A pair of Canterbury horse trainers Margo Nyhan and Peter Davis are in hospital with broken bones after being involved in a high-speed crash this morning.
The pair were travelling to the Rangiora races in a truck laden with five horses when they collided head on with a car at an intersection in Templeton.
One horse, Game Changer, had to be euthanised on site after suffering serious injuries while the remaining four were removed and transported to a nearby stable.
It is understood a couple of the surviving horses have injuries too.
St John Ambulance confirmed three people were taken to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition after police initially reported two people being in critical condition.