Carl Hester ruled out of Olympics despite Lecantos being sound

Carl Hester’s second Olympic hope, Sasha Stewart’s Lecantos, is out of contention for the Games despite trotting-up sound and being back under saddle today. The gelding failed the trot-up prior to CDIO Rotterdam, the Netherlands (18-22 June), which acted as the final British team selection trial.

Hester told Horse&Hound: “They scanned him at the show and there was nothing to see, and team vet John McEwan examined him last Monday and everything was fine. The horse had some pain in his frog at the trot-up that improved the next day with a pad on the foot.

“I think it’s probably too late [to be considered for selection], though the announcement of the team isn’t official until Wednesday. I let the selectors know this morning that the horse is sound and being ridden again. They need a third horse that can get a good back-up score.”

However, selectors David Trott, Nick Burton and Judy Harvey deliberated on the team selection at Rotterdam this weekend.

Harvey said: “We really regret that Carl isn’t available with either of his 70% horses [Dolendo was withdrawn from contention having suffered with a recurring leg injury] — nobody would like to see him on the team more than the selectors. But the British Olympic Association need the nominations this week, there are just no more shows left and Lecantos only has one result to go on this year.”

Lecantos only returned to work in June this year following injury and finished 13th in the grand prix at CDI Gelderland, the Netherlands (5-8 June).

Emma Hindle was best of the Brits in fifth in the grand prix at CDIO Rotterdam riding Lancet to 70.46%. Team-mate Laura Bechtolsheimer was just behind in sixth scoring 69.45% on Mistral Hojris. Jane Gregory made up the nations cup team, which came second to the Netherlands, with 65.29% on Lucky Star. Anna Ross-Davies, best of the Brits at last year’s Europeans, is also in contention for a team place.

Check Horseandhound.co.uk for the British dressage team announcement this Wednesday.

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