Heidi White withdraws from American Olympic eventing team

The American Olympic eventing team has suffered a blow with the news today that Heidi White has had to withdraw Northern Spy for “veterinary reasons”.

Heidi had competed Northern Spy in Britain several times, including finishing 10th at Badminton in 2005 and 15th at Barbury CIC*** in the same year (pictured).

The United States Equestrian Federation has named Karen O’Connor to replace Heidi, riding Mandiba. This will be Karen’s fourth Olympic Games. Her husband David won the individual gold medal at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000.

Karen and Mandiba are in Britain — they were due to run in the British open at Gatcombe this weekend — and will fly out to Hong Kong tomorrow. The British team horses also depart tomorrow.

Karen joins Phillip Dutton (Connaught), Becky Holder (Courageous Comet), Gina Miles (McKinlaigh) and Amy Tryon (Poggio) on the American team.

Stay up to date with all the Olympic news on www.horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy H&H next Thursday (7 August) for our full Olympic preview including form guides, predictions, full timetable and TV listings.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.