Olympic event horse put down due to cancer
Joe Meyer’s 2008 Olympic eventing partner Snip was put down last Wednesday, aged 22. He suffered from a very short but aggressive bout of cancer.
The thoroughbred Snip, by Silent Hunter, was home-bred by Joe’s parents John and Gay Meyer at Mamaku Stud in New Zealand. Mark Todd’s double Olympic champion Charisma was also bred at the Mamaku Stud.
Snip was shipped to England in 1998 for Joe to compete. The highlights of his 12-year career included four top-20 placings at Badminton, with his best result being 7th in 2007. He also represented New Zealand at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, finishing 24th individually, and the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen.
From 2011 onwards Snip competed in America after his rider relocated to Ocala, Florida. He made an incredible comeback to jump clear round Rolex Kentucky for 11th place in 2011, aged 19 — 8 months earlier he had slipped in his stall, fracturing his hock in what was initially believed to be a career-ending injury as he was 18 and so too old for corrective surgery.
Snip last competed internationally in July 2011, finishing 10th at Rebecca Farm CIC3*. In total, he jumped clear in over 20 3- and 4-star competitions on 4 continents between 2000 and 2011.
His final event was the advanced combined test at Ocala International in 2013, which he won. A week later he was retired in a ceremony at Kentucky.
Joe’s partner Ruthie Harbison said: “Snip will always be remembered as a diminutive horse with huge heart and great character. He was always a fan favorite to watch cross-country.”
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.