Poggio II, the horse who won the world individual bronze medal in 2006, was put down on 9 February aged 29.

His rider, the US’s Amy Tryon, died on 12 April 2012 of an accidental overdose. Her husband Greg said in a statement on social media after Poggio was put down that she “got an early birthday present, her beloved Poggio”.

The bay thoroughbred by Polynesian Flyer had a unique style – on seeing a fence he would hurl himself at it without giving his rider much say in the matter, but he was a careful, conscientious jumper and the pair achieved numerous good results. Their success was particularly noteworthy because Amy was an amateur rider, working as a firefighter.

The pair were third at Kentucky in 2002 and made their championship debut at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, that year, where they took team gold although 60 jumping penalties across country meant they were the US discard score.

A trip to Burghley in 2003 netted them 17th place and a year later they were on the plane to the Athens Olympics, where they were sixth individually and helped the US to team bronze.

The pair’s day of days came at the 2006 WEG in Aachen, Germany, where they took the individual bronze medal.

Poggio was retired after the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, where he was eliminated across country.

In his tribute, Greg said: “He astonished people left and right. That’s the horse that jumped double clear? He’s so, so, so… downhill? He’s so short. He doesn’t have a trot, or other gaits for that matter. You’re riding him in a hackamore?!? Please have him stand still… Please make him stop cribbing, he’s teaching my horse bad behaviour…

“I prefer to remember the time an international show jumper walked up and offered a ‘blank check’ for him in those early days. During Pogi’s first trip to Ocala, the rider apparently sat and watched P jump into and out of his paddock all day long, just for the sheer joy of jumping.”

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Greg also described his goodbyes to Poggio: “Sitting in his stall that last evening, surrounded by some of those who have loved and taken care of him over the years, was both tough and peaceful. There were tears, and there was laughter. I promised him his forelock would never have to be braided again, no dreaded dressage as the courses would only be cross-country and show jumps. I noted of course, he could jump them in whatever particular order he chose, as he was wont to do anyways. Most importantly, Mom would be waiting for him with open arms and an endless supply of Mrs. Pasture’s cookies.”

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Olympic medal-winning eventer Amy Tryon died of an accidental overdose, a coroner has revealed.

The US rider, who won team gold medal at the World Games in Jerez in 2002 and team bronze at the 2004 Athens Games, died on 12 April, aged 42.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office released her cause of death yesterday, as an “acute combined opiate” overdose.

Her death in her sleep was an accident, the medical examiner ruled.

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Olympic medal-winning eventer Amy Tryon died in her sleep yesterday (12 April).

The American, who won a team gold medal from the World Games in Jerez in 2002, bronze in the team eventing at the 2004 Athens Games and also was on the US team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was just 42.

According to Eventingnation Amy, who lived in Duvall, Washington State, had most recently competed at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials (March 30 -1 April).

Amy trained as a firefighter but retired in 2006 in order to concentrate on riding.

The following year she caused headlines after her horse was injured at the Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials.

She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Greg Tryon.

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Top American rider Amy Tryon has been found guilty of abuse for failing to pull up the injured Le Samurai at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event in April.

But, crucially, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tribunal that examined the case has ruled that the abuse was unintentional. As such, Amy, a World Equestrian Games bronze medallist, has been banned from competition for two months and ordered to pay £1,013 in fines and costs.

If the tribunal had found the abuse to be intentional, Amy could have faced a life ban.

Le Samurai, who had been leading the competition after the dressage phrase, went badly lame prior to the final fence on the cross-country course. Amy continued to ride him to the finish and afterwards it was discovered that he had sustained a severe ligament injury. Despite efforts to save him, Le Samurai was put down on 5 May.

A video clip of the incident was posted on YouTube and was the subject of heated debate on the H&H forum.

• How do you think the FEI should have acted in Amy Tryon’s tribunal? Have your say in our online poll. Vote now >>For more on this story, don’t miss this week’s H&H (26 July)

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A verdict on US event rider Amy Tryon’s alleged abuse of her horse, Le Samurai, at Rolex Kentucky is expected within one month.

A hearing into Amy’s alleged abuse took place at the headquarters of equestrian sport’s governing body in Switzerland yesterday (25 June).

The judicial committee of International Equestrian Federation (FEI) gathered in Lausanne to listen to evidence from Amy Tryon.

Also giving evidence during the hearing was: US team trainer Capt Mark Phillips, chairman of the FEI eventing committee Wayne Roycroft, FEI director of eventing Catrin Norinder, FEI veterinary director Frits Sluyter, Karen O’Connor and Rebecca Broussard.

Amy Tryon, a US team rider, finished the cross-country course on Le Samurai at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April, despite the gelding going badly lame approaching the final fence.

Afterwards, Le Samurai was found to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg” and he was eventually put down on Saturday, 5 May.

The event was broadcast live, and a clip of the moment the horse went lame was later posted on YouTube, causing furore and debate worldwide.

Amy was immediately disqualified by the event’s organisers and official reports and video evidence passed to the FEI for Monday’s hearing.

FEI spokesman Malian Gueorguiev told H&H: “Any case of abuse is serious and has to be sanctioned adequately.”

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The disciplinary hearing of Amy Tryon — the US team rider accused of abusing her Rolex Kentucky ride, Le Samurai — is taking place today. Miss Tryon will give evidence to the judicial committee of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday (25 June).

Le Samurai went badly lame on the cross-country course at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April. The pair finished the course but Le Samurai had lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg and was put down a week later. Miss Tryon was disqualified and the case referred to the FEI.

The story has caused huge debate around the world after a video of the moment Le Samurai went lame was posted on YouTube.

An FEI spokesman told H&H a decision was “unlikely” on Monday but would be sent out “as soon as it becomes available”.

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American team rider Amy Tryon has requested a hearing in front of the equestrian sport’s governing body — the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) — following alleged abuse against her horse, Le Samurai.

She will appear in front of the FEI’s judicial committee in Lausanne, Switzerland on 25 June.

One of Amy’s top rides, Le Samurai, went badly lame on the cross-country course at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April. Le Samurai finished the cross-country course, but was afterwards found by the course vet to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg”. He was put down a week later.

The ground jury at Rolex Kentucky disqualified Amy Tryon at the time, and referred the case to the FEI.

A video of the event was posted on YouTube, showing the pair finishing the course despite the gelding visibly faltering. The story has caused huge debate on website forums around the world.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has said it will guide its team rider Amy through the FEI hearing process and enforce any decision taken by equestrian sport’s governing body.

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Amy Tryon, the rider of event horse Le Samurai, has until 28 May to decide whether to give evidence to a tribunal of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The US team rider is at the centre of abuse allegations after finishing the cross-country course at Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April despite her horse, Le Samurai, going badly lame approaching the final fence.

Afterwards, the course vet said Le Samurai had “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg”. The horse was put down on 5 May.

Last week, the FEI received official reports and videos from organisers at the Rolex Kentucky, who disqualified Amy after the event.

FEI spokesman Malina Gueorguiev told H&H the case was being taken very seriously.

“It happened during a major event in an Olympic discipline and the allegations are against a vastly experienced and knowledgeable rider,” said Ms Gueorguiev.

Spectators around the world watched Le Samurai go lame as part of live streaming of the entire three-day event on www.NBCsports.com. A video clip of the incident was also posted on YouTube for a short time.

The FEI has notified Amy Tryon through the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) of her right to be heard before a panel of the FEI Tribunal. An original deadline of 17 May was last Thursday extended until Monday, 28 May. If Amy decides against facing a tribunal, she can submit evidence to the FEI’s judicial committee, which is expected to convene shortly to review the case.

The FEI spokesman added: “Any case of abuse is serious and has to be sanctioned adequately.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (24 May, ’07)

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Amy Tryon, the rider of event horse Le Samurai, has until tomorrow (17 May) to decide whether she wants her case of alleged abuse to be referred to an FEI tribunal.

US team rider Amy Tryon is currently at the centre of an alleged abuse case after finishing the cross-country course at Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April despite her horse, Le Samurai, going badly lame before the final fence.

Afterwards, the course vet found Le Samurai to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg”. The event’s ground jury disqualified Miss Tryon, and referred the case to the international Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) judicial committee.

On Monday, the FEI confirmed to H&H that it has received the official reports and video footage from organisers at Kentucky.

Le Samurai was put down on Saturday 5 May following advice from vets. He was being treated at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington.

The FEI has notified Amy Tryon through the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) of her right to be heard before a panel of the FEI Tribunal.

An FEI spokesman told H&H: “Ms Tryon’s response and that of the tribunal panel will determine whether and when a hearing will be scheduled. She has been given until 17 May to inform us whether she would like such a hearing. An update will be released in due course.”

• www.usef.org
• www.horsesport.org

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The American event horse Le Samurai has been put down following advice from vets.

Le Samurai was being treated at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington after going badly lame at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event on 28 April. His rider, Amy Tryon, is now at the centre of an investigation by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

At the weekend, the horse’s owners, Jerome and Rebecca Broussard, announced at that Le Samurai, also known as “Sparky”, had been put down.

They said: “From the outset we have been determined to give this magnificent horse the best veterinary treatment available, but only so long as the continuation of that treatment remained consistent with Sparky’s best interests.

“Regrettably, the veterinarians treating him have advised us that a successful outcome is not possible.”

Le Samurai finished the cross-country at Rolex Kentucky, but afterwards was found by the course vet to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg”. The event’s ground jury disqualified Miss Tryon, and referred the case to the FEI judicial committee.

The story has caused huge debate on website forums around the world.

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The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) said last night it will guide its team rider, Amy Tryon, through the FEI hearing process and enforce any decision taken by the organisation over the injury to her horse, Le Samurai. The gelding went badly lame on the cross-country course at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event last weekend.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is currently reviewing the incident, which took place on 28 April. The FEI has requested a statement from Rolex Kentucky’s ground jury and appeal committee. A hearing will then be conducted at which a tape of the incident will be reviewed.

In a statement to the press, the USEF said: “A schedule for this hearing and judgement has not yet been set. The USEF will honour that decision, abide by it and enforce it.”

The statement continued: “Amy Tryon is devastated by this tragic injury to her partner, Le Samurai. She has been an outstanding representative of the United States, winning many medals in many international competitions including the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. Amy is respected worldwide as a kind and generous horsewoman and an athlete of great character and principle.”

Amy Tryon led the dressage on Le Samurai, but the horse went lame before the last cross-country fence. When the pair finished, the event vet found Le Samurai to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his front leg”.

A film of the incident was available on the video-sharing website, YouTube, but it has since been removed following a copyright claim. The incident has lead to entensive debate on H&H’s online forum.

The USEF has also said that Le Samurai continues to “rest comfortably” at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington.

Photo by Julia Sherwood

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The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has confirmed to H&H that it is investigating an incident concerning American rider Amy Tryon at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event last weekend.

According to a statement released by organisers, Amy has been referred to the FEI judicial committee following an “alleged abuse” incident at Kentucky.

Amy, who won bronze at last year’s World Equestrian Games, led the dressage on Le Samurai, but the horse went lame before the final cross-country fence. The pair finished the course, when Le Samurai was found to have “lost the supporting ligaments in his left front leg”, according to event vet Catherine Kohn.

Amy issued a statement, saying: “I am totally devastated about the injury he [Le Samurai] sustained but cannot comment further pending a review by the FEI. I’d give anything if this had not happened. I love this horse, Le Samurai is very special to me.”

Join the debate about this incident in the H&H latest news forum >>

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British-based Australian Clayton Fredericks won the Rolex Kentucky four-star at his first attempt riding Ben Along Time.

Clayton started in equal third after the dressage, stood alone in third place following the cross-country and jumped clear on the final day for a final score of 54 penalties.

Phillip Dutton, who became a US citizen last year, was second on Connaught and won the championship title for the highest-placed American on 59.1.

The diminutive 14.1hh Theodore O’Connor “Teddy”, ridden by Karen O’Connor, rose from equal 15th after dressage to third, finishing on 60.1 penalties.

The event was not without its dramatic moments. The leaders after cross-country, Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor, were eliminated when they took the wrong course in the show jumping; and America’s Amy Tryon was disqualified by officials and has been referred to the FEI for “alleged abuse” after failing to pull up her horse when he went lame some 100m or so before the last fence.

www.rk3de.org

Read this report in full with further commentary and analysis, including details of how the British riders got on, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (3 May, ’07)

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