Ben Hobday and Shadow Sapphire at Alnwick Ford. Photo by Action Replay Photography Ltd.
It is with deep sadness that EN can confirm Ben Hobday’s mount Shadow Sapphire was euthanized following an accident on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Alnwick Ford International Horse Trials in Northumberland, England.
Ben and Shadow Sapphire, a 5-year-old mare he owned, fell at fence 13, a trakehner on the Novice (U.S. Preliminary level) cross country course. Ben was uninjured in the fall.
“The team at the event were incredible and made sure she wasn’t in any pain or distress,” Ben said, “and my team have been amazing through this extremely difficult time. The empty feeling and sadness seems only to pass when I think of how lovely she was.”
British Eventing did not clarify the exact nature of the injury in a statement released to EN.
Shadow Sapphire (Tullabeg Fusion X Nadja S) competed at BE90 and BE100 this season with Sebastian “Seba” Roldan Olivera with three wins on her record. Alnwick Ford was her first start at Novice level and the first time Ben competed her.
The EN team sends our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved “Sapphy.”
