Ingrid Klimke Injured in Cross Country Accident, Rothenberger on Team for CDIO Aachen?

Dressage

Germany

Ingrid Klimke, a German team member at the 2022 World Dressage Championships and 2017 and 2019 European Eventing Champion, has injured herself in a cross country accident at the 2023 CCI 4* Luhmuhlen.

Collar Bone

Klimke's mare Siena Just Do it (by Semper Fi x Weltrat x Fruhlingsball) did not have enough scope over jump 14c, stumbled and fell, launching her rider, who was wearing a safety vest, out of the saddle. Klimke rolled in her fall and stood up straight away as if nothing was the matter. She walked her mare off the course herself.

A health check-up at the hospital, however, showed that Ingrid had fractured her collar bone and requires surgery.

In 2020 Klimke fracturesd a thoracic vertebra in a riding accident at home, in 2021 she sustained a severe shoulder injury in a in cross country fall which ruled her out of Tokyo Olympic eventing team selection.

"Such a pity because I really wanted to finish that fun cross country," Klimke stated. "The doctors are optimistic that I will be back in the saddle fast."

CDIO Aachen

Ingrid and Franziskus at the 2022 World Championships

Ingrid's injury comes at an unfortunate timing as in two weeks, she is scheduled to ride the Hanoverian stallion Franziskus (by Fidertanz x Alabaster) on the German team in the Nations Cup at the CDIO Aachen, the second German team selection trial for the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck.

With a pending operation, it looks like riding in Aachen might not be in the cards, which means that Sönke Rothenberger and his young rising star Fendi (by Franklin x Diamond) will substitute.