Theodore O’Connor, the 14.1 3/4h sportpony ridden by Karen O’Connor in 3-day eventing, was euthanized today after slipping in his field and severely cutting up a hind leg. He was short-listed for Beijing Olympics this summer, and was 6th at Rolex a couple of weeks ago.
Rest in peace, Teddy.
Awww… I seen part of his cross country run a couple of wks ago… he was an awesome little guy… he will be missed…
RIP Teddy
I was really looking forward to watching him kick the other/bigger horses’ butts in Beijing.
His full brother (3yo stallion) lives about an hour west of me, though, and is being pointed towards an eventing career once he grows up some more.
Shanthi I understand about a horse being euthanized when it has a broken leg.Can’t they repair a bad cut?
Mat
Apparently most of the tendons/ligaments in his leg were severed. I don’t think they could do much beyond making him pasture-sound after that sort of injury. There aren’t many details out, but the vet on scene said the injury was “catastrophic”, so I’m assuming there was no chance of even keeping him sound enough to do pony rides or something. (Not that I think a top-level event horse would necessarily make a good pony-ride horse personality-wise, but I’ve never met him, either.)
This is eerie, also today Nashoba’s Key was euthanized due to a freak accident in which she kicked a stall and broke her hock.
Nashoba’s Key Dies In Freak Accident
Two well known horse both die in two separate freak accidents in one day.
Yeah, I just saw the thing about Nashoba’s Key. That’s equally awful.
Just to try to bring some cheer to everyone after all the bad news, my husband sent me this link yesterday. At first I was like “umm, that’s not possible” but the photos seem pretty clear that evidently sometimes, it does. Molly, the pony with 3 legs.
That’s pretty cool. 
Go Molly. I don’t know many horses who’d be that smart/patient.
What an awesome little pony… and an inspiring story… you go Molly!
Apparently Teddy didn’t just slip in his field… he spooked during a training session, threw his rider, and galloped back to the barn. Once there, he attempted to slide to a halt but slammed into the side of the barn, wrecking his hind leg in the process.
Eventing’s been such a sad sport lately with the on-course accidents that have happened, this certainly doesn’t bring cheer to the situation. 
Poor Teddy.
But that Molly horse is way awesome!!