Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze has unveiled a stunning bronze statue of his gold-medal winning partner Hickstead, at Spruce Meadows in Calgary.
The showground held a tribute to this talented and popular horse in the international ring before the CN grand prix class on 9 September. A tear-jerking video montage was played to the 80,000 strong crowd showing Hickstead’s incredible and numerous wins over the years, which include the $1Million CN International at Spruce Meadows last year and in 2007.
Writing on his Facebook page, Eric said: “Thank you to the Southern and Spruce Meadows for this beautiful ceremony. This beautiful statue of Hickstead will now be displayed at Spruce Meadows on a permanent basis in homage to this wonderful athlete.”
Hickstead was named Best Horse in the World at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 after he achieved the incredible feat of completing four clear rounds, with four different riders in the Rolex Top Four Final.
The pair also won individual gold and team silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but Eric's hopes of competing in London 2012 were dashed when the 15-year-old stallion died last November when he collapsed after completing the fourth round of the World Cup in Verona, Italy. It was later found that he had suffered an aortic rupture.
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