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.
Thirty-five five-star horses presented today under sunny skies at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
If all goes according to plan in the first part of the extended weekend, we will see 36 horses galloping across Derek di Grazia's CCI5*-L cross-country course at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (DK3DE). We partnered up with the team at CrossCountry App to bring you a preview of both the five-star and CCI4*-s tracks this year.
Lights, cameras, action! The first formal horse inspection (which some might informally refer to as "the jog") at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) takes place this afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. While this part of the event is a fan-favorite historically based on the impeccable turnout of the horses and the stylish and forward fashion choices of the riders (we are looking at you Boyd Martin in hopes that you bring back the American flag suit circa 2022), it serves a very important purpose: ensuring that each horse is fit, sound, and ready to compete at the five-star level.
There are so many things to love about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and the opportunity to peruse the booths of so many amazing vendors is definitely one of them! Don’t forget to stop by the USEA booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, to stock up on all of your favorite USEA apparel.