DressageDaily: Euro Update: Piccolino and Beauvalais Withdrawn from 2006 World Equestrian Games

Wednesday August 9, 2006

Euro Update: Piccolino and Beauvalais Withdrawn from 2006 World Equestrian Games

Beatriz Ferrer Salat on Beauvalais World Equestrian Games fever is raging through Europe. While the last countries are announcing their teams for the Games -- the U.S. is holding its breath the longest -- the news is nowadays being headed by the withdrawal of several horses due to injury.

Spanish WEG silver medal winning mount Beauvalais will not be competing at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in two weeks. The Spanish Equestrian Federation announced the withdrawal of Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Beauvalais from the Spanish team due to an injury. The 19-year old Hanoverian gelding by Bolero strained a muscle in the stable at the Jan Bemelmans' yard in Germany, where the Spanish team is preparing for the Games. Beauvalais needs one month rest to recover from this muscle injury and won't make it to Aachen.

Klaus Husenbeth and his Hanoverian gelding Piccolino have withdrawn from participation as German team member at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. The 14-year old Piccolino (by Prince Thatch xx) injured himself during training, tearing a muscle in his right hind leg. Though team vet Bjorn Nölting confirmed that the injury is not severe, Husenbeth decided to pull his horse out of the competition in its best interest. German team reserve rider Hubertus Schmidt and Wansuela Suerte (by Warkant) will take Husenbeth's place on the team.

The Portuguese Equestrian Federation has released the names of the riders and horses that will consitute the Portuguese dressage team that is going to compete at the Games. The Portuguese team includes Daniel Pinto with Galopin de la Font, Nuno Vicente with Nostradamus do Top, André Parada with Landin, and Miguel Ralão Duarte with Oxalis de Meia Lua. As of today, the Portuguese riders will be preparing themselves for the Games at Kyra Kyrklund's Snow Hill Farm in Great Britain.

The Danish Equestrian Federation and Danish team trainer Rudolf Zeilinger have selected the Danish combinations that will represent Denmark at the WEG. The Danish team consists of Andreas Helgstrand (Matine), Lone Jorgensen (Ludewig G), Nathalie Zu Saeyn Wittgenstein (Digby) and Anders Dahl (Afrikka). Andreas Helgstrand has chosen to ride Matine (Silver Moon x World Cup) instead of Blue Hors Don Schufro. The Oldenburg stallion injured a ligament in the fetlock right after the CDIO Aachen.

Last weekend the 2006 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses took place in Verden, Germany. The 5-year old World Champion is Uzzo, a KWPN branded Lancet x C-Indoctro offspring. The 6-year old World Champion is Damon Hill NRW, a Westfalian licensed Donnerhall x Rubinstein stallion. A full report of this event is coming up on Dressagedaily this week.

More Euro News at www.eurodressage.com