THE celebrated Olympic Gold Medal stallion Hickstead sadly died after completing his World Cup round with Canadian rider Eric Lamaze at Verona in Italy today (Sunday), and the competition was called off as a result.

The official statement from CSI Verona Press Office said: "Today at 15.25, as he was leaving the arena after his successful jumping round, Hickstead, the horse ridden by Canadian Eric Lamaze, suddenly collapsed. The veterinary services were immediately in attendance, but unfortunately the horse was already dead.

"An autopsy to determine the cause of death is scheduled in the coming days.

"Veronafiere, Organising Committee, were fully supportive of the request of the riders not to continue the competition and would like to express their affection and love towards one of the greatest horses in the history of the sport and his rider Eric Lamaze.

"A minute's silence was held in the arena out of respect."

Foreign Judge Jon Doney said afterwards that a classification would be made on the horses who had already jumped, because at the time of the incident there had been four clear rounds. Twenty-one horses had completed the first round.

With rider Lamaze, Hickstead was an Olympic gold and silver medallist in show jumping. Hickstead was owned by Torrey Pines and Ashland Stables Inc.

A Dutch Warmblood, he was born in the Netherlands (Jan van Schijndel Maren-Kessel) in 1996, by Hamlet.

In 2006, Hickstead was a member of the winning Canadian Nations' Cup Team in Florida. He also placed third in the Aachen Grand Prix and won the Duke Energy Cup at Spruce Meadows. After completing the feat of four clear rounds in show jumping at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, Hickstead was named Best Horse of the discipline.

Lamaze, currently the top rider in the Rolex World rankings, had said of Hickstead: "He's a great horse and a very good competitor. He's got a great personality, and he's a fun horse to ride because I know him so well. He's feisty, he knows why he is out there, and he knows that knocking down a rail is not good! Some horses just don't get it."

Eric Lamaze and Hickstead pictured at Spruce Meadows in Canada