‘What a sad way to end a great life’: medal-winning horse dies in freak accident caused by low-flying jet

Multiple medal-winning Danish dressage horse Horsebo Smarties has died as a result of a freak accident caused by a low-flying jet plane.

The 22-year-old gelding, who won Paralympic, world and European medals with Stinna Tange Kaastrup, had been retired since 2018 with his owner/breeder Helle Kristiansen. It is understood that he sustained fatal injuries when he was spooked by the plane.

“I’m extremely heartbroken as I learn today that Smarties has died as the result of a freak accident due to a low flying F-16 jet,” Stinna said. “What a sad way to end such a great life.”

Smarties, a Danish warmblood by Gribaldi, was competed to grand prix level by Nathalie zu Sayn. He moved to young Danish rider Amanda Overgaard; the combination were twice on the Danish team that took bronze at the junior European Championships, in 2013 and 2014.

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Article written by: Eleanor Jones