05.30.08
The Super Pony Theodore O’Connor has died
Once again the president of the USEA faces a tragedy with his horses.
The 14”1” hand Shetland-Arab-TB eventer known as Theodore O’Connor has died in a tragic barn accident. He is the pony who was shortlisted for the Olympics and seen as a gold medal hopeful.
This was reported by the Horse.com earlier today. Apparently while being ridden back to his barn he spooked, threw his rider and took off. At the barn he slipped and hit the barn tearing and severing ligaments and tendons in a rear leg. The leg injury was irreparable and he was put down.
Some refer to him as the Seabiscuit of eventing. He was described as a pony with a heart almost too big for his tiny body, and abilities that shadowed horses that in height stood above him.
As reported in thehorse.com:
“…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.”
Condolences to the O’Connors Eventing Team.
Rest in peace Theodore O’Connor.
The Horse has set up an open blog so that readers can share their thoughts on and memories of Theodore O’Connor. It can be accessed through Memories of Teddy O’Connor
Where to Bury a Horse
If you bury him in this spot,
The secret of which you must already have,
he will come to you when you call;
Come to you over the far, dim pastures of death.
And though you ride other living horses through life,
they shall not shy at him, nor resent his coming.
For he is yours, and he belongs there.
People may scoff at you,
Who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall,
who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears.
People who may never really love a horse.
Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them
and which is well worth the knowing…
The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his master.
Reworked from poem by Ben Hur Lampman, Portland Oregonian, 1921
