Canadian Rider and Horse Die in Rotational Fall

Canadian event rider, Katharine Morel and her horse, Kerry On, endured a rotational fall during the cross country phase of the Rocking Horse Stables Winter III Horse Trials, which proved fatal to both on Saturday, February 29th.

The 8-year-old thoroughbred mare died shortly after the incident while Katharine, 33, was transported to Waterman Hospital in Tavares where she received treatment but was unfortunately unable to be saved.

The pair were taking part in the Florida based Open Intermediate B division of the competition and had been placed 4th earlier in the month during the Open Intermediate at the same venue.

Katharine and the mare had recently moved up to intermediate eventing following their FEI debut in 2019. Kerry On was a project of Katharines since finding her on retirement from the track 5 years earlier, as a 3-year-old. The rider was described as a “great developing athlete” with hopes for the 2024 Olympics.

Tributes have flooded in across social media, with perhaps this being the most poignant;

Our condolences go out to the riders family and friends.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.