Horse Jumping Death - Both horse and rider died during the 2007 Horse Trials in Ocala, FL yesterday when 21-year old Eleanor Brennan was crushed by her horse after the animal balked at a jump and broke it’s neck crashing into the gate.
According to a statement from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Eleanor Brennan’s horse jumping death occured during a cross-country equestrian event where competitors and horses are judged on how well they clear obstacles and complete a timed circuit of the course.
The 11-year old male horse, named Mr. Barnabus, died instantly and rider Eleanor Brennan was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Eleanor Brennan on Mr. Barnabus Saturday:
According to the local FOX TV station WOFL:
OCALA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) — A Virginia woman was killed on Saturday when the horse on which she was riding stumbled during a jumping competition in Ocala.
Eleanor Brennan, 21, of Esmont, Virginia, was attending the 2007 Horse Trials, an international horse event.
It was during the cross country jumping when the eleven year old male horse named Mister Barnabus stumbled at a jump and struck a gate, causing him to tumble over onto his neck and land on the victim. The horse was killed instantly and the victim died a short time later at the hospital.
The victim was transported to the Leesburg Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy and a necrosis of the horse will be conducted at the University of Florida next week for cause of death.
Brennan, a British citizen who splits time between her native country and Virginia, was competing in the horse park’s three-day event that showcases different events for horses and riders from 18 different countries.
The specifications for the cross-country jumping event at the 2007 Horse Trials indicate that the event was considered exceptionally demanding.
According to the horse park’s 96-page booklet, the three-day event was started by the British who used the grueling competition to condition their military horses in the early part of the 20th century.
Also called eventing, the sport made its international debut as an Olympic sport at the Stockholm games of 1912. The first day is called the dressage, followed by the endurance/cross country stage and concluding with show jumping.
Brennan was taking part in the endurance/cross country event, known as the most challenging in the equine industry,” Warriner said.
Warriner said the obstacles are no more than 3 feet 9 inches high and 5 feet 3 inches wide. He said it was the first time Brennan was competing in the Florida International 3-Day Event and Ocala Fall Horse Trials in Ocala.
The endurance/cross country is so fierce, Warriner said, another person died in 2006 in the same event. “Like NASCAR, it’s a dangerous sport,” he said.
Despite the young woman’s death, Warriner said the event will continue today at the 500-acre park on South County Road 475.
Marion County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Heather Danenhower said Brennan had head and chest injuries, and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
“It’s a tragic experience for all of us,” said Tom Warriner, chairman of Florida Horse Park at 11008 S. County Road 475.
Warriner said event officials plan to review tapes to determine what caused the incident.
At a previous equestrian event this year, the Waredaca August 2007 Horse Trials, Eleanor Brennan and Mr. Barnabus did not complete the course in the Open Intermediate-A classification.Â
That’s not to say that Eleanor Brennan wasn’t a great rider, because she was very talented:
- In 2004 at age 17 Eleanor, a UK citizen, but a US/UK resident), was the youngest advanced level event rider in the USA. She was also the Area 2 (East Coast) Advanced Champion.
- In 2005, she completed Badminton successfully halfway up the leader board as the youngest rider by and for several years.
- Brennan trained with the best:Olympic coaches & competitors: Kim Severson, Sandy & Mark Phillips, Carl Hester, Jeanette Brakewell, Yogi Breisner, Phillip Dutton & David Green, and loved competition events.
Here are a couple of quotes from Eleanor Brennan’s website:
Why do you love eventing?
“I love eventing because it is the most complete test of both horse and rider, and in the complexity of preparing the horse for the three day challenge the ultimate test of horsemanship.”
How did you get into eventing?
“My Grandfather now in his 90s, competed for the British Army in the 1930s in the forerunner of modern day eventing, so I had always been interested. Then I moved to Virginia, and at long last was able to start riding, I already knew my goal was to be an advanced level eventer.”
And that’s the sad news about the horse jumping death.
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November 19th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I’m so sorry to hear this. How tragic for the rider, as well as the horse. We humans ride and do crazy things by choice. These valiant and magnificent equines do these dangerous things because we ask them to. I find myself confused as to whom I should mourn more ………..AFK-Professional Equine Photographer
November 19th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
13 Deaths in 14 months… the bulk of them young vibrant CCI** riders. The “short format” created to keep the sport on the Olympic Venue is cleary a killer. visit http://www.eventing.zzn.com to read what the USEF and Eventing “safety commitees” have been studying while riders are dying…
November 19th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I ride and know that event organizers have been notified to use frangible pins (by the USEA) and I know that Florida Horse Park was on notice…. maybe now we can get changes and save some of theses horses lives… Riders too… but the horses don’t get to pick.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:22 am
I’d like to clarify a few points …
First, this pair was a competent and confident team. This accident occured on the next to last fence - of which, I had the misfortune of spectating.
I am an eventer and was visiting the area - the horse DID NOT stumble or balk. And Eleanor was a superb rider.
The fence was a SOLID table with no opportunity to break away, etc. It was within the standard International specifications of jumping obstacles in this division.
The horse and rider were well conditioned and not too tired to jump an obstacle of this size and difficulty.
BOTTOM LINE: Even minor errors at this level can and sometimes do create accidents. She and her horse were quite talented and it is a terrible accident.
Every time a rider falls - it is not always because one thing happened and that is 100% the cause. Typically, there are many factors. Can we make our sport safer - always. Is there one person, place or thing to blame - no.