Uthopia to miss key pre-Olympic show at Hagen, Germany

Carl Hester has had to withdraw from a key show ahead of selection for London 2012 at Hagen CDI4*, Germany after Uthopia pulled off a shoe in the field last Friday (20 April).

The decision was taken after a visit from World Class Programme farrier Haydn Price this morning (23 April).

Carl said Uthopia had some bruising and was “a bit sore”.”It is crap timing and so disappointing,” he told H&H. “I really wanted to go to Hagen – it would have been the first time we’d [likely Olympic teammates] all been together since Olympia.”

He added: “It isn’t anything major. Another 48 hours and it might have been different but it’s not a risk worth taking.”

Carl will now work with the Olympic selectors to re-jig the 11-year-old stallion’s competition schedule. He expects to decide later this week whether to re-route Uthopia to Addington Premier League (1-3 May).

“We’ll see how well he responds to poulticing and then when Hayden puts the shoe back on we’ll make a decision from there,” he added.

The remaining members of the British contingent; Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro), Laura Bechtolsheimer (Mistral Hojris and Andretti H), Emile Faurie (Elmgardens Marquis), Henriette Andersen (Louis D’or) and Judy Harvey (Fitzcerraldo) will arrive in Hagen on Tuesday ahead of the competition on Friday, 27 April.

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