belgian Sporthorse ridden by Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and owned by Serenity Farms, had a fatal accident at the second-to-last fence in the class.

“The athlete was thrown from her horse when it fell and she walked out of the arena unharmed,” according to a statement from WEC—Ocala. 

“The veterinary team at WEC—Ocala, led by official veterinarian Dr. Larry Wexler and FEI Veterinary Delegate Dr. Kim Snyder as well as veterinarians from the [University of Florida] Veterinary Hospital at WEC, attended to the horse immediately,” the statement continued. “All measures were taken to make the horse as comfortable as possible before being transported by equine ambulance to the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC, located on-site at the WEC—Ocala showgrounds, for further evaluation.

“The veterinary team, working in collaboration with the athlete’s team, made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the horse due to the catastrophic hind leg injury it had sustained.”

In a statement posted to social media, Vanderveen expressed her sadness over losing the mare, who she said had been in her barn since age 7.

“There are no words to express the sadness I feel right now. My heart is broken into a million pieces and I am sure I will never be the same,” the rider wrote. “Last night my beautiful Isabella went to heaven after a tragic accident at the second to last jump in the grand prix. Bella was a superstar from the moment she came to our stable as a green 7 year old. She was a winner, a fighter and truly one of the most talented horses I’ve ever had the privilege to ride. There are so many memories that I will never forgot, so many firsts, so many wins and so much joy.”