Initiative to support sport horse welfare after jumper died at show

Some new measures have been announced after Chromatic BF died at the FEI World Cup Final

- BECKY MURRAY

NEW initiatives to “support sport horse welfare” have been announced in the United States following the death of showjumper Chromatic BF at the FEI World Cup Final.

Katharine Branscomb’s 13-year-old gelding Chromatic BF collapsed and died in the stables shortly after the second leg of the competition on 18 April, in which he had finished third with rider Jill Humphrey. It was reported at the time that after Chromatic BF’s round he was given a “refreshment and a routine shot of electrolytes” by the US team vet.

US Equestrian (USEF) has “sought as much information as possible” on what led to Chromatic BF’s death.

“While the post-mortem was inconclusive, following USEF’s engagement of experts to study the findings, USEF believes the most probable contributor is related to medications administered to the horse by a USEF appointed veterinarian shortly before the horse collapsed,” said a USEF spokesperson.