Tina Cook and De Novo News at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’re sad to report that Tina Cook’s homebred and 2014 World Equestrian Games partner De Novo News has been euthanized after a lengthy battle with pleural pneumonia, which he contracted while shipping home from Strzegom in Poland this past June.
Horse & Hound has closely followed the story since then, reporting in August that the horse was transported to Newmarket Equine Hospital due to fluid in his chest cavity and given a 10 percent chance of survival. An abscess also formed at the top of his chest cavity.
While it seemed De Novo News was slowly recovering, and Tina said last month that there were positive signs like the horse gaining weight, the infection ultimately spread to his joints. He was euthanized today.
By the Thoroughbred stallion Last News, Tina bred De Novo News and jumped clear around Burghley in 2002 while his dam, the Selle Francais mare Douce De Longvaut, was in foal with him.
Partly owned by Jim Chromiak, the 15-year-old gelding finished 15th individually at WEG last year and helped the British team win a silver medal. He was also ninth at Burghley in 2013 and completed Badminton twice.
The EN team sends our deepest condolences to Tina, Jim and all of the horse’s connections. For more details on the story, follow the Horse & Hound links below.
[De Novo News put down after complications from shipping fever]
[‘Positive signs’ for four-star eventer in equine hospital]
[British world silver medal-winning event horse fights for his life]
