Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar’s Dream Girl Dies After Rotational Fall at Full Gallop

Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar and Dream Girl after winning the Little Bromont CIC* in 2014. Photo by Bridgette Kuchta. Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar and Dream Girl after winning the Little Bromont CIC* in 2014. Photo by Bridgette Kuchta.

We’re heartbroken to report that Dream Girl, an 18-year-old Quarter Horse/Canadian Warmblood mare owned and ridden by Indra Rapinchuk-Souccar, died yesterday after a rotational fall on cross country at Full Gallop Farm’s February I Horse Trials in Aiken, South Carolina. Indra, 16, suffered a broken femur in the fall.

Indra and Dream Girl were competing in the Preliminary division when they fell at fence 11b, a rolled wedge following a drop bank coming into the auxiliary field. Dr. Stephanie Davis and the medical crew were at the scene immediately; the mare died shortly after from injuries sustained in the fall.

Indra was transported to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, where she successfully underwent surgery last night to insert a rod and four screws into her femur and is resting comfortably today.

Indra began her partnership with “Abby” in 2011, when a friend went away to college and sold the mare for $1, with the agreement that Abby would never sell her. They started competing at Novice that year and worked their way to the one-star level under the guidance of Indra’s trainer, Mikki Kuchta.

An unexpected win at the Little Bromont CIC* last summer qualified them for the Area I CH-J* team at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, where they finished 27th individually with a clear cross country trip and 6 time penalties.

Indra and Abby at NAJYRC. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO.

Indra and Abby at NAJYRC. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO.

This story from the Daily Hampshire Gazette chronicles their partnership together and trip to Kentucky and is well worth the read. Indra and Abby were aiming for a return trip to NAJYRC this year, with Full Gallop as their first outing of the season.

“I had Abby by my side for the hardest years of my life, and she brought me so much joy and discovery,” Indra said. “From tackless gallops, to skijoring, to the Gold Cooler Jumper Series, to sunset trail rides, to NAJYRC, she was my best friend,” Indra said. “I never thought I could love a horse more, and I probably never will.”

Lara Anderson, Full Gallop’s organizer, said the fence involved in the accident, designed by John Williams and built by Tyson Rementer, is new on the course this year but was used without any problems at the January horse trials two weeks ago. There were no other incidents with the fence yesterday, and the rider reps did not raise any concerns about it.

“It was hard for us because we’ve run for 16 years, and we’ve never had even a major injury on course, much less something like this,” Lara said. “You don’t ever want anything like that to happen, and I’m grateful we had such an amazing crew who were there within seconds to help.”

The USEA said in a statement that a full necropsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

In this sad time, our thoughts are with Indra and all who knew and loved Abby, who she said will be remembered as “the bravest little barefoot Quarter Horse.” Rest in peace, Abby.

Sally Spickard also contributed to this report.