United States Eventing Association

The USEA is saddened to report that Canadian eventer Holly Jacks-Smither's five-star horse More Inspiration died on Feb. 19. He was 18.

Bred in Canada by Display Farm, the Thoroughbred gelding (Inspired Prospect x Gentle Buck) started 28 times at the track and had four wins.

Jacks-Smither bought "Morris" when he was 4 as a resale project, but after he completed his first CCI2*-L in 2012, she decided to keep him.

While Morris was tricky, Jacks-Smither never gave up on him. They completed their first CCI4*-L at Jersey Fresh (Allentown, New Jersey) in 2015, then were selected to represent Canada at the Aachen CCIO4*-S in Germany that summer.

They completed the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2017 and the Pau CCI5*-L (France) in 2019. Their last competition was the Stable View CCI4*-S (Aiken, South Carolina) in March 2021.

"My $2,000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell stuck around to change my life," said Jacks-Smither in a Facebook post. "If it wasn’t for you, Morris, I would have been on a totally different career path. You taught me that hard work truly pays off; that thinking outside the box is a must to be successful with the tricky ones; that a big heart matters more than confirmation; and that hard work and perseverance get results. From a gallop girl at Woodbine Race track where we met, to my first Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, my first five-star at Kentucky, and my first European five-star in Pau, France… we did it all together. I’ll never have another horse like you.

"Thank you for challenging me, teaching me and giving me so much joy," she continued. "But most importantly, thank you for being my soul mate and making me believe that life can be changed because of one special OTTB and a dream."

The USEA sends our condolences to Jacks-Smither and all of those who shared connections with Morris.