Hickstead, the horse, died suddenly on November 6, 2011, after finishing a round at a World Cup showjumping event in Verona, Italy. Reports say he collapsed from a ruptured aorta, a rare and fatal condition.

Quick Scoop

He was ridden by Eric Lamaze and was one of the most famous showjumpers of his era, so his death shocked the equestrian world. A later article about Hickstead also describes the event as a tragic end to a legendary career.

What happened

  • Hickstead completed his round.
  • He then collapsed in the arena.
  • The reported cause was an aortic rupture that led to heart failure.

Why people still talk about it

The horse became a major legend in showjumping because of his Olympic and championship success, so people still search for “what happened to Hickstead” years later. If you meant the Hickstead equestrian venue in the UK instead of the horse, it is still active and has 2026 events listed on its official site.