Karen O’Connor gives up ride on top horse

One of America’s best-known event riders, Karen O’Connor, has given up the ride on her top string, as she recovers from a rotational fall.

Karen, 55, broke her back in an advanced class in the US last October.

Last week it was announced that her London 2012 partner, Mr Medicott, would be ridden by Phillip Dutton. The 14-year-old gelding was an Olympic team gold medallist in 2008 with Germany’s Frank Ostholt.

The Event Owners Task Force helped arrange for new syndicate members to join existing owners to secure the horse’s future in the US.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (27 June 2013)

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