Victoria Blake and Fate's Secret at Pine Top. Photo by LT/HoofClix.com
It is with great sadness that we report Laura Duhamel’s Fate’s Secret collapsed and died yesterday at the Poplar Place Farm Horse Trials and Area III Championships.
Poplar Place Farm released the following statement:
“This afternoon while attending the Poplar Place Farm Horse Trials in Hamilton, GA, the horse, Fate’s Secret, ridden by Victoria Blake, from Lilburn, GA, and competing in the Beginner Novice Championship Division, unfortunately collapsed after finishing their cross country course. Fate’s Secret, a 24 year old Thoroughbred, owned by Laura Duhamel, did not survive. Rider Victoria Blake was not hurt. The show committee extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of this wonderful and courageous horse.”
A statement on the USEA website explains that blood samples were collected from Fate’s Secret to be analyzed as part of the USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Study.
Laura and Fate’s Secret started their eventing partnership in 2001 and competed through the Preliminary level until 2006. Fate’s Secret made a return to eventing this year, finishing second in the Junior Beginner Novice division with Victoria Blake at the Pine Top Spring Horse Trials.
Our thoughts are with Laura, Victoria and the many others who knew and loved Fate’s Secret.
