Two more of US eventer Michael Pollard’s horses – including one of his top rides Icarus (pictured) – have been put down following a road accident in Dalton, Georgia on Friday (25 May).
Michael’s trailer turned over trapping all six horses on board.
Michael’s new ride, the stallion VDL Ulando H died at the scene, of head and neck injuries.
His owner Ruth Armstrong was “devastated” by her loss. She said: “He was the love of my life, an athlete and a gentlemen.”
Then on Saturday Michael and his wife Nathalie’s 14-year-old four-star eventer Icarus was put down.
“Fly” had suffered severe ligament injuries and lacerations in the crash.
He was followed on Sunday by Michael and John Bryant’s three-star Irish sport horse Jude’s Law, who had a ruptured intestine.
Michael paid tribute to Icarus, saying: “He was the best horse in the world who just never quite made it – mostly my fault, and certainly not his.
“He was a family member and it will not be the same without him in the barn.”
And of Jude, he added: “This is a nightmare that I can’t seem to wake up from. This horse was so special to me and looked like he was going to be fine in a couple of weeks.
“I am absolutely crushed.”
Three other horses were on the trailer at the time of the accident – Schoensgreen Hanni, Carl Bouckaert’s Raphael and a broodmare named Little Star.
All three are expected to make a full recovery.
Michael travelled over to Britain last year to compete at Burghley Horse Trials with Icarus, but suffered a nasty fall jumping into the water.
They competed at Kentucky last month, where they were 19th in 2011.
He and Hanni won team gold at the 2011 Pan American Games.
