The 21-year old Saidja Brison sadly had to withdraw from competing on the Belgian team at the 2012 European Young Riders Championships in Berne, Switzerland, next week. Brison, one of the most reliable riders on the Belgian team, had to pull her horse out of the running due to an injury.
"I really pictured my last year as a young rider differently," said a bereaved Brison. "With tears in my eyes I had to make the decision to withdraw from competing at the Europeans in Berne last night. I wish all the other riders much success."
Brison's 10-year old Swedish warmblood gelding Moliere (by De Niro x Amiral) had been super fit, excelling in the test at the pre-training camp last week, where Wim Ernes scored the pair 72% for their ride.
At the mandatory team vet check with Belgian team vet Jef Desmedt on Monday evening 2 July Moliere showed some signs of unlevelness on hard surface. A scan revealed an inflammation of the tendon.
"He probably injured himself in the field or in his box. Yesterday morning I trained him lightly and didn't feel he was different from all the other times and in the evening at the team check he was off," Brison told Eurodressage. "Together with my dad I decided to withdraw. Moliere's health is very important and I hope we can get him fit again quickly for competition."
Belgium's first reserve rider is Francesca Hoefnagels with the Oldenburg bred Sir Cloud (by St Cloud x Sion), who achieved solid performances last weekend at the CDI Pompadour where the finished second three times in the Young Riders' division.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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