Christian Schumach has withdrawn from competing Te Quiero SF on the Austrian team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris which are about to start on 28 July 2024.
Schulmach is one of three Austrian Olympic dressage team members. He was supposed to ride Franziska Fries' 13-year old Holsteiner Te Quiero SF (by Totilas x Loutano), which he also rode at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and most recently at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck.
After the last veterinary check at home, Te Quiero was deemed not fit to compete, "because slight irregularities in his gait were found."
Te Quiero competed in only one CDI this 2024 show season to qualify for the Austrian team. At the CDI St. Margarethen at the start of June he scored 71.478% in the Grand Prix and was withdrawn from the Kur.
Chef d'equipe Diana Wunschek explained, "animal welfare always comes first for us, so we cannot take any risks and fortunately we have horses in the squad that are in top condition and can move up."
Schumach will be replaced by the first reserve, Stefan Lehfellner on Sissy Max-Theurer's Roberto Carlos MT.
Schumach's second horse, Amplemento, has moved into first reserve place and will join him in Paris.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the Olympic Games
Austrian Olympic Dressage Team for Paris 2024 Selected