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British endurance squad horse injured in road accident
12 March, 2008
British endurance rider Rachael Claridge has been involved in a road traffic accident with her British squad horse, Blue Chip Prince Meliodas, or "Mel".
Rachael was enjoying a morning hack when at 8.45 am a low trailer passed her on a quiet country lane between Blackborough and Sheldon in East Devon:
"The driver did pass wide and slow but the empty trailer bounced on the tarmac which spooked Mel. He shot backwards before I could stop him," Rachael told H&H.
The driver of that vehicle and the one behind stopped to assist Rachael when it became apparent that Mel had serious flesh wounds to his left hock and inner thigh.
Towels were applied to the wound to stem the bleeding whilst the local vets were contacted. Mel had sustained a hairline fracture to his left tibia in addition to tendon and artery damage.
The long-term prognosis is good for this 10-year-old homebred who had recently qualified to join the British squad by finishing in fifth place in a 160km race.
"We are obviously taking one day at a time but we are confident that he should be back racing this year and that his chances of going to next years European Championships have not been affected," said Rachael.
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