German professional young horse rider Andrea Müller-Kersten has injured herself in a riding accident, which has now put her out of the running for the Belgian team for the 2019 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on 1 - 4 August 2019.
Müller-Kersten fell off a young gelding in Germany today and had to be transported to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder and had to be operated on.
Müller-Kersten was a strong candidate to qualify not one, but two horses for Belgium for the 2019 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo. Aboard Belgian Elisabeth Tepper's 7-year old Belaggio (by Belissimo M x Ehrentanz) and 6-year old Di Magic (by Del Magico x Canaster) she successfully completed the first two mandatory Belgian WCYH selection trials and was short listed for the third trial, scheduled for Saturday 29 June.
As the third trial is mandatory and the Belgian Equestrian Federation does not allow for a substitute rider to present the two horses at this viewing, two strong equine contenders for Belgium have dropped out of the race. For Belgium just three horses were still in the running in the 6-year old division and four in the 7-year old division.
Müller's horse owner Elisabeth Tepper reported the accident and withdrawal with great disappointment and sadness on Facebook, but she looks forward to the future. Muller-Kersten has already qualified Di Magic for the 2019 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, which are in September.
"No change of rider is authorized during the (Belgian) selection process. As such, the adventure ends for us, this year," said Tepper. "Andrea and I wish all of the Belgian riders the very best for the Championships; make your horses shine bright and strong and give the best possible performance of beautiful horsemanship! Dressage is a beautiful discipline; disappointments and deceptions happen, but the Love for the horses and of the sport keeps us motivated and persevering. Andrea will be back in the saddle whenever she is ready, and I will do my best to keep all of the horses in top shape."
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