At age 15, the world’s best show-jumping horse cleared 13 obstacles in stellar fashion on Sunday afternoon, and, just as he finished his work, sank to the ground in front of a large crowd at a Grand Prix event in Verona, Italy.
Hickstead’s heart had suddenly stopped. He had won the Olympics in front of millions and he died in front of millions, too – the event was shown on an international show-jumping network.
He died beneath his rider, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ont., who had transformed an “unrideable” prospect into perhaps one of the best show-jumpers ever. And Hickstead, in turn, had made Mr. Lamaze the No. 1-ranked rider in the world.
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