The U.S. Eventing Association reported an equine fatality in the preliminary/training division at the Pine Top Thanksgiving Horse Trials in Thomson, Ga., on Nov. 26. Avery Lewis and her 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding The Manx Man fell at fence 8, a log hogsback.
Lewis was transported for medical evaluation and released. “Toby” (Rock City—Queen’s Habit) was treated on site by the event veterinarian and transported to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital for observation. Toby was later euthanized due to injuries sustained during the fall.
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“I did not witness [the fall] myself, but definitely the way it was described to me, it was very forward, end over end, and that’s the best way I could describe it without actually seeing it,” said Charlie Musco, the technical delegate at the event. “It was a very straightforward fence. It was a surprise and shock to all, but [there was an] excessive rate of speed, again from the fence judge witness, and I just don’t think the horse could cope with that kind of speed over an obstacle of those dimensions because it was only 38″ tall. It was very unfortunate, but unfortunately every once in a while these things happen.”
The pair most recently placed 19th in the junior training division at the USEA American Eventing Championships (N.C.).
