Swizzle In, Andrew Hoy’s Olympic individual silver medallist, has had to be put down due just two weeks after his retirement from eventing was announced.
The gelding, the only horse to finish on his dressage score in Sydney, is believed to have sustained an irreparable injury shortly after arrival at his owners’ home in Victoria.
Andrew and his fiancee, Bettina Overesch, last saw the horse when they left Australia after the Games to return to their base at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire.
They heard about his loss last Friday just as they arrived in Spain for the new “All Stars” circuit of international one-day events.
The gelding is thought to have suffered a knock just below his hock, while in transit from the Games’ site in Sydney to his owner’s home in Victoria. The injury resulted in an infection in the hock joint.
“I’m devastated by the news,” said Andrew, “It’s really sad because Swizzle In put in some wonderful performances over the past 12 months – the Olympic Games wasthe only event he didn’t win. Karen, his groom who looked after him in Sydney, is distraught,”
