Udon P, Kelly Layne’s Olympic, World Games Prospect for Australian Team, Dies of Heart Failure

WELLINGTON, Florida, Oct. 14, 2020–Udon P, the horse that Kelly Layne rode to become a top prospect for the 2016 Australian Olympic team, died Wednesday from a fatal arrhythmia, a condition that led to emotional “heart” freestyle performances.

“We are in total shock,” Kelly said of the 19-year-old KWPN gelding (Hierarch x Uniform) that she and Whistlejack Farm had owned until 2018.

Kelly, based in Wellington with her American husband, Steve, began competing Udon, nicknamed “Noodles,” in 2013 after the horse was acquired from Canada’s Chris Von Martels.

The pair were successful at Big Tour and were preparing to head to Europe in spring 2014 as the third ranked Australian combination behind the Germany based cousins, Kristy and Lyndal Oatley, to seek selection for the Australian team for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

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Article written by: KENNETH J. BRADDICK