Laine Ashker lost her mount, Frodo Baggins over XC Fence 5 when he summersaulted over it, landing on her. He was later euthanized, having a fracture to the base of his skull. Sarah Hansel also lost her horse, The Quiet Man, over Fence 13. He was euthanized due to extensive shoulder injuries. It is so sad that these courageous horses had to go like this. I can't imagine losing a partner like that. Has anyone else heard more about it. Seen it? I was there, close to Fence 5 when Laine crashed, but I'm glad I didn't see it. 

RedArab:

Laine Ashker lost her mount, Frodo Baggins over XC Fence 5 when he summersaulted over it, landing on her. He was later euthanized, having a fracture to the base of his skull. Sarah Hansel also lost her horse, The Quiet Man, over Fence 13. He was euthanized due to extensive shoulder injuries. It is so sad that these courageous horses had to go like this. I can't imagine losing a partner like that. Has anyone else heard more about it. Seen it? I was there, close to Fence 5 when Laine crashed, but I'm glad I didn't see it. 

Yes, we have quite a discussion going on nationwide right now throughout the eventing community.  Kevin Baumgardner (USEA president) and David O'Connor (USEF president) have issued a joint letter on useventing.com.  While accidents and even casualities are not unheard of in equine sports, this string of them so close together has us all reeling.  I have been very impressed by the very very open dialogue that is occurring among much of the eventing world and I hope it is going through all the way to the top.  The issues are extremely complex and each incident has been unique in its circumstances, so I am hoping there will be some very meaningful changes coming out -- it's a tough assignment for the task force, but I am optimistic about the outcome... 

This has been a particularly hard year (or I should say last couple of years) for eventing. As Solaris said, the open dialogue throughout the eventing community is very promising and I feel that, overall, it is being handled very well. I actually saw the video of Laine's fall before it was pulled off youtube, it was terrible, and I send her my very best wishes through this hard time.

It has been sad about all the accidents, I am sure that Badminton Horse Trials from England this weekend will be closely Scruntinised (by the way you can listen to the disciplines on the internet radio at www.badminton-horse.co.uk)

I just read that letter from David O 'Connor, I am sure it is a very hard to deal with the issues. However I am not really sure how suspending a horse from competiting for the three months or month depending on the fall is going to change anything? Yes maybe a horse is prone to falling?? but a horse that has never put a foot wrong may also fall once and then never again have a fall. I am kind of confused with these proposed rules. Discussion?

I can't wait to compete again this summer, yeah one month to go! But it does make it scary, just hope that nothing happens to anyone on our circuit, well any circuit for that matter.

I saw the video too before it was puuled. it was horrible. i couldn't believe it. We had our first event last weekend and there were a few minor incidents, but mainly because it was muddy, but still it was harsh. I mean last yr the was a girl riding in maple ridge i think she was doing training level and she got killed. it is toug, but i do love it. i mean even i know fell off and broke my arm so good last year in august that i still have 2 titanium plates and 14 screws in my left arm. i'm very impressed how they are dealing with it right now. i really want to see how its going to turn out. 

Wolfy, I was a bit confused about some the proposed rules too.  I'm really on the fence about the "one fall you're out" rule -- I see so many falls that are just your typical slips or rolls off to a side into water or on grass where rider is uninjured and I know if that happened to me, I'd be irritated that I couldn't finish the course after that (I'd at least like to be able to complete the course as schooling, don't care if I don't get pinned).  OTOH, I do see their perspective too in that some injuries aren't immediately apparent, like concussions or fractures that can surface later.

I also didn't really understand that suspension as a result of a rotational fall.  Has there ever been a case where a horse had a rotational fall TWICE?  It seems like the aim should be to prevent the first fall as that is the one that is killing him.  I still would prefer to see course design move away from the slower combination/set up jumps that seem to be contributing to these slow crushing falls.  There're never going to be NO falls, heck, I know of horses who've been killed by rotational falls in showjumping as well.  But we definitely need reduction.  

A member of our Area II eventing group posted the qualifications to "level up" in the Netherlands and I'd love to see a system here where you have to earn points to move up the levels.  They require both horse AND rider to have enough points to compete at a certain level -- i.e. a top level rider couldn't just throw a greenie into an Intermediate event.  

Solaris,

about the onr fall you're our rule. Last weekend when we were at the event, my friend fell in stadium because itwas super slippery clay with a bit of gravel over it. she and her horse both slipped and fell, she finished her stadium but then was disqualified for the rest, which was x-country. Apparently once you and you're horse are down you're done, here as well. and this wasn't even a big event, it was the first of the season. Last yr I a friend fellwith her horse x-country, and they were able to continue. but the officals said that she was lucky, since apparently if her horses shoulder would have hit the ground she would have been disqualified as well. But again that was last yr, butas i said above i've seen some changes up here about falling and being "out".

Yes, I absolutely agree that if the HORSE falls (shoulder hits ground) you should be out.  But if rider just slides off, lands on feet, (which would count as a fall under the proposed new rule) then you would also be eliminated. 

There are two blogs about this death at the Rolex. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/4/10/riding-kills-horses-too.html

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/4/28/more-horse-deaths-at-equestrian-events.html

This soo soo sad. I think that x- country shoould be made safer. I think that their should be more logs and less crazy things!! I know that nothing can be completly safe, but I hate it when horses get killed

Did you hear about the Kentucky Derby?? The horse that got in 2nd fell over the finish line and broke both of it's ankles. It was put to sleep. I think that it was named 8 bells. I didn't watch it, but my aunt did, and she was happy that I didn't. Poor horsey

I was at Rolex this year.  I was standing right next to fence 13, the foot bridge, when Sarah Hansel and The Quiet Man attempted it.  It was very sad to see.  I inadvertantly got a video of it and my boyfriend got sequence pictures of them going over the fence from the front.  You can really see what went wrong.  I hate to see these things happen; it's awful but I am kind of glad that we have pictures and video because it helps me analyze and understand what happened and what went wrong.  And how to prevent things like this. 

I did not see Laine & Frodo's fall.  I was at the Head of the Lake waiting for them.  I am kind of annoyed that the announcer gave completely FALSE information to the spectators when their fall happened.  I understand that they are not to go into detail or anything but I clearly heard the announcer say "Laine Ashker & Frodo have had a fall at fence 5, the flower basket but both are back on their feet".  Obviously completely not true!  I have seen the video of their fall, from two different vantage points.  It is terrifying to watch. . . Laine is lucky to be alive!  I'm glad I didn't see it in person.  But again, seeing the video helps me understand and identify how and maybe why it happened. 

It is evident in both cases that they got to the fences very wrong.  May The Quiet Man & Frodo Baggins rest in peace.  They were amazing horses who obviously loved their job!  They gave their heart and soul and ultimately, their lives.  We will never forgot how special they were and what they brought to the sport!  In the words of fellow eventer Amy Lopez, their sacrifices will not be in vain.  I believe that many postitive changes will take place in loo of these tragedies. 

If you want to keep tabs on Laine's progress go to:   http://laineashker.blogspot.com/

Her parents are amazing and update the site everyday.  Laine learned of the fate of her beloved horse Frodo just yesterday.  My heart goes out to you Laine; we will all miss your amazing horse! 

The letter that Amy Lopez wrote is on USEA's website.  Check it out:  http://useventing.com/blog/?p=203

It is very well written and goes over everything that we, as eventers, are thinking about now.  I can say that I feel the exact same about everything. 

In spite of the tragedies, I will say that Rolex this year was amazing and it's really an incredible event.  I had so much fun.  This year was my first year there and I am going to try to make it an annual trip now!  It's really indescribable; being there and seeing these amazing athletes (horses & riders) up close.  Watching them gallop by you during cross country; feeling the hoofbeats in your chest!  It's a complete adrenaline rush!  It's truly amazing! 

I'm working on getting me & my boyfriends pictures and videos loaded into my photobucket album (over 2,000 pics and probably 20+ video clips) so I can share them with everyone. 

Practical Horseman has two online exclusives up that are excellent reads:
Jim Wofford: Eventing Lives in the Balance
On the Rail: Stemming the Tide of Eventing Tragedies

That's an excellent article by Jim.  It was very thought provoking.

Being English, I'm very familiar with the Grand National, and I've seen the horses who have lost  their riders early in the race and complete the race, "very nicely thank you", without a rider. It always used to amaze me to watch it on Saturday afternoon television.

IMy own horse was a former steeplechaser and his racing career was ended by a bowed tendon when he was six.  It could have been much worse and he might never have had the opportunity to still be going strong like he is, at the age of 29.

My heart goes out to the owners who have lost horses and riders who have been injured, and I hope that some sort of balance is found soon.

Jim brought up some great points in his article, especially as he followed the changes in eventing over the years. Very interesting reading indeed.