Tamie Smith’s Solaguayre California has been euthanized following an unsuccessful surgery to repair a slab fracture to the mare’s knee sustained on cross-country at the Luhmühlen CCI5*-L (Germany) on June 17.

The 12-year-old Holsteiner (Casparo—Solaguayre Calandria, Casall) owned by David and Julianne Guariglia was making her five-star debut when she hit a jump at 13C, which was part of the first water combination on course. Smith retired at 15A, and “California” was transported to a local clinic. Smith later posted on social media that California had a puncture wound that resulted in a fracture, and her prognosis was optimistic. However during surgery, the veterinarians determined it was not reparable.

“As California jumped out of the C element, of the water at the Luhmühlen CCI5L, I felt her hit the jump and what seemed to be just a sting and disappointing moment of having to pull her up to save for another day,” Smith wrote on Facebook. “Initially the assessment of her recovery was favorable as we stopped when we did and it seemed to be a simple fix. However it has turned out much more extensive and the damage was irreparable.”

David Adamo competed the Argentinian-bred mare up to the preliminary level before Smith took over the ride in 2020. That year the pair won the Woodside International Horse Trials CCI3*-S (California). In 2021 they won the Red Hills International CCI3*-S (Florida) and Jersey Fresh International CCI3*-L (New Jersey). California moved up to advanced in 2022 and won the advanced at Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials (California) before finishing second at The Event At Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S (Montana). Their year culminated with a win in the CCI4*-L at Morven Park Fall International (Virginia).

California was never out of the top 5 in events this season, finishing second in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S (Kentucky) and third at the Tryon International Three-Day Event CCI4*-S (North Carolina).

“This is devastating to our team,” Smith wrote, “her owners and I cannot quite imagine life without our girl, however her tenacity and grit was the complete example of how we get through times like these.”