Amistad Withdrawn from the Olympics and Retired Due to Tendon Tear

By John on


Photo by Samantha

The bad news continues for Team Canada this evening with word that Michelle Mueller’s horse Amistad has been withdrawn from the Olympics and will be retired from competing.  Michelle Mueller has released the following statement on her website:

“After conferring with the Canadian Team Vet, Amistad will be withdrawn from the Olympic competition due to a torn tendon and will be retired from competing.“

Michelle and Amistad completed the Olympic course today with one stop and 43.2 time penalties.  Amistad is a 13 year old 3/4 TB gelding, owned by Julie Pring.  Michelle started riding him in 2005.

I am heartbroken for Michelle that the career of her fabulous long-time partner has come to an end.  Amistad is a really world class horse who was just reaching the peak of his career.  He gave everything he had to Michelle and Canada today and although his career is over he can look forward to a happy retirement.

In other Team Canada news, we have received word from Equine Canada that Hawley Bennett is under observation in the hospital tonight for a concussion and stable sacral fracture.  Fortunately Hawley is expected to make a full recovery with rest.

Go Amistad.

Categories:

Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes

Note: Eventing Nation is a community built upon positive and fun discussion of the insanity that is our beloved sport of eventing. We always appreciate discussion, feedback, and criticism but comments must be constructive and appropriate. The easiest way to leave a comment is using the Twitter of Facebook login. If you submit a comment by typing in an anonymous username, it will be sent to the EN comment moderation Chinchillas for approval.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ashley.giles1 Ashley Giles

    I am so sorry for Michelle and Amistad's poor fortune, That is just heart breaking. I hope he enjoys a happy retirement and she has a new mount to the top again soon. I am also so sorry for Hawley's misfortune. It really seemed like it was going to be their kind of course. I hope she has a speedy recovery.

  • jen-s

    Oh no! :(

  • http://www.facebook.com/kady.pasley Kady Pasley

    I, Myself am recovering from 3 sacral fractures and had to have reconstructive surgery to repair them due to a fall from my thoroughbred back in May of this yr. Was told I want be able to.get back into the saddle for at least a yr. I must say i know the pain that Hawley Bennett is going through personally. I wish Hawley a safe and full recovery.

  • http://www.facebook.com/maryellen.lang.3 Mary-Ellen Lang

    The cross country phase of three day eventing is more dangerous to horses and riders than chuck wagon racing. A disaster in chuck wagon racing is the result of an accident. A disaster in cross country, is the result of deliberate course design and jumps intended to be hazardous. The rate of catastrophic injury and death to both horses and riders in this event exceeds any other equestrian sport, including rodeo. When peculiar and difficult jumps are approached at break neck speed, and when the jumps are solid and immovable, it isn't any wonder so many crashes occur. Horses should not be subjected to this sort of "test". They try their honest best to negotiate courses that are dangerous to them and that result in far too many serious injuries. IMO the cross country phase as it is currently designed constitutes horse abuse. It should be a good test of a fit, brave horse and rider, not a "russian roulette" event in which 1 in 4 teams crashes over jumps that are nuts.