Holly Smith has announced that her top horse Hearts Destiny (Heart Throb x Rabino) has passed away, at the age of 11. On her official Facebook page, Smith writes:

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write to say that Hearts Destiny is no longer with us after a battle with metabolic disease. 

If only love and hope could have saved you.

Thank you for everything Ted.”

Hearts Destiny had a great career with Smith in the saddle. The gelding jumped to team bronze for Great Britain at the European Championships in Rotterdam last year and was also on the British team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018. The pair has jumped several clear rounds for Team GB in Nations Cups around Europe and last year they helped take the win in the prestigious CSIO5* Nations Cup in Dublin. Earlier this year, the two won the CSI3* Grand Prix in Vejer de la Frontera – a venue where they also were successful in 2019 when they won the invitational CSI4* Grand Prix. They also topped the CSI5* King’s Cup at Windsor last year, and finished in the top three in the CSI5* Grand Prix at Olympia and in the CSI4* Grand Prix in Liverpool.

Our thoughts go out to Holly Smith and all those close to Hearts Destiny.