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Horse Euthanised At Tokyo Olympics After Suffering Injury In Cross Country

Horse Euthanised At Tokyo Olympics After Suffering Injury In Cross Country

Midway through the event, the 14-year-old horse sustained an irreparable ligament rupture and was rushed to a nearby veterinary clinic.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

A horse has been euthanised after suffering a terrible injury at the Tokyo Games.

Swiss competitor Robin Godel was riding in the cross country event in his first Olympics on top of 14-year-old gelding Jet Set.

Midway through the event, the horse copped an irreparable ligament rupture and had to be pulled off the course.

It was later taken to a nearby veterinary clinic to be examined and experts made the heartbreaking decision to put the horse 'to sleep'.

PA

The equestrian federation FEI said in a statement: "The horse received immediate veterinary attention at the fence and, after an initial assessment, was transferred by horse ambulance to the onsite Veterinary Clinic.

"Sadly, ultrasound scans revealed an irreparable ligament rupture in the lower right limb, just above the hoof, and on humane grounds and with the agreement of the owners and athlete, the decision was taken to put the horse to sleep."

Jet Set was owned by Godel's coach, New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson, who won the three-star Bramham event in 2016.

The Swiss competitor was 47th after the dressage stage and needed to make up some ground heading into the cross country event.

However, the worst fears were imagined when Jet Set landed awkwardly in the last water jump, Mt Fuji water complex, the 20th fence on the course and the fifth jump from the finish line.

Godel was heartbroken by the decision to euthanise the horse and said: "Jet was an extraordinary horse. He left doing what he liked to do most: galloping and flying over obstacles."

Samples have been taken from Jet Set to allow for a post mortem to be completed.

This is the fourth horse to suffer a fatal injury in the cross country event this year. Two horses died on the same day in Australia back in May and another perished in the UK two months ago.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: olympics, Tokyo Olympics, injury, Horse Racing, Australia,