Tamie Smith, the heroine of Land Rover Kentucky less than two months ago, now is facing tragedy as her Luhmühlen 5-star mount, Solaguayre California, was euthanized in the wake of a cross-country injury at the German event last weekend.
The mare sustained a knee fracture after hitting the third element of the water obstacle.
In a social media statement, Tamie said, “My heart is broken as I write this and say that Solaguayre California was humanely euthanized after a planned surgery to repair a slab fracture to her knee.
“As California jumped out of the C element of the water at the Luhmühlen CCI5L, I felt her hit the jump and what seemed to be just a sting and disappointing moment of having to pull her up to save for another day. Initially the assessment of her recovery was favorable as we stopped when we did and it seemed to be a simple fix. However it has turned out much more extensive and the damage was irreparable.
Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California. (Photo courtesy Tamie Smith)
“This is devastating to our team; her owners and I cannot quite imagine life without our girl, however her tenacity and grit was the complete example of how we get through times like these.
“I find comfort knowing we were able to get her to the best surgeon with the best medical team. There were so many amazing people who helped facilitate this and no stone was unturned on trying to find a perfect plan to having her make a full recovery.”
Tamie continued, “California was a star in the making and showed the world, especially this season, how incredibly gifted she was. Our hopes and dreams for her were so high. Our hearts are broken.”
Tamie, who will be riding her Kentucky star, Mai Baum, on the U.S. team at Aachen next week, added, “I have to reflect at the incredible honor it is to have these partnerships with our horses. How lucky are we to experience such a bond with these athletes. I know that living……means you take the good with the bad. Life’s uncertainty can’t disable your life because you are afraid of the risk of living. It isn’t easy, but it is better to have experienced the moments and memories and to live for every moment than to just sit and be safe.
“California was the epitome of “Carpe Diem”…….so I take this meaning of living life to the fullest in her memory.
My brain is spinning, my heart is broken, but I know I have you all to keep me pushing on.”