Mary King Remembers Call Again Cavalier

British eventing star Mary King has spoken to British Eventing, the national governing body of the sport, about the loss of her champion horse Call Again Cavalier. The horse is suspected to have broken his femur while negotiating the second part of a combination corner jump during the indoor "cross country" phase of the inaugural Express Eventing competition in the huge Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Sunday.

You can read her statement here.

Horse and Hound, the British news weekly of horse sports, reports that, while the event did not officially report that the horse had been put down, Mary went before a crowd of concerned fans who flocked to the stable area and personally and informally announced the horse's death.

No details of the exact nature and extent of the horse's injury have been released. King told Horse and Hound that she and the owners only knew of the terrible pain the horse was in and made the decision to have him put down.

Mary King and Call Again Cavalier were immensely popular with the public in Britain. When King entered the arena on the horse for her round, the building erupted into a resounding ovation before they even began. The pair had won medal honors for Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games, European Championships, and Olympics. Mary's non-privileged background and easygoing style have made her a role model for many aspiring riders and competitors.

Call Again Cavalier was Mary's comeback horse, bringing her back into the medals after she broke her neck in a fall five years ago. At age 47, she must now start yet again.

Click here to read about more about Call Again Cavalier's final day and see video of their performance.

Tragedy Strikes Inaugural "Express Event": Mary King's Olympic Star Call Again Cavalier Injured and Euthanized

by Fran Jurga | 30 November 2008 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

At the inaugural Express Eventing all-star competition in Cardiff, Wales today, the huge audience in the stadium was stunned as one of the world's great event horses crashed on a corner jump. Mary King's Call Again Cavalier was taken from the arena in an equine ambulance, attended by a veterinarian.

Word later tonight was that he had been euthanized. Details will be available later.

"Many people were crying when Cavy fell," wrote one commentor on the Times of London web site. Only eight of the 19 horses competing were able to finish the cross-country phase.

The event was the first of its kind in Britain and included dressage to music, show jumping, and then a timed "pit stop" tack change for the indoor cross-country.

This YouTube video, captured by a spectator, shows the great horse's final round.

Call Again Cavalier was bred by Noel Walsh of County Carlow, Ireland; he was by the Holsteiner stallion Cavalier Royale, out of My Woodward Lady VII. The 16.2hh bay gelding was 15 years old and owned by Edwin and Sue Davies and Janette Chin.

King's medal collection includes five team golds – one from the World Equestrian Games and four from European Championships. She has also ridden in five Olympics and won Team Bronze in Hong Kong riding Call Again Cavalier. She is 47, and has stated without hesitation that Call Again Cavalier is the best horse she has ever ridden.

Mary King made an incredible comeback in the sport after breaking her neck in 2002. She had been with Call Again Cavalier since 2005.

Read more about Mary King and Call Again Cavalier at this link.