THE five-star event horse Cooley SRS (ISH) was sadly euthanized after fracturing his femur in a freak accident while cross-country schooling with rider Hazel Shannon in Australia on Tuesday.

Renamed Willinga Park Cooley after being sold to Terry and Ginette Snow of Willinga Park at the end of 2018, the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Ramiro B, who was bred in Co Wexford by John Fitzhenry, finished second at Badminton in 2018 under former rider Oliver Townend, behind Classic Moet (Jonelle Price).

The pair were also part of the British team that won the gold medal at the 2017 European Championships in Strzegom and they finished ninth individually at the 2015 world championships for seven-year-olds in Le Lion d’Angers.

A statement from Hazel Shannon’s employers, Ryan’s Horses, said: “Willinga Park Cooley (Cooley SRS) was humanely put down at 8pm Tuesday October 13th 2020. Cooley known as ‘Aero’ in the stable, was schooling cross-country when he and his rider Hazel Shannon experienced a freak accident. Hazel is currently in hospital with liver damage but is expected to make a full recovery.

“Aero suffered a fractured femur on the left hind. Through the efforts of owners Terry and Ginette Snow and our two main vets Dr Peter Tabak and Dr Robin Bell from the Sydney University, we searched the world for viable surgery procedures that could have perhaps rescued the situation. This was not to be.

“Aero and Hazel were quietly working their way up to top competition level having competed at Canberra 4* CCN two weeks earlier where they placed ninth. Yesterday was the final cross-country school before Camden 4* CCI this coming weekend. The partnership was showing great promise.”

Hazel Shannon is a three-time winner of the CCI5* at Adelaide.