Olympic rider faces ‘long weeks’ out of the saddle after serious competition fall

Olympic showjumper Simon Delestre has undergone surgery for an injury that will put him out of action for some weeks.

The French rider, who has competed at three Olympics, two European and two World Championships, had a fall on Saturday (6 June), just over two months before the World Championships in Aachen. He was riding Gatsby Du Tillard in the five-star grand prix at the Cannes leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

“Fortunately, my horse is okay and unharmed,” Simon said. “Things are a bit more complicated for me.”

Simon was taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed a dislocated collarbone and ligament damage, as well as head bruising.

“I had to have surgery on Monday and it went well,” he said. “The procedure stabilised my shoulder and [doctors] checked for no other damage to my collarbone.”

Simon Delestre said the injury means he will have to keep his left arm immobile for several weeks.

“I would like to thank everyone who is supporting me,” he said. “Your messages and calls are helping me through this rough and unexpected time.

“These are scenarios that can unfortunately be part of riding life but feeling surrounded and supported will get me through these long weeks without riding my horses.”

Simon and Gatsby, a 10-year-old French-bred gelding owned by Stal Naessens, had been on flying form. They won the grand prix at the Madrid LGCT leg in May and came fifth in the Shanghai leg grand prix two weeks beforehand, on top of good placings in five-star competitions all year.

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