Orient Express, a 17-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, was fatally injured in a fall on cross-country on May 16 at the Taupo Three-Day Event in Taupo, New Zealand.
The gelding was competing in the CCI*** with longtime owner and rider Clark Johnstone.
Equestrian Sport New Zealand released a statement, but there are no other details about the injury at this time. Johnstone was uninjured in the fall.
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In the statement, Bev Shandley, president of the ground jury at the event said, “We are saddened by the loss of this fine equine athlete today, and we offer our sympathies to the Johnstone family.”
Johnstone was paired up with “Blue” when the gelding was 6 after a racing career. Together they represented New Zealand at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.) where they contributed to a team bronze medal.
Blue was retired in 2013 but made a comeback this season, according to Horsetalk.
