‘A tragedy’: top five-star horse dies of ‘a heart attack’ on first run of the season

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William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II at Badminton 2019
William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II at Badminton 2019.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

William Fox-Pitt’s five-star ride Oratorio died of a suspected heart attack at Lincolnshire Horse Trials yesterday (19 March).

“Oratorio got the day off to a brilliant start in the dressage with a score of 23, he felt so established and relaxed, even though it was an OI [open intermediate] I was quite excited,” said a post on William’s website. “He jumped a very respectable showjumping round with one pole down.

Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

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.