RIP Smart Move

I am shocked and saddened to write that our sport has lost one of its brightest young stars today.  Late Tuesday afternoon Lisa Marie Fergusson’s lovely young advanced horse Smart Move had to be humanely euthanized in Wellington, Florida after escaping from the barn onto a road and being struck by a car.  Lisa, who rides for Canada, and Smart Move were training in Wellington, Florida in preparation for their spring season and the possibility of riding for Canada in the Olympics.  Lisa and Smart Move had to withdraw from Fair Hill this autumn due to injury but rebounded with a 4th at the Galway CCI3* in November.  Smart Move was known for being a wonderful horse in all three phases and consistently stepped up to every eventing challenge eventing presented to him.

Smart Move was a 7 year old Welsh Sport Horse gelding who Lisa had developed since getting him at 4 years old.  Lisa was kind enough to blog about her autumn adventures with Smart Move here on EN.  Lisa showed a great deal of resilience this year and I know that resilience will help her persevere through this heartbreak.  I spoke briefly with Lisa’s longtime boyfriend Mike who told me that one of the things that makes this so hard  is that Lisa tragically lost her former upper level horse Uni, who collapsed and passed away after a cross-country ride in 2009.  Lisa has three other younger horses in training down in Wellington.  Eventing Nation extends our heartbroken thoughts and prayers to Lisa, Mike, and to their entire family and connections during this difficult time. 

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