Horse & Hound has reported that William Fox-Pitt’s first Olympic mount, Cosmopolitan II has been put to sleep. The horse, aged 28, was euthanized on October 31st due to old age.

Cosmopolitan was a staple on Britain’s eventing team in the ’90’s. The pair went to the 1996 Olympics, took team gold at the 1995 European Eventing Championships in Italy, and team gold and individual silver at the eventing championships in Burghley. In 1997 Cosmopolitan was named the BEIB Event Horse of the Year.

An injury in the year 2000 meant retirement for Cosmo. He was sent to live out his remaining years with Alison Quinlan. “I looked after him for 20 years and sadly recently old age started to catch up with him and I made the heart-breaking decision while I still could,” said Alison of the decision to euthanize Cosmo, adding, “He was my horse of a lifetime,” Alison added. “I simply adored him and I was unbelievably privileged to have been able to look after him for 20 years.”

Article by Ashley Fairfield-Remeza
Source: Horse & Hound