Event horse who pulled up lame after WEG cross-country put down

Box Qutie, the ride of Sweden’s Anna Freskgård in the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, was put down at 4.21pm this afternoon.

The 12-year-old mare by Quite Easy pulled up lame after the cross-country on Saturday (15 September) and was surrounded by screens at the finish before being transferred by horse ambulance to Tryon Equine Hospital, the official referral hospital for WEG.

Soft tissue injuries were diagnosed and initially Box Qutie was improving, but despite receiving the best veterinary care, her condition worsened yesterday due to circulatory complications. As a result, the horse’s owner, Therese Örup, together with Anna Freskgård, her groom and the vets elected for euthanasia today.

In line with the FEI veterinary regulations, a post mortem will be conducted. Samples had already been taken from the horse on cross-country day after the injury occurred.

Box Qutie had been competing at international level since 2013 and had 34 FEI starts, 31 in eventing and three in two-star showjumping competitions. She and Anna won the CIC3* in Strzegom, Poland, in April of this year, one of 11 top 10 finishes in Box Qutie’s career.

WEG was Box Qutie’s second senior eventing championship as Anna rode the mare as an individual for Sweden at the European Eventing Championships in Strzegom last year, where the pair finished 33rd.

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H&H has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon. Keep up to date with all the news from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Pippa Roome

H&H 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.