The Australian horse community is still grieving a crash that involved the family of cutting horse trainer Trent Smith (pictured in 2016). A 64-year-old man and several horses were killed in the incident on May 26 in New South Wales, Australia. • Photo by Ken Anderson.

Decision to Euthanize 8 Cutting Horses Hurt In Crash Under Review In Australia

Did the eight cutting horses euthanized after they were hurt in a truck crash on the way to the Australian National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity all need to be put down? Some question if that was the case.

ABC News in Australia reports the NSW Government Local Land Services will review the actions of an employee who made the decision to put down the horses injured in the May 26 crash after some, including a veterinarian who treated some of the surviving horses, questioned if all the deceased animals were so badly injured they needed to be put down.

Australian harness racing figure Ken Smith, 64, was killed in the crash in New South Wales, which is in southeast Australia. His son and NCHA Australia Futurity-winning trainer, Trent Smith, and 16-year-old nephew Nick Smith, also were hurt.

Click here for the full story from ABC.

NCHA Australia has not released the names of the horses euthanized on scene, or the 8 surviving equines taken to a local veterinarian for treatment. However, QHN has confirmed that one of the survivors was the Australian NCHA Futurity Open Champion Moore Metal (AS), a son of Metallic Cat out of One Moore Annie (AS), by One Moore Playboy(AS).

In the aftermath of the crash, the group Cutters in Action organized a benefit stallion auction to assist the Smith family. Stallion seasons were donated from the owners of top cutting and reined cow horse studs in Australia and the United States.

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