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Started May 28 by:

Barbara Fogler Barbara Fogler
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Super pony Theodore O'Connor put down after accident

Eventers must be reeling this year. I have never seen such a run of horrible luck in any one discipline...

Teddy and Karen O'Connor on the cross-country at this year's Rolex Kentucky CCI4* Event. © US Eventing/Joshua A. Walker
Eventing champion Theodore O'Connor, the little horse with the big heart, is dead.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that Teddy, as he was known, was euthanized as a result of an injury in an accident at Karen and David O'Connor's barn at The Plains, Virginia.

The O'Connors, in a brief statement, said: "Teddy got frightened and bolted. He slipped running back to the barn and suffered a severe laceration to his hind leg, severing the tendons and ligaments.

"Doctor 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."

Teddy was a hot propect to attend the Olympics. The 13-year-old eventing super pony had defied the odds and gravity throughout his career.

Standing at just 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 Horse of the Year and had recently been named to the USEF Short List for Eventing for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Ridden by three-times Olympic veteran Karen O'Connor, Teddy developed a huge fan base.

"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 said.

"Thoughts and prayers are with Karen and David, Teddy's groom Max Corcoran, his breeder and original owner P Wynn Norman, the rest of his owners in the Theodore O'Connor Syndicate and everyone associated with this remarkable pony."

Teddy's fame has not only been limited to the eventing circuit. He joined the 2008 lineup of Breyer horse models and recently made his way on to a well-known brand of US feed.

The O'Connors lost another top horse earlier this month, Tigger Too, in a cross-country accident at a three-star event.

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Gary Stuart Permalink Reply by Gary Stuart on May 28, 2008 at 5:14pm
Was Teddy competing when this happened?

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Barbara Fogler Permalink Reply by Barbara Fogler on May 28, 2008 at 5:36pm
I don't think so. It sounds like maybe it was an accident at the barn.

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Kayla Permalink Reply by Kayla on May 30, 2008 at 4:07am
He was the little horse that could and he made us believe in him and cheer him on as the underdog....The KY Rolex will never be the same without him...he was my main reason for going.

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Fiona Permalink Reply by Fiona on May 31, 2008 at 4:44pm
It's too much...my heart breaks for them...

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Kayla Permalink Reply by Kayla on May 31, 2008 at 11:01pm
This is for all Breyer horse collectors:

Any one that has not purchased your Breyer horse model of Theodore O'Conner better hurry they are going like hot cakes in our area.....current price is 35.00, when I got mine there was only two left, the sales lady said she had around 20 two weeks ago and when she looked into ordering more that they are now on back order....same as Barbaro when he first came out. Try getting one of him now & expect to pay over 100.00. Good Luck : )

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Fiona Permalink Reply by Fiona on June 1, 2008 at 7:26am
I was at Bahr's Saddlery the day after he was put down and they didn't know....the first thing they did was order more Breyer's as they had none in stock of Teddy...

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Erin MacLachlan Permalink Reply by Erin MacLachlan on June 15, 2008 at 1:43am
Teddy didn't do it at Rolex! I watched in awe the last day in the stands. He was incredible to watch. He trotted past the water jump before starting and it was bigger then him... As in taller then his head!!!!! Then he clears it! I am in complete disbelief... He was Seabscuit with out a depression!

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Kayla Permalink Reply by Kayla on June 15, 2008 at 3:32am
Erin,
Don't know if you thought I had said Teddy was put down at the Rolex or not, but if case you did read my reply again....Never said he was, just that the Rolex would never be the same without him.
He was injured and put down at the O'Conners stables.
I guess we are among the very lucky ones to have had the opportunity to have seen him in action!

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