Ingrid Klimke's Franziskus Operated On

Dressage

Germany

Ingrid Klimke's number one Grand Prix horse Franziskus underwent surgery and has been operated on a hairline fracture.

Franziskus is a 15-year old Hanoverian stallion by Fidertanz x Alabaster. He is owned by Wilhelm Holkenbrink.

Niggling Injury

Klimke and the bay stallion were members of the team bronze medal winning German team at the 2022 World Championships in Herning (DEN).

This year they competed in the Grand Prix at the 2023 World Cup Finals in Omaha (USA) but withdrew from the Kur as the horse was not fit.

Two months later he returned to the arena at the 2023 German Dressage Championships they earned bronze in the Kur to Music final. At the 2023 CDIO Aachen, which counted as second German team selection trial for the 2023 European Championships, they were forced to withdraw before the horse inspection as the horse had "knocked" himself on the way from training to the stable." Their withdrawal ruled them out from team selection.

Hairline Fracture

Today Klimke announced that Franziskus has been operated on.

"A hairline fracture was found on Franziskus, which was successfully operated on in the equine clinic in Telgte," she explained. "The surgery went well and I've already seen him! Now Franz gets the time he needs to get really fit again! I'm already looking forward to my next "Dance with Franz"."

Ingrid did not specify in which bone the hairline fracture is.