Mark Todd's Olympic Partner Gandalf Euthanized

Dec 29, 2009

Mark Todd's Olympic Partner Gandalf Euthanized

By Horse Talk New Zealand

Mark Todd's Olympic horse NZB Gandalf has been put down as the result of a serious neurological disorder. The loss of the 11-year-old grey was announced by the New Zealand Bloodstock eventing team last week.

Gandalf was Todd's 2008 Hong Kong Olympic mount, and had recently suffered seizures which caused him to become blind in his right eye. He had become a danger to himself and his handlers, NZB said.

Mark Todd was naturally the person most upset by the loss. "It was a very hard decision to make but the wellbeing of the horse is what we have to consider foremost.

"It's also sad for New Zealand eventing to lose a horse of his calibre. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the best of him."

(Photo: Mark Todd and Gandalf competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, where they finished 17th individually. Photo: StockImageServices.com.)

Read the rest of the article on Horse Talk New Zealand

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