Mary King and Imperial Cavalier out of British squad for Europeans

Mary King has had to withdraw from the British squad for the eventing European Championships in Fontainebleau, France (23-27 September).

Her ride Imperial Cavalier, owned by Eddie and Sue Davies and their daughter Janette Chinn, has “suffered a slight setback and with WEG [the World Equestrian Games] 2010 and London 2012 in mind, it was felt it was not in his best interests to risk running him this year,” said a statement from British Eventing (BE).

BE said that the selection committee will announce his replacement in due course, but with four of the five original reserves on the start list at Burghley (the fifth, Polly Stockton’s Regulus is out of the running having had colic surgery), many expect the announcement in time for the named horse to be withdrawn before Saturday’s cross-country.

The original reserves were: Daisy Dick and Spring Along, Piggy French and Some Day Soon, Clea Phillipps and Lead The Way, Mary King with her second horse Kings Temptress and Polly Stockton and Regulus.

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