Manuel Springhetti Hospitalised After Riding Accident

Dressage

Austria

Austrian professional dressage rider Manuel Springhetti was hospitalised for one week after falling off a young horse and injuring himself.

The 33-year old was brought to the emergency room and diagnosed with broken ribs and internal bleeding.

"I had an accident with a young horse," Manuel told Eurodressage. "We fell together and he rolled over me. I was in the hospital for one week and came out on Thursday (18 April), so I am home now. I am not allowed to ride the next two to three weeks."

Springhetti has been a professional dressage rider for the last decade. Trained by Fritz Gaulhofer in Austria, he worked as a bereiter for Helgstrand and Van Olst. In 2020 he joined the marketing and rider's team at the Oldenburg verband until June 2022. He currently works half-time as a rider for the Warendorf state stud and the rest of the time he rides for himself and helps his life partner.

"Henrike Sommer is riding my stallion next week on the stallion test in Münster and also can’t ride my other stallion, Selectric, in the Nürnberger Burgpokal in Hagen," said Springhetti. "It's such a pity because both are in a good shape but sometimes it's not meant to be."

Manuel will aim Selectric (by Sezuan x De Koonig) for the Burgpokal qualifiers in Balve and Bettenrode and hopes to bring along Danestos (by Dante Weltino x Sir Donnerhall).

"When I am good again I will try to qualify Diamantenglanz (by Diamond First x Bon Coeur) for the Bundeschampionate this year and maybe if that works we try to qualify for World Young Horse Championship," he explained. "I only need to be sound again in some weeks and then I can get back in the saddle."