Isabell Werth will not be competing her number one Weihegold at the 2018 CDIO Aachen, which begins on Wednesday 18 July 2018. Aachen is Germany's last mandatory team selection trial for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Werth competed Christine Arns-Krogman's Weihegold (by Don Schufro x Sandro Hit) last in May at the 2018 German Championships in Balve, where she won silver behind Sönke Rothenberger's Cosmo. After the 2018 World Cup Finals in Paris in April, Weihegold got a break from sport and was being flushed for embryotransfer. She returned to the show ring slightly overweight and not in peak condition.
According to Dressursport Deutschland, the official portal of the German Dressage Selection Committee, the reason for the withdrawal is that the committee have changed their mind and now want to see Werth on Emilio and Bella Rose in Aachen and not on Weihegold. "The committee wants to use this show to also select those horses for the WEG in Tryon," said the website.
Werth, however, has plenty of horses for the choosing and will ride Emilio in the 5* Nations Cup leg in Aachen. She has also decided to take Bella Rose to Aachen for the CDI 4* tour as the mare made her show come back two weeks ago at the CDI Fritzens after having been 3.5 years off due to injury.
The German team will still be strong but not full force in Aachen after Desperados, Cosmo as well as Weihegold have dropped out.
The complete entry field for Aachen can be seen here.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Cosmo Withdrawn from 2018 CDIO Aachen
Desperados Withdrawn from 2018 German WEG Team Contention