Isabell Werth has withdrawn Queenparks Wendy from the 2024 German Dressage Championships in Balve on 6 - 9 June 2025.
Balve is the first of two mandatory German Olympic team selection trials. The CDIO Aachen is the second one.
Werth took over the ride on Queenparks Wendy at the start of 2024 after his previous Andreas Helgstrand got expelled for Danish team activities for the year 2024. The mare was owned by Bolette Wandt who has a breeding operation in France at Chateau de Fontaine. Werth's sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze invested a stake in the mare and Wendy moved to Germany.
They made their show debut in Le Mans, where they posted 74/348% in the Grand Prix and 74.511% in the Special. From there they went to the CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage and added a percent to their scores: 75.065% in the Grand Prix and 75.149%. At the CDI Mannheim the judges were thrilled and rewarded the Grand Prix 77.00% and the Special 76.255% which put Wendy ahead of stable mate Quantaz for Olympic consideration.
However, a spanner has been thrown in the works and Wendy will not be in Balve.
"Unfortunately Wendy suffered a minor injury in the paddock on Sunday and suffered a bruise," said Werth. "This needs some rest now and that's why it won't start in Balve. Quantaz now bears the responsibility alone on his shoulders. This is of course a pity, but I'm still looking forward to Quantaz and Balve."
If Wendy is fit soon from her minor paddock injury, she will now get to take the "easier" route for team selection by competing in the CDIO Aachen 4* tour.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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