United States Eventing Association

Crackerjack Euthanized at Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4*

From Boyd Martin:

Today at the Pau CCI4* in France, Lucy Boynton Lie’s Crackerjack had a wonderful cross-country round. I felt like it was one of our best ever trips together: we were jumping clear and took all the direct routes, and coming into the final stretch in the arena, he had plenty left in the tank. He felt fresh and his ears were pricked and I was thrilled with the way he was going.

Just as we went into the arena he took a horrible step, almost on false ground. I heard a crack and instantly knew something was wrong. I pulled up and leapt off within a couple of strides. I knew Crackers was in bad shape.

Lucky for us we were right next to the finish line and he was tended to straight away. He was taken to the racetrack hospital just down the road and X-rays showed multiple fractures in the pastern.

His owner/breeder Lucy Boynton and myself, with the advice of several veterinarians, decided it was the only humane choice to euthanize Crackerjack.

Crackerjack had a wonderful story: he was bred by Lucy and campaigned up to Preliminary by her son Colin. Unfortunately Colin passed away and Crackers was sent to me to sell. Lucky for me Lucy decided to kick on with the horse, and what a ride it’s been. Crackers has taken me all over the world and given Lucy some wonderful memories.

I can’t tell everyone how sorry I am.