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FEI admits rules error and rider taken to hospital in separate Aachen dramas
An FEI admission of fault over the handling of Clodagh Walsh’s elimination and a fall sent Junichiro Okawa to hospital – both incidents occurred in the grade I at the para dressage World Championships
News broke on the morning of the team competition (Friday 21 August) at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen that judges had made an error two days earlier, allowing Ireland’s Clodagh Walsh and Chantal to complete their individual grade I test after the judge at C rang the bell for apparent lameness.
Clodagh correctly stopped but was then allowed to continue, following a discussion between the judges.
“Under normal circumstances, further to the judge at C ringing the bell, the athlete should have been eliminated,” an FEI statement read. “The FEI acknowledges that this decision was not in accordance with the rules.
“The FEI apologises for the understandable upset and confusion caused to Clodagh Walsh, who had acted in accordance with the rules at all times and who bears no fault for this regrettable situation; the FEI recognises the difficult circumstances in which she completed her test.”
The FEI has admitted that rules were not correctly applied in the elimination of Clodagh Walsh (pictured competing at the 2025 Europeans) at the World Championships
(Image credit: FEI/Leanjo de Koster)
Clodagh was not present for the grade I team test on Friday, suggesting the elimination has since been upheld – and therefore the Irish team has been reduced to three riders.
Oddly, though, her grand prix A score (61.83%) is still listed in the official results – a discrepancy that remains unexplained.
A scare for Japan’s Junichiro Okawa
The grade I team test brought further drama when Japan’s Junichiro Okawa, riding RH’s Totally Joker, fell during his test. He was attended to immediately by the emergency medical team and taken to hospital for further evaluation; his horse was unhurt and returned to the stables. Junichiro was later given the all-clear by doctors.
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“I’m so sorry to have caused you all so much worry,” he said afterwards, in a statement translated by Hiroko Copley-Mackie of Team Japan Para.
“Thankfully, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the bone, and it seems I’ll be able to go home once the doctor has written up my medical certificate. I’m very relieved. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone for being so concerned and for being so kind and helpful.”
The combination was eliminated from the grand prix B test as a result. With four riders in the Japanese team, all three remaining scores will have to count.
Oscar joined Horse & Hound in October 2023 and is the magazine’s dressage editor and sports manager, overseeing coverage of equestrian sport. After studying equine science at Myerscough College, he spent four years working for leading dressage rider Emile Faurie, competing at the 2015 National Dressage Championships and travelling with the yard to CDIs including Aachen and Saumur. He holds a master’s degree in Literature from York St John University (2021).
