During the Show Jumping individual final held Aug. 4, Irish rider Cian O’Connor’s horse Kilkenny developed a nosebleed while on course. The FEI released the following update on the horse’s condition the next day:

“Clearly the images of Kilkenny are distressing to see, but the gelding was immediately checked by veterinarians straight after last night’s Jumping Individual Final at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The vets established that this was a nosebleed (epistaxis) and, as a precaution, the horse was sent to the on-site Veterinary Clinic for further examination.

The horse was treated and returned to its own stable last night. Following consultation with the on-site veterinary treatment team, the Irish team veterinarian, the athlete, and the chef d’equipe, it was agreed that the horse would not be presented at the Aug. 5 horse inspection and will therefore take no further part in the Games.

In addition to ongoing monitoring by the Irish team veterinarian, one of the on-site Veterinary Clinic Team Leaders reexamined the horse this morning and reported he had improved considerably overnight.

Under the FEI Jumping Rules, blood on the flanks or in the horse’s mouth results in elimination; however, equine epistaxis is not a cause for elimination. As a result, Cian O’Connor and the 9-year-old Irish-bred gelding were ranked seventh in the Jumping Individual Final after completing the course clear of jumping penalties and with just a single time fault.”