Hickstead, the famous show-jumping horse ridden by Eric Lamaze, died suddenly in the ring on November 6, 2011, in Verona, Italy. Reports say he collapsed after a round at the Rolex FEI World Cup event, and later findings blamed an acute aortic rupture.

What happened

He had just finished his course when he suddenly weakened, fell, and could not be revived. Witnesses and reports from the event described the death as immediate and shocking for everyone present.

Why he’s remembered

Hickstead was a major champion and a Canadian equestrian icon, best known for winning individual Olympic gold and team silver with Lamaze at the 2008 Beijing Games. His death at age 15 made headlines