WINTERBOURNE Stoke rider Louisa Lockwood is coming to terms with the loss of her top horse, Desert Island, who had to be put down after suffering serious injury in a fall on the cross-country course at the Badminton Horse Trials.

The 11-year mare was Louisa's only four-star horse and had arrived at the event full of confidence, in tip-top condition and looking to improve on last year's performance at the prestigious event.
 
The weekend had started well, a good dressage performance on Saturday saw them post a mark of 53.2 - an improvement on last year's 56.8.

Their 43rd place in such exalted company showed there was still so much more to come in this phase - an area which Louisa and Desert Island had worked so hard on over the winter with dressage trainer Pammie Hutton. 

Despite Sunday's cross-country course causing problems for many riders, Louisa set off with confidence and approached the ninth fence on what she believed was a good line.

But the mare appeared to drift and put her feet down on top of the corner element, losing her balance and falling. 

Although horse and rider were quickly on their feet, it immediately became evident that the mare had badly broken her fetlock. She was humanely put down by vets at the scene. 

A distraught Louisa said: "She was still such a young horse, improving all the time, and with her best still ahead of her."   

There was small comfort to be had in hearing that the fence judges and steward told the owners that Louisa appeared to approach the fence on a perfect line.

 

"Not only was Desert Island a supreme athlete, but she was a horse with so much character and presence and leaves a huge gap back at the yard."



Happier times. Louisa and Desert Island at last year's Badminton Horse Trials.
Photo: Alasdair Crook www.alcrook.co.uk