Three horses die in crash while travelling to Langley’s Tbird

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. The horses were travelling from Manitoba and Alberta to the Equestrian Canada National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships (West) in Langley. A highway crash near Revelstoke was reported by James Hood, a spokesperson for Equestrian Canada.

“We mourn the loss of three horses, with the fourth having been immediately transported for veterinary treatment,” the association said in a statement. It extended its sympathies to the riders, owners, families and support team. Hood said the organization’s first priority was providing mental health support to those directly involved with the horses. Participants at the National Dressage 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 indicated that two of the horses that died were from Manitoba and were named Rosaria and Fearless.