Thursday, August 24, 2006 - Posted 7:24 AM EST

Brentina and Debbie McDonald Withdraw from Dressage Competition at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany

(Aachen, Germany)—The United States Equestrian Federation announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games due to a veterinary concern.

Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, “Brentina had a slight swelling after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her to continue in the individual competition at these games.”

“It was in the last extended trot yesterday when I felt her take some tentative steps. I rode conservatively in the competition and she went fine, but it was a concern. She seems okay today, but in conferring with our vets, the best decision for Brentina is to withdraw her. We came here to compete for the Team, we have achieved that goal, and we’re very happy.”

Chef d’Equipe Klaus Balkenhol added, “Brentina is a fantastic mare and a true treasure, to do anything but take the conservative route and withdraw her would be very wrong. I’m so proud of Debbie’s ride yesterday, and I’m proud of her decision to withdraw. We look forward to the Special and potentially the Freestyle with Steffen Peters and Floriano and Guenter Seidel and Aragon, both very solid horse and rider teams.”

Debbie McDonald will be available for comments for ten minutes beginning at 5:30 pm (17:30) in the GPA Coffee Bar adjacent to the Main Media Center in Stadium 1.

HorsesDaily 'On the Scene' at the World Equestrian Games 2006