LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Frodo Baggins, a horse seen in the first "Lord of the Rings" film, was put down Saturday after he fell during an Olympic qualifying event.

Rider Lainey Ashker, who grew up in El Dorado County, was in stable but critical condition at the University of Kentucky Hospital, according to her blog.

Ashker suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs and clavicle, and collapsed lungs.

She was riding Frodo at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day equestrian event, where Ashker and the horse were trying to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Equestrian Olympic team.

The horse, named after the central character in the popular J.R.R. Tolkien books and blockbuster movies, was taken to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute after the fall, the event's Web site said.

Further tests showed Frodo suffered a fracture to his skull and a severe lung injury, officials said.

Due to the poor prognosis, a representative of the family authorized the euthanasia, according to the event's Web site.

In a feature interview, Ashker identified Frodo as the main Dark Rider’s horse in the first film of the trilogy.

The thoroughbred also paraded around New Zealand for fans, met the prime minister of New Zealand, and walked down the red carpet at the film's premier with Elijah Wood, the feature said.