United States Eventing Association

Sparrow’s Nio (2003-2020)

Sparrow’s Nio (Grange Finn Sparrow X JB), a 15.3-hand 17-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding owned and ridden by Alexandra Sacksen, collapsed between fences while on cross-country in the Advanced division at the Morven Park Fall International Horse Trials on Saturday, October 3. In their 10 years spent competing together in eventing, Sacksen and Nio went all the way up the levels, competing at the prestigious Kentucky Three-Day Event three times.

Sacksen first met Nio on her parents’ farm when he was a yearling, and she reconnected with him when his owner contacted her about possibly purchasing him. In the summer of 2010, Sacksen took Nio to his first event at the Novice level. By the same time next year, Nio and Sacksen were competing at the Preliminary level, and he completed his first CCI* (now CCI2*-L) at Midsouth in the fall of 2011.

Nio completed his first Intermediate event in the summer of 2012, progressing to the CCI2* (now CCI3*-L) that fall. In the fall of 2013, Nio and Sacksen placed 11^th in their first Advanced, followed that up with a second-place finish in the Advanced at Morven Park, and were named the USEF CCI2* National Champions after winning the CCI2* at Fair Hill International.

In 2014, Nio earned a seventh-place finish at the Fair Hill International CIC3* (now CCI4*-S), returning to the same venue in the fall for his first CCI3* (now CCI4*-L), where he was 27^th. The following year he and Sacksen made their first trip to Kentucky for the CCI4* (now CCI5*-L), finishing in 36^th.

Nio and Sacksen continued to compete successfully at the Advanced/three-star (now four-star) level in the spring of 2016 before Sacksen took some time out of the saddle for the birth of her first child. In 2017 they were ninth in the CIC3* at Pine Top in February and 24^th in the CIC3* at Carolina International before making their second trip to Kentucky.

In 2018, Nio and Sacksen competed around Northern America at venues including Carolina International, Fair Hill International, Jersey Fresh, and Bromont. Following their 26^th place finish in the CIC3* at Jersey Fresh, Sacksen was awarded the Philippa Humphreys Memorial Sportsmanship Award.

Nio and Sacksen returned to Kentucky for the third time in 2019, this time finishing in 30^th place and jumping clean on cross-country. In the fall, they were 13^th in the Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the USEA American Eventing Championships, they finished second in the CCI4*-S at Morven Park, and they capped off their season with a 13^th place finish in the CCI4*-L at the Ocala Jockey Club.

Together, Nio and Sacksen completed 66 USEA recognized events, 23 at the Advanced, four-star, and five-star level. The competed in 26 FEI competitions, earning seven top-10 finishes. Nio was known by his friends and fans as a powerhouse who loved nothing more than a good gallop across the country.

The USEA sends our deepest condolences to Sacksen and all of Nio’s connections and fans.