Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Cooley competing at the NSW Championships, Goulburn 2019
Following an accident during cross country schooling, Hazel Shannon’s Willingapark Cooley was humanely put down on the evening of Tuesday 13th October 2020
Willingapark Cooley, previously known as Cooley SRS when ridden by Oliver Townend and known at home as ‘Aero’, was schooling cross country when he experienced a freak accident. Hazel is currently in hospital with liver damage but is expected to make a full recovery.
Hazel’s coach Heath Ryan has advised on his Facebook page that “Aero suffered a fractured femur on the left hind. Through the efforts of owners Terry and Ginette Snow and our two main vets, Dr Peter Tabak and Dr Robin Bell from the Sydney university, we searched the world for viable surgery procedures that could have perhaps rescued the situation. This was not to be”
Willingapark Cooley (Cooley SRS) finished second at Badminton in 2018 with Oliver Townend in the saddle and was bought by Terry and Ginette Snow later that year for Australian rider Hazel Shannon following her third CCI5* win on Willingapark Clifford at the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide
Hazel and Willingapark Cooley competed at Canberra CCN4* recently and were preparing to compete at Equestriad CCI4* this weekend.
“We would like to say how sorry we are to Terry and Ginette Snow, to Oliver Townend, to everyone here at Ryan’s who were so excited about a new partnership flexing such talent on the Australian scene, to Hazel Shannon who is struggling with the difficult emotional repercussions and of course, to Aero, who was such a gentle and lovely character, who did nothing but try hard. We are all very sorry” says Heath
