Jude’s Law should recover fully but the only question is how soon, shown above stabilized before getting stitched up by Dr. Newton
Michael and Nathalie Pollard have posted an update this morning on their Facebook Page regarding the Friday morning trailer accident that killed one and injured five horses in their program:
“Icarus (Fly), 14 year old grey Thoroughbred gelding owned by Michael & Nathalie Pollard, has suffered the most serious lacerations and will be transported today to Rood & Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky for surgery.
Schoensgreen Hanni (Hanni), 9 year old German Warmblood mare owned by Nathalie Pollard, suffered some superficial cuts but is not expected to miss any work in her preparation for Bromont CCI3* June 8-10th in Canada.
Jude’s Law (Jude), 11 year old Irish Sport Horse Gelding owned by Michael Pollard & John Bryant, has minor cuts that required stitching but should be able to return to work in a few weeks.
Carl Bouckaert’s Raphael, who won the Chatt Hills Open Preliminary division last week, survived with just some bruising and will be given time to recover from the shock before returning to work.
Little Star, a brood mare, suffered cuts to her hind legs and is expected to make a full recovery.
Our heartfelt condolences to Ruth Armstrong, her family and connections on the loss of the stallion VDL Ulando H who died at the scene as a result of head and neck trauma. “He was the love of my life, an athlete and a gentleman and deserves a good send off,” said Ruth.” [Full Statement]
In an incredible story of teamwork, the team at Pollard Eventing worked for 20 hours straight to stabilize their injured horses, starting when the accident occurred around 7am on Friday until the last stitch was put in place at 4am Saturday morning. Icarus by far needs the most attention moving forward with a severe injury to his right hind fetlock joint. It is a horrible twist of eventing fate that Icarus is returning to Lexington today for surgery just weeks after competing at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*.
As with any eventing tragedy, we are faced with a combination of sorrow at the loss and thankfulness for the supportive efforts towards recovery. Eventing is left with a memory of Ulando’s great performances and wonderment of what he might have become–that horse was the total package.
Michael told me that the outpouring of support from the world wide eventing community has been tremendous over the past 24 hours. Pollard Eventing made special request that I give a shout-out to their local Chattsworth farrier and long time friend Matt Winkler for securing and stabilizing the situation at the scene of the accident–Matt jumped into an overturned trailer full of horses to sedate, calm, and ultimately rescue them. Rood and Riddle veterinarian Dr. Chris Newton (Michael and Nathalie’s sports medicine vet) gets a shout-out for rushing to Georgia and shepherding the injured horses on the speediest possible path to recovery. Chris’ son and vet tech Dylan Newton gets a shout-out for manning the needed supplies and equipment to Chris throughout the long Friday afternoon, evening, and Saturday morning.
Go Pollard Eventing.
