The Kingpin Syndicate’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Kingpin, died while competing on the cross-country course with Mike Winter at Rolex Kentucky, April 25. He fell at fence 10, a Trakehner, but necropsy results showed that he suffered a fatal hemorrhage before the fall.

“Kingpin suffered a hemorrhage of the large vessels in the abdomen unrelated to any jumping effort or trauma,” said Dr. Christiana Ober, the Canadian eventing team veterinarian. “This is a very rare condition, and the actual cause is unknown.”

Kingpin and Winter represented Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games, where they earned the team silver medal, and at the 2008 Olympic Games. Last year they finished 12th at Rolex Kentucky.

“I am mourning the loss of a partner and close friend,” said Winter, who was not hurt in the fall.