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Anky van Grunsven will not compete at Olympia

Anky van Grunsven riding Salinero at the World Equestrian Games

Charlotte White, H&H deputy news editor

15 December, 2008

Anky van Grunsven will not be competing in the Dressage World Cup qualifier at Olympia tomorrow as she has injured her back.

On her website Anky said: “It [the injury] is not very bad but the famous Dutch sport doctor Peter Vergouwen has advised not to ride for a couple of weeks.

“For me it's hard not to ride but I never have trouble with my back so I take his advice seriously and hope I will never have this again.”

She said she has had an MRI scan and hopes to compete at Mechelen.

Anky was also due to take a dressage masterclinic at Olympia on Wednesday evening however British Olympic riders Richard Davison and Carl Hester have agreed to step into her boots.

The British duo will demonstrate some of the ‘whys and wherefores’ of dressage in the clinic that takes place before the freestyle to music competition.

The draw of 16 riders has taken place for tomorrow night's qualifying dressage grand prix.

Carl Hester and Leibling II will be the first combination into the arena followed by fellow Briton Richard Davison and Artemis for who it will be a grand prix debut.

British duo Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris are among those expected to do well although Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival will now, after the withdrawal of her compatriot, be the favourite to win.

The combination who won the Dutch championships earlier this year won the first World Cup qualifier of the season in Stockholm last month.



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