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May 2008 • VOLUME 33 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine
 Remembering that the ring of power is a gift but also a burden, and that we must not be tempted by it.
Three Dead Horror. Shock... The Rolex spectators stood there thrilling to the sound and sight of pounding hooves, the vision of horses soaring over rough logs and timbers, the sunlight splashing across the surfaces of unusual and picturesque fences. For many photographers that day the Easter basket was especially appealing. Many set up their cameras so that they could grab that perfect moment when the horse arched up and over and through the very cute handle of the Easter basket. None foresaw what was about to happen. Why is it that this one fall caused so much despair in so many hearts, not only of the photographers and spectators standing there that day, but even of those who just heard about it. The black body, tumbling through the air, crashing down, struggling to his feet, only to show that his own feet would no longer be capable of doing their job of keeping him upright. Yes it was a tragedy. Yet that same day another horse was hurt. A 12 year old Irish gelding. He fractured his scapula and the shoulder joint of his right front leg. He fell at fence 13. They transferred him to a medical clinic but the prognosis for recovery was very poor from the very beginning. No surprise then, but they had to euthanize him. But this is far from the first time a horse has had to be destroyed for obeying man’s dictates. His name was The Quiet Man, and even in death he seems to still be the quiet one. The one we are not really seeing or hearing about, another obedient but fatally injured horse being humanely put to sleep for his willingness to try to do as he was asked. But it was the fall of Frodo Baggins that seems to have wrenched at the hearts of so many. One photographer, tears rolling down her face, commented “those images will haunt me for the rest of my life...” Another photographer was devastated. She had filmed the Rolex for many years. But nothing prepared her for the devastation she felt when the accident occurred. “I thought I would share my experience photographing this year’s 2008 Rolex 3 Day Event. I have been shooting the Rolex a long time. My first time was in 1982, filming Kim Walnes and the Grey Goose. Be forewarned, this is a hard letter to read, it is graphic. I have decided to share my feelings and experience with everyone in the hopes that someone will come forward and change this sport of eventing. I love this sport and I love horses but some things need to change……… By all appearances this Rolex should have been just like all the other Rolex events I have shot in the past. It all starts the same; checking the weather forecast in Lexington, Ky every 4 hours to see how to pack, charging camera batteries, confirming hotel reservations, and securing media credentials, and so it goes. However, little did I know that this Rolex would be very different. I would experience the most horrific shooting experience of my life. After many long hours of mentally concentrating and focusing on getting just the perfect images of dressage riders and horses performing precise movements inside a confining dressage arena, one looks forward to the next day of the wide open spaces of the cross country phase and the rolling course. The first jump, The Flower Box was the first jump of the course. It was a nice plain log jump with flowers. I figured the course designer didn't want anything too menacing right out of the start box. I shot 30 riders the entire morning at this jump. The light was just right! Everything was perfect, no rain, great lighting, nice jump, fresh horses. Lunch break at noon afforded me the opportunity to download images from my cards, and sort some now 1000+ Rolex images onto my computer. Lunch and shopping would have to wait. It was time to leave the media tent and head back out to the jump we has picked to shoot the second half of the day. This was jump 5, The Flower Basket. By all rights it should have been one of the easiest and safest, although still commanding respect at 3'11" high, and with a spread of 5'6". Only 5 jumps into the course and the horses would still be fresh. I picked this jump as it was visually appealing with the basket weave and bright flowers. Once again the lighting was perfect on this jump. Things were going well, and the sun was out.  As I started planning the shoot. I thought I would like to lie down and shoot up at the jump for a more interesting angle. I was about 17 feet from the jump, lying on the ground. As the 18 riders came and jumped The Flower Basket, the angle was a good choice. The images looked great. The 19th rider, Laine Ashker riding Frodo Baggins, a 16.2 hand black New Zealand Thoroughbred, approached, with my body and head resting on the ground. Looking through the camera lens again, a thought briefly crossed my mind: something is not right. I notice for a split second that Frodo Baggins body is not up as high as it should be on top of the basket. It is becoming all too apparent that he is going too fast!
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