A GoFundMe page set up following the deaths of four horses involved in a lorry collision on 24 August has topped £5,000.
The horses were killed after the lorry transporting them broke down on the A9 and was hit by another HGV.
On board was the stallion Party Trick, who was ridden by international eventer Nick Gauntlett, and three other event horses ridden by US-born eventer Sophie Hulmes. They were en route to Blair International Horse Trials when the lorry broke down.
Nick Gauntlett, his family and grooms had left the vehicle and were clear of the lorry when the collision occurred.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Nick announced the sad news, stating: “Having just broken down just 30 minutes from the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials, we sat on the grass verge and watched a lorry — whose driver we think may have been on his phone — plough into our truck.
“You don’t need the details but we lost all four horses on board. We are obviously all heartbroken… Thank you everyone for your words of support and offers of help. The Eventing world yet again proving what an amazing family it is.”
Sophie Hulme, who was not present at the accident, had already arrived at the event.
“I was already at Blair about to get the stables ready. I am absolutely devastated and at a loss for words,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “Three of my lovely horses, my precious babies, are gone.”
Following the accident, supporter Sarah Ettridge set up a GoFundMe page to raise money and Nick and Sophie have decided to split the donations between the BHS Road Safety campaign and Sport Horse Breeding (GB). At the time of writing, the total raised was £5,630.
“Let’s try in some small way to make something positive out of this horror; it will help us all,” said Nick.
Donate to the fundraiser here.
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