THE reigning show jumping European Champion Clooney 51 was injured in a field accident this week and is unlikely to be ridden again.

Martin Fuchs asked his friends and fans to pray for the 15-year-old Cornet Obolensky gelding who slipped in the field and injured his shoulder. A statement on Tuesday said: “This morning Clooney hurt himself after he slipped and fell on the field. He injured his right shoulder very seriously and everyone involved is doing their best for Clooney’s wellbeing. He is in the Zurich Hospital and we are trying to make a retirement on the field possible. At this time I have no further information and will keep everyone updated. Pray for our Clooney.”

Another update followed on Wednesday, when Fuchs shared a picture of the gelding at the hospital, saying: “My friend Clooney is feeling better than yesterday. We take it day by day and hope for the best. If any horse can get through this, it’s Clooney.”

Clooney, who won gold at the European Championships in 2019 under Fuchs, as well as individual silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the five-star Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, among others, is looked after by Dublin native Sean Vard.

Reflecting on the recent Olympic Games, where they were part of the Swiss team that finished fifth, and just days before the accident, Vard said: “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with coming home empty-handed however I have also learned this week that there is far more to life than success and winning. The welfare of our partners/team mates is paramount and I’m very pleased to have Clooney in perfect shape at the end of these heavy and challenging few days.”

Sandro Hit

The world-famous dressage stallion Sandro Hit died at the Schockemöhle stallion station in Germany this week following an infection at the age of 28.

Bred by Reinhold Harder and owned by Paul Schockemöhle, who bought him as a foal in 1993, the son of Sandro Song had a huge influence on dressage breeding worldwide. He is the sire of Dorothee Schneider’s world number three horse Showtime FRH, who was part of the German gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympic Games last month. Eight of the horses in the Grand Prix in Tokyo were by the famous stallion.

“Sandro Hit was especially close to my heart. He was something very special and the real founder of my stallion station. We are very affected by his loss,” Schockemöhle said in a statement, adding that he deteriorated after a short infection.

Sandro Hit was hugely successful under saddle before Schockemöhle decided that he would concentrate of his breeding career. He was the 1999 six-year-old world champion and German National Champion in the same year.