Patrik Kittel and the Oatley family's Delaunay will not continue their campaign at the 2017 Swedish Dressage Championships in Stromsholm, Sweden. The horse injured himself in the stall overnight.
Kittel opted to ride Delaunay, an 11-year old Oldenburg gelding (by Dr. Doolittle x Feinbrand) owned by Carol and Sandy Oatley, at the 2017 Swedish Nationals which take place at Stromsholm castle on 4 - 6 June 2017.
The pair had already won the first round, the Grand Prix, with 75.480% and well ahead of the competition. Unfortunately on Sunday night, the bay gelding injured himself in his stall. The horse got the side of his mouth cut somewhere in the box and a two-centimetre laceration had to be stitched.
"The life with horses. Dude had an accident in the box at night and put a hook in his jaw, he will be fine and the vets here did a super job. Sadly I will not be able to defend my championship title," Kittel posted on Instagram. "Dude will have some time of in the field, but we will be back."
The 2017 Swedish Dressage Championships continue today with a consolation Grand Prix Special for the lower ranked riders from the Grand Prix and is optional. On Tuesday the Finals with the Kur to Music will be held in which the top 15 of the Grand Prix will ride.
Kittel has won the Swedish Grand Prix Championships four years in a row (2013 - 2016) and was aiming for his fifth, consecutive title. Two further Olympic team riders are also absent from this year's nationals: Tinne Vilhelmson, whose Don Auriello is injured, and Juliette Ramel whose Buriel KH is also injured. Both horses have not competed internationally since the 2016 Olympic Games.
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Patrik Kittel Wins the 2014 Swedish Dressage Championships
Patrik Kittel Wins the 2013 Swedish Dressage Championships
Eva Ulf Wins 2012 Swedish Grand Prix Championships
Tinne Vilhelmson Wins 2011 Swedish Grand Prix Championships
Tinne Vilhelmson Wins 2009 Swedish Grand Prix Title with Favourit
Tinne Vilhelmson Captures Second Grand Prix Title at 2004 Swedish Championships
Marina Mattsson Wins 2014 Swedish Young Riders Championships