Equestrian Canada has reported that Katharine Morel of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, and her horse, Kerry On, died following an accident on course at the Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials in Altoona, FL, on Feb. 29, 2020.
Morel, 33, and the eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare suffered a rotational fall at fence eight of the Intermediate level cross-country course at the United States Eventing Association recognized competition. Morel was immediately transported by Lake County Emergency Medical Services to Waterman Hospital in Tavares, FL, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Kerry On suffered fatal injuries and passed shortly after the fall.
Originally from Cochrane in northern Ontario, Morel moved to Sherwood Park in 2013 to train with veteran eventer Tricia Dahms at her Sandridge Stables. With Dahm’s guidance she purchased Kerry On as a three-year-old from Northlands race track. With generous time off from her job at The Keg, Morel and Kerry On started competing on the Florida winter circuit. In 2018 the pair earned five top-five placings in training and prelim and were the top Canadian entries in their division, qualifying them for the U.S. Eventing Championships in Colorado. They made their international 2* debut on the 2019 circuit and in their last two 2020 outings placed 2nd in prelim at Ocala Winter I and 4th in open intermediate at Rocking Horse Winter II in the early part of February.
Morel leave her husband and devastated friends and family members; fellow riders at Sandridge have been assembling a memorial for Morel and Kerry On in the horse’s stall.
“Today, the equestrian industry lost not just an exceptional athlete, but an exceptional person, as well as the horse she loved,” said EC High Performance Director, James Hood. “On behalf of EC, I extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Katharine, as well as to the entire team who surrounded Kerry On.”
EC says they will work closely in cooperation with US Equestrian to investigate the fall and continue developing methods to improve safety for riders and horses alike.
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