Totilas withdrawn from Europeans

Totilas has been withdrawn from the FEI European Championships in Aachen.

Out

The stallion has been withdrawn from the remainder of the competition, following a below par performance in Thursday’s team competition.

Matthias Rath and the 15-year-old horse posted a score of 75.971% in the Grand Prix to finish sixth individually, placing Germany in the bronze medal position.

The host nation had been expected to win gold, but a strong Dutch performance gave them the title, with the Brits in second.

Controversy

Dressage fans from around the globe had awaited Totilas’ championship reappearance with interest. However, the stallion did not hit the highs he had show previously, and there was some discussion online whether the horse showed some ‘irregular’ steps during his performance.

Matthias had initially been pleased with his test, punching the air after his final halt, but then was disappointed with the score.

“The trot work in passage was nice, the piaffe could have been more active,” said Matthias. “The walk was fine. Good zig-zags, good extended canter, one-times were good, both pirouettes were good, no big mistakes. I can’t understand why. I was really happy when I came out but then I see the score. I dont know – I have to read the judges’s reports later on,” Rath added.

Statement

Totilas was seen by vets today, and an official statement from the Aachen press office confirmed Totilas would not be taking part int the remaining competitions of the European Championships.

“After yesterday’s ride in the Grand Prix we studied the videos again in the evening,” saidGerman Chef d’Equipe, Klaus Roeser.”On analysing the videos, an irregularity in the movements of his left hindleg were noticeable. After the initial examination, no visible cause is recognisable, so at the moment it is not possible to explain this irregularity.

“For the protection of the horse, the rider, national trainer and team veterinarian have taken the joint decision to withdraw him.”

Trude Hestengen from Norway will take the place of Totilas and Rath in tomorrow’s Grand Prix Spécial.

Totilas has had a lot of abscences from competition due to injury in recent years, and he has missed a number of major championships including the London Olympics, the 2013 Europeans and the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

According to German website St Georg, this new disappointment could mean that Totilas might be retired from competition to concentrate on stud duties.

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