One of the greatest parts of eventing is the opportunity that we as eventers are afforded to be a part of amazing partnerships with incredible horses. Gaelic Marriage and Martha McDowell typified the image of “partnership” where the whole of the partnership is truly greater than the sum of its parts. It is with great sadness that I write that Gaelic Marriage was humanely euthanized earlier this week in California. The 15 year old Thoroughbred fractured a bone in his patella at the Galway three-star last autumn and came out of two resulting surgeries with a good prognosis. However, Gaelic Marriage suffered a post-surgical infection to the joint that became untreatable and he was euthanized on Monday.
I spoke with Martha who emphasized her time with Gaelic Marriage: “I had such a great partnership with him, he brought me to places I never thought I could get to.” Gaelic Marriage was a great cross-country horse who made some of the toughest courses in the US look easy. Martha said “I never thought I could do some of the things that he made look easy.” Martha bought Gaelic Marriage as a prelim horse and they moved up through the levels to compete at Rolex in 2011. Eventing Nation’s thoughts and prayers reach out to Gaelic Marriage, Martha, and her family. Go Gaelic Marriage.
