Walk on Star out for season

Walk on Star, the horse with whom Pippa Funnell won team gold and individual bronze at last year’s European Champions in Punchestown, will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a leg problem.

The gelding, owned and bred by Barbara Walkinshaw, has been suffering from heat in his leg caused by scar tissue from a splint close to his suspensory ligament. It was this that caused him to miss Badminton.

“I don’t really want him to have surgery, so the only option is to give him a rather long holiday,” said Pippa of the 11-year-old gelding, a previous winner of Bramham and Saumur.

Walk on Star was one of Pippa’s long-listed horses for the Olympics, and as the rider is due to take two horses to Athens, would have been a strong contender as a reserve.

Primmore’s Pride, who had a very successful run and took the top spot at Chatsworth last weekend is Pippa’s number one ride for the games in August.

• This article first appeared in Horse & Hound 20 May issue

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