After a remarkable absence at the first offial German Olympic training camp in Warendorf as well as the first Olympic observation trial at the CDI Hagen last weekend, Isabell Werth has now officially announced that she will be vying for an Olympic spot with Weihegold or Emilio. Neither Don Johnson nor Bella Rose are fit for Rio.
The official reason for Werth's absence from Warendorf and Hagen was illness of the rider, but it fuelled major speculation on the Hagen show grounds about the fitness of her foursome of international Grand Prix horses. Today Werth cleared the matter herself by officially announcing that Don Johnson and Bella Rose will not be considered for Rio contention.
"To avoid all speculation I announce today that for the moment neither Bella Rose nor Don Johnson will be returning to competition sport. Don Johnson will need another three to four months time for his injury to fully heal and to return back to top sport. Bella Rose can not give me the necessary stability and constance, which are required at top sport level. This is a great disappointment for me, as we had good hopes of both horses being on the road to recovery," Werth stated."The disappointment is great and hits me hard. I have made the decision as it had to be made now, so that I have my head and heart free for the upcoming shows and Olympic qualification."
The 15-year old Hanoverian Don Johnson injured himself in his stall just a few days before the 2016 CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch in March. Werth's other World Cup Finals' potential horse Weihegold sustained an infection after Neumunster and was not fit for the 2016 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg in April, but apparently has recovered. Bella Rose has been injured since November 2014 and has still not made a come back to the show ring. Weihegold and Bella Rose are Werth's two 80% Grand Prix scoring horses.
"I will now contest Olympic qualification with Emilio and Weihegold, with complete support of my assistant trainer Beatrice Buchwald," said Werth. "I have two great horses to ride which hopefully can prove themselves in sport at the next few shows. I will fully focus myself on the training and presentation of these two horses."
The 10-year old Rhinelander gelding Emilio (by Ehrenpreis x Cacir AA) is owned by Isabell's loyal sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze. Werth and the bay gelding won the 2015 Louisdor Cup Finals for German Developing Grand Prix horses. In August 2015 the horse did his first international Grand Prix, followed by starts in Stuttgart and Dortmund.
Isabell Werth is a four time Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000, 2008) with four team gold medals to her tally, one individual gold and one individual silver to her name.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Weihegold Secured for Isabell Werth as Rio Hopeful, Buchwald Ride Uncertain
Isabell Werth and Emilio Win 2015 Louisdor Cup Finals
Ferrer-Salat, Gal and Dujardin Not to Compete at 2016 World Cup Finals, Werth's Entry Unsure
Werth and Weihegold Make it Two-in-a-Row at 2016 CDI-W Neumunster
Isabell Werth Withdraws Bella Rose from German Team Selection
Bella Rose Withdrawn from 2015 CDIO Hagen