Three horses bound for Langley’s Tbird killed in Highway 1 crash near Revelstoke

Three horses died in a crash on Tuesday, Oct. 6, while travelling across Canada to an event at Langley’s Thunderbird Show Park. Equestrian Canada and Thunderbird Show Park, known as tbird, announced the crash Wednesday. In a statement, Equestrian Canada said the fourth horse was immediately taken for veterinary treatment.

Equestrian Canada spokesperson James Hood said the crash happened near Revelstoke. Sgt. Michael McLaughlin of BC Highway Patrol said officers were called at about 8:45 a.m. to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 1, about 40 kilometres east of Revelstoke. A 73-year-old woman from Langdon, Alberta, was towing a trailer with four horses when she lost control and struck a rock wall, McLaughlin said. The driver did not appear to have any serious injuries.

The woman received a $109 violation ticket for failing to keep to the right side of the highway and maintain her lane. The horses were travelling from Manitoba and Alberta to the Equestrian Canada National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships (West) in Langley.

Equestrian Canada extended its sympathies to the horses’ riders, owners, families and support team. Hood said the organization’s priority is providing mental health support to those directly involved with the horses. Participants at the national championships at tbird will also receive contact information for mental health supports if needed.

Hood said the western event was expected to draw 84 entries. “As much as it is a big country, like most sports, it is a small community,” he said. A Facebook post from the Manitoba Horse Council said two of the horses that died were from the province: Rosaria and Fearless.