(CeS for Pollard Eventing) Two more event horses injured in a traffic accident in Georgia have now been lost.

Michael and Nathalie Pollard’s 14 year old grey Thoroughbred gelding Icarus (Fly) was euthanized on Saturday, May 26th 2012 at Rood & Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, KY.  The horse sustained serious injuries as a result of a traffic accident on May 25, 2012 resulting in a severed ligament and deep lacerations surrounding his right hind fetlock joint.  Following intensive treatment at the Pollard Eventing Training Center in Dalton, GA, Icarus was shipped to Rood & Riddle for surgery. Despite every effort by Dr. Chris Newton and his team the extent of injuries presented no other option but to save the horse from further pain.  Michael Pollard was with Icarus having driven the horse to Lexington.

Michael commented: “He was the best horse in the world who just never quite made it – mostly my fault, and certainly not his. He brought me out of relative obscurity. He was just a special soul and everyone that worked with him felt the same. He was a family member and it will not be the same without him in the barn”

Nathalie added, “My heart is really broken. I have loved this horse since the day I laid eyes on him 8 years ago at the Kentucky Horse Park.  He was stunning, and radiated beauty from the inside out.  He was an exceptional athlete who never once quit or let us down. He was a good man with a heart of gold. He was my friend, and his absence will be felt painfully for some time.”

Fly’ came to the team as a Preliminary horse and successfully ascended to Advanced with Nathalie. Michael took on the ride in 2009. Some of his many notable achievements include winning the 2009 Jersey Fresh CCI***, the Zeppa International Trophy as well a 19th place finish at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, and a Land Rover High Performance Grant to compete at 2011 Burghley. Fly competed at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event just last month.

Also now euthanized was the 11 year old Irish Sport Horse gelding Jude’s Law (Jude) on Sunday May 27th 2012 at Rood & Riddle Veterinary Clinic. The horse sustained fatal injuries hich manifested this morning and he was rushed from the Pollard Eventing Training Center to the Lexington Clinic.  The veterinary team led by Dr. Chris Newton admitted Jude immediately for surgery where he was diagnosed with a ruptured secum.

“This is a nightmare that I can’t seem to wake up from. This horse was so special to me and yet at the moment I just feel numb. He looked like he was going to be fine in a few weeks. I am absolutely crushed,” said Michael.

Jude joined the Pollard Eventing Team in July 2011. He competed Advanced with his previous rider, Beth Temkin, including Rebecca Farm CIC***, under the ownership of Hilary Bates who rode him at Training Level.  With Michael he was runner up at the Richland Park CIC 2* in 2011. This season he won the Pine Top Spring Advanced Horse Trials and the Southern Pines Advanced Horse Trials before going to Jersey Fresh earlier this month to finish runner up in the CCI3*. He was one of twenty horses still in contention for the 2012 Olympic Games and was the third ranked USEA horse through the first half of the year.