Theodore O'Connor, the 13-year-old eventing "super pony" was euthanized today as a result of an injury sustained in an accident at Karen and David O'Connor's barn in The Plains, Va., according to a statement released by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
Standing only 14.1 hands, the Shetland/Arabian/Thoroughbred cross gelding was the reigning team and individual Gold Medalist from the 2007 Pan American Games and had top six finishes at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2007 and 2008. He was the 2007 USEF/Farnam Horse of the Year and recently had been named to the USEF Short List for Eventing for the 2008 Olympic Games. "'Teddy' got frightened and bolted," the O'Connors said in a statement later released by the USEF. "He slipped running back to the barn and suffered a severe laceration to his hind leg, severing the tendons and ligaments. Dr. A. Kent Allen was on the scene immediately and it was determined after examination that the injuries were catastrophic. Everyone who knew Teddy is devastated." Read more at "Vet Calls Theodore O'Connor Euthanasia 'The Right Thing to Do'." Ridden by three-time Olympic veteran Karen O'Connor, "Teddy" made friends and picked up fans everywhere he went. "Seeing was believing with Teddy, as it seemed impossible to imagine that a pony of his size could do his job with such tremendous ease," the USEF statement read. "Thoughts and prayers are with Karen and David, Teddy's groom Max Corcoran, all of his owners in the Theodore O'Connor Syndicate, and everyone associated with this remarkable pony." -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
