Temecula, CA June 13, 2017 - Tamra Smith, in conjunction with The West Coast Dempsey Syndicate LLC, regretfully announce that the 9-year-old Dutch Gelding “Dempsey” was humanely euthanized yesterday due to unexpected postoperative complications while in recovery at the University of Montreal Veterinary Hospital.
The surgery, which took place Monday morning, was required to repair an ulna fracture sustained during cross-country competition at the Bromont CCI3* Event. Unfortunately, after a successful surgery and subsequent promising prognosis for a full recovery, Dempsey suffered complications while in recovery which would not have allowed him a proper quality of life.
“I am absolutely devastated,” said Smith. “Dempsey lived life to the fullest every day and I feel incredibly lucky to have ridden him. He was one of the most talented horses I have ever come across and from the first moment I jumped him I knew I had to have him, a reality made possible thanks to the incredible members of the West Coast Dempsey Syndicate LLC. Our barn will certainly never be the same without his sense of humor and zest for life, and we will miss him more than I can comprehend.”
Together, Dempsey and Smith had many notable achievements in their career since he began eventing in 2013. In 2016, the duo finished second at the Rebecca Farm CIC3* before heading overseas to complete the Blenheim CIC3* and Boekelo CCI3*. This season they added top 10 finishes at the Galway Downs CIC3* and most recently the Jersey Fresh CIC3*.
For more information about Tamra Smith, and Next Level Eventing, please visit www.nextleveleventing.com.
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.