A promising young horse was fatally injured during the CSI3* show in Munich on Sunday (8 May) while his Irish rider was airlifted to hospital following the accident.
Questfinder, a Quintender x Landstreicher nine-year-old, was competing at the German venue under his young rider Eoin McMahon, when they fell at the water jump in the grand prix. The gelding, who was owned by Carl Hanley Sporthorses, broke his leg in the fall and was put down.
“A sad day losing such a great, kind and wonderful horse that we enjoyed working with for almost three years,” Carl Hanley wrote on his Facebook page.
The 20-year-old jockey, who rides for German-based Carl Hanley Sporthorses, suffered heavy bruising, a broken finger and concussion. He remained in hospital for 24 hours for monitoring, however a CT scan revealed no damage to his brain or spine.
“Eoin should be back home tomorrow evening (Monday) — he is very, very lucky to come out with only these injuries,” added Carl.
The Irish showjumper had ridden Questfinder since the end of 2014 and had produced the gelding up to 1.50m level. Together they had competed consistently at two- and three-star shows, including Vilamoura in March.
The incident occurred half-way through the grand prix and afterwards a consultation between the organisers, officials and riders decided the class should be stopped. New Zealand showjumper and four-time Olympian Bruce Goodin was announced as the grand prix victor having producing the fastest clear round on Centina 10 — up until the point of Eoin’s accident. The Kiwi, who was early on in the class, took home the €5,500 (£4,350) prize-fund, but described it as “a strange and hollow victory.”
Germany’s Michael Viehweg and Avalon 308 were runners-up while Argentinean rider José María Larocca and Hilary Van T Paradijs finished in third place.
