Very sadly, Andrew Kocher’s Navalo De Poheton (Cumano x Double Espoir) was fatally injured while competing in the Hickstead Derby last Sunday and had to be put to sleep.

A statement from the organisers reads:

“The organisers of the All England Jumping Course are sad to report that Navalo De Poheton, the ride of the USA’s Andrew Kocher, was fatally injured while competing in the Hickstead Derby today (24 June). The 17-year-old gelding broke a leg on the flat, and despite receiving immediate veterinary attention in the ring he was not able to be saved. The Bunn family and the title sponsors Al Shira'aa expressed their condolences to the horse’s connections, and praised the swift and professional reactions of the Arena officials and veterinary team.”

Together, Kocher and Navalo De Poheton jumped at this year’s Longines FEI World Cup Final in Paris. Last year, the pair also won the 2017 $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Del Mar and the CSI3* Ariat® Grand Prix in Tryon.

Earlier last week, Kocher announced that the Hickstead Derby was to be Navalo De Poheton’s last round in his career before retiring from the sport. "This will be the eighteen thousand dollar ($18,000.00) Champions’ last Round of his career. If your a dreamer you won’t want to miss it. The horse that took a normal guy from the middle of nowhere pennsylvania to the World Cup Finals and all over the world," Kocher wrote on his Facebook page prior to the Hickstead Derby.

Our thoughts go out to Kocher and all those close to Navalo De Poheton on the loss of a very special horse.