Kelli Cruciotti-Vanderveen’s Isabella van de Zuuthoeve was euthanized Thursday night after an accident during a $50,000 show jumping competition at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
“There are no words to express the sadness I feel right now,” Kelli said on social media.She was thrown from her horse and unhurt in the incident involving the nine 9-year-old Belgian sporthorse mare.
“My heart is broken into a million pieces and I am sure I will never be the same . Last night, my beautiful Isabella went to heaven after a tragic accident at the second-to-last jump in the Grand Prix.
“Bella was a superstar from the moment she came to our stable as a green seven-year old. She was a winner, a fighter and truly one of the most talented horses I’ve ever had the privilege to ride . There are so many memories that I will never forgot, so many firsts, so many wins and so much joy,” she stated.
“Thank you to Team Cheese for always being there no matter what, for all your work in transforming us into the team we were and always believing we could do anything.”
The veterinary team at WEC Ocala, led by official veterinarian Dr. Larry Wexler and FEI Veterinary Delegate Dr.Kim Snyder, as well as veterinarians from the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital at WEC, attended to the horse immediately. She was made as comfortable as possible before being transported by equine ambulance to the on-site hospital.
The veterinary team, working in collaboration with the rider’s team, made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the horse due to her catastrophic hind leg injury.
“Thank you to World Equestrian Center and the team of veterinarians for their professional and loving work last night in taking care of our sweet Bella,” Kelli said.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out and sent such amazing messages. I haven’t gotten to all of them yet but I appreciate them more than you know. Finally, thank you sweet Cheese for letting me be your person, we fought together until the very end and you somehow knew to keep me safe from harm during all of it. Thank you for letting me fly with you , I will never forget it.”