Riders competing in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Munich on Sunday, May 8th asked that the class be canceled out of respect after a fall by competing rider Eoin McMahon resulted in the horse Questfinder being put down in the arena.
McMahon of Ireland was on course when he and his horse fell at the water jump. McMahon suffered a broken finger and a concussion and was hospitalized overnight, but is expected to make a full recovery. The 9-year-old Questfinder (Quintender x Landstreicher) broke his leg in the fall and had to be euthanized immediately.
The stable of Carl Hanley Sporthorses, for whom McMahon is a rider, posted this statement on their Facebook page the evening of the fall:
“We were just with Eoin in the hospital after his fall at the water jump in Munich GP today, he is shook up with heavy bruising, a broken finger and a concussion but the CT of his brain and spine were clear! He has to stay in hospital for 24 hours for monitoring and then should be back home tomorrow evening so he is very very lucky to come out with only these injuries!
As to our horse Questfinder, he broke his leg in the fall and had to be put to sleep on the spot, a sad day losing such a great, kind and wonderful horse that we enjoyed working with for almost 3 years!”
Organizers of the Munich Horse Show canceled the remainder of the class, distributing half the prize money and saving the other half for next year’s show.