Final equine farewells of 2003

Charisma, 30, the only horse of recent times to win consecutive individual Olympic gold medals, with Mark Todd in 1984 and 1988, was put down after breaking a shoulder in the field

Albie O’G, 12, characterful one-day event specialist ridden by Jo Marsh-Smith, who died of a bacterial infection

Ryan V, 12, the event horse ridden by Mary King collapsed on the cross-country course at Weston Park

Matinee, 16, Sue Lanz’s well-known eventing stallion

Danehill, 17, stallion at Coolmore Stud, Ireland, sire of Rock Of Gibraltar. His death through a broken leg faced insurers with a claim of $55 million

Landfurst 6 FCS, 10, winner of the grand prix in Toronto last year with Michael Whitaker, was put down after fracturing a pastern bone in the warm-up arena at Aachen

Clover, 21, show jumping star ridden by Robert Smith and John Renwick, who died from a recurring illness. He accumulated winnings of £137,500

Superted, 21, the six-times Cob of the Year died at Derby Park Stud following a major foot infection

Benny The Dip, winner of the 1997 Derby, died after a knee injury

Priceless, 28, Ginny Elliot’s ride who won four team gold medals for Britain, as well as Badminton and Burghley, was put to sleep in November

Ryan’s Mill, 31, the show jumper who became a household name with owner Claire Rushworth and later Tony Newbery, was put down. He accumulated more than £70,000 in winnings, triumphing at home and abroad

Horseware Fabio, 12, died tragically on cross-country day at the European Three-Day Event Championships at Punchestown, Ireland. Austin O’Connor’s ride was going well until he missed his footing at the first of three steep uphill steps at fence 15. He hit the second step and died instantly from a broken neck

Royal Star, 19, died after a sudden illness. He had most of his success with the late Alan Doxey, with whom he won dressage intermediaire and prix st georges championships.

Calvaro V, 17, the giant grey Holsteiner show jumper who won individual and team silver medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, ridden by Willi Melliger, died after retiring in February 2003

Headley Kingdom, 12, the advanced event horse who, with owner/rider Clare Chamberlayne, won a team gold medal at the 2001 young rider European Championships and completed Badminton this year, was put down after being injured in an accident at the eventing World Cup final

Walstead Saffron, 15, the small hack shown by Allister Hood and Debbie Monagon, died of bone cancer

Fourwinds Flyer, 20, the Welsh section C stallion who started a successful show ring career by winning 22 championships at the age of four, was put to sleep

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full tribute to the human and equine personalities who have left the equestrian world during 2003, in the current issue (25 December) on sale now.

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