Horse and Hound have reported that Mary King's former four-star ride Apache Sauce was put down after suffering an injury at fence two on the cross-country at Weston Park. He was 16 years old.
The popular white-faced chestnut was being ridden in the young rider CCI** by Mary's daughter Emily — who won the individual silver at this year's junior European Championships on Mr Hiho. The horse and rider did not fall and Emily is reportedly uninjured.
On her Facebook page Mary says, "Very sad news... Dear Caffery (Apache Sauce) was put down on Saturday, his front tendon ruptured at Weston Park Horse Trials. Emily my daughter had a very fun autumn season with him. They were happily galloping on between fences 2 and 3 and it suddenly went. He had never been lame in his life... we are all feeling very sad, dear Caff, we are going to miss him soo much."
Emily, 16, took on Apache Sauce in May this year, when Mary and owner Gillian Jonas decided to retire him from top-level competition. The pair had completed five events together without any cross-country jumping penalties, achieving three top-10 placings.
Source: www.horseandhound.co.uk