Manitoba’s equestrian community is shaken after a highway crash left multiple horses dead while on their way to a national championship in B.C. “This is a terrible tragedy,” said Judy Elder at the Winnipeg Equine Centre, who was shocked when she heard about the crash. “To lose them like this on the highway, it’s just awful, awful. The only way I can kind of describe it is losing a family member, a child. Terrible.” RCMP’s B.C. Highway Patrol said the single-vehicle crash happened Tuesday morning around 8:45 a.m. on a section of Highway 1 about 40 km east of Revelstoke. “The driver, a 73-year-old woman from Langdon, Alberta, was towing a trailer with four horses when she lost control and collided with a rock wall,” Sgt. Michael McLaughlin told CTV News, adding the driver did not appear to have any serious injuries. Police said three of the four horses died, while the fourth was injured and required medical attention. Equestrian Canada confirmed the horses had been on their way from Manitoba and Alberta to the National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships in Langley, BC. The organization said it has reached out to the athletes and owners involved to offer them mental health support. It said the equestrian community is a close-knit family. “A sudden loss of this magnitude is felt deeply by every rider, coach, groom, and owner across the country,” Equestrian Canada said in a statement shared online. Of the four horses, three were from Manitoba and one from Alberta. Two of the horses that died – Fearless and Rosaria – came from Solace Stables in Headingley. “I loved my horses more than I could ever explain. My heart is completely shattered,” Owner Mackenzie Taylor Abbott wrote in a social media post shared with CTV News. “There are truly no words for what we are feeling right now. I don’t think I have even begun to comprehend that this is real.” Manitoba Horse Council’s executive director Diane David said the entire equestrian community is coming together to support the riders impacted. “You know, obviously, the riders will need support,” David said. “Equestrians and the equine community at large just want to be there and help everyone through it.” Condolences have been pouring in from stables across Canada and the U.S. Elder said that an outpouring of support is coming from a community that truly understands the special bond between horse and rider. “Anybody who has a horse (knows) it is family,” she said. Police confirmed the driver in the crash was issued a $109 fine under the BC Motor Vehicle Act, which is given anytime someone drives off the road.
