Event horse Elektron dies after accident on horse-walker
Eventing owners Chris and Lisa Stone are warning others about the risk of horse-walker accidents after four-star event horse Elektron died as a result of “freak and horrific” accident at their yard last Monday, 9 July.
In a statement released to H&H, the Stones write: “As part of the normal daily routine, Elektron was put on the horse-walker before being worked. Somehow he got his head stuck in the gap between the two pusher partitions, and his neck wedged in the tiny gap between the partitions and the outside cage wall.
“By chance, our vet was already at the yard doing other routine work, but was unable to save him, and Elektron died due to a fracture of the cervical vertebrae.
“The team here is devastated, and we are making this statement to warn others of this highly unlikely, but still real, risk.”
Elektron, a 12-year-old by Esteban, was produced to four-star level by Nick Gauntlett, finishing 28th at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials last year (pictured).
He moved to Paul Tapner’s yard last year, but suffered a bone injury to a knee joint while cross-country schooling, so Paul never competed him.
This year the grey had been evented by Gemma Tattersall, who is based at the Stones’ yard.
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Chris and Lisa Stone also own the four-star stallion Chilli Morning, who won the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials CCI*** this year with William Fox-Pitt.
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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.