Team Harmony Sky-High injured

The best horse of the Egyptian rider Abdel Saïd, ten-year-old mare Team Harmony Sky-High, was seriously injured onboard the ferry transporting horse boxes from Sweden to Helsinki. Sky-High was travelling from Oslo to Helsinki after being placed in both the Grand Prix and the World Cup at the Oslo show.

The mare was travelling in a horse box belonging to another rider bound for Helsinki. A stallion travelling in the same transport had broken his head collar during the night and tried to cover the mare travelling next to him. The sensitive mare had kicked violently and injured a hind leg tendon.

“I am very upset. I was not travelling with the horses and therefore unable to do anything. It is bad horsemanship to place a stallion and a mare next to each other in a transport. Most of all, I feel bad for Sky-High, she is such a kind horse.”

The horse received emergency treatment as soon as the ferry reached Helsinki and was then transported to the Hyvinkää Equine Hospital for an operation.

”The operation went well and so far there have been no complications. The mare has a small chance to recover and return to top sport after one to two years of convalescence. She is going to stay in Finland at Sanna Backlund´s stable to recover for the first months before being transported back home.”

Abdel Saïd had received a wild card from the FEI to both Oslo and Helsinki World Cup shows. He is nineteen and trains with Jos Lansink in Belgium. The promising young rider is supported by the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya. Abdel Said, Jos Lansink and Ibrahim Bisharat from Jordan and a couple of other riders represent Team Harmony. Saïd´s aim was to participate in the World Equestrian Games in 2010 with Sky-High.

“She is very special to me. I have ridden her since she was five. Now all my future plans have been destroyed.”

“My World Cup season started so well. Now I´ll do the Audi Grand Prix with Sea Coast Conan. If he goes well I will continue to the World Cup.”