Goodbye, Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve died October 10, 2004, from complications from an infected pressure sore. Reeve's paralysis dated from an unlucky fall while competing at a horse trials (the introductory form of three day eventing).

I wanted to put up a picture of Mr. Reeve mounted, because he was passionate about the sport. He was a big man and came late to riding, but he loved it. I couldn't find one, although he appeared in several equestrian magazines in the early 1990s as he became more involved with the sport.

Fare thee well, Christopher Reeve. You showed great dignity.

(the image is from Doug Jones who is a township supervisor in Grosse Ile, MI. He is doing exactly what Reeve was doing, and loving it. The photo is from 2002.)

Reeve's fall was an unlucky fall. I knew people who were at the event, and what they described was something like this:

Only of course, Reeve did not get up and walk away:

The size of the fence, and the manner in which Mr. Reeve came to fall was more like this:

all the images on this page are from a Scottish eventing photographer, Harry McMillan, and the events are from 2002 in Scotland.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Those images somehow bring clear the reality of the violence of an accident such as Mr. Reeve experienced.

Unlucky indeed.

[liz]

Suzanne, falls like that aren't uncommon in the equestrian world. It's not fun, but it happens. It's not particularly violent, either. The other thing I'd like to point out in this context is that eventing, and all kinds of jumping, is relatively safe compared to other high velocity sports. Horsemanship Safety sports. The reality is, you wouldn't have heard of Chris Reeve's injury if he had not been a famous person.

The description of the fall is here, from Reeve's book.

I stopped eventing because I found I loved dressage more. I wish my daughter was an eventer--I think is is a wonderful all-around horsemanship sport. But her love is hunters, and she is happy in her hunter barn. Al Jumping.

[Angelica Hernandez]

Hello This pictures of him falling off the horse I was impress and I hope that his family would be ok!!!!!!

[Missy]

Christopher Reeves did take unfortunate fall, but like Suzanne mentioned people do fall off horses. If you really get into them and you ride long enough sooner or later you usually fall. I myself had my fair share of falls.. I have been fortunate though. I fell simpathy for Mr. Reeve's and his family. Although Mr Reeves has passed away i think he lived a good life one he and his family should be proud of, and by doing what they did and helping the people they helped, they have given many people hope about life after becoming paralized.

[Gavin]

RIP chirstopher Always be missed :/