Austrian born Israeli Grand Prix rider Nicola Ahorner has announced her withdrawal as Israel's individual rider at the 2023 European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck (GER) on 4 - 10 September 2023.
Ahorner got injured in a freak accident on Monday 14 August and will not be fit to compete.
The 23-year old Nicola wrote earlier in the week on her Instagram account she was in a car crash. She confirmed to Eurodressage there were fortunately no bones broken, but she sustained a severe concussion and was kept in the hospital for observation for the week.
Today, Nicola announce her withdrawal from Riesenbeck. She was qualified to compete the 18-year old Belgian warmblood Foco Loco W (by Sierappel x Wendekreis)
"After sustaining a traumatic brain injury this Monday in a freak accident, I am not allowed to ride for (at least) the next month," she stated. "What happened? I left a parking lot in a convertible and the gate of the parking lot did not recognize that I was still standing there. So- the gate (post) landed on my head. Really gutted, but still feeling blessed that that’s all I got away with."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Individual Riders Declared for 2023 European Dressage Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2023 European Dressage Championships