Oatley Withdraws Forever Young from FEI Nations Cup at 2026 CDIO Lier, No Australian Team

Dressage

Australia

Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley announced on social media that she will not be competing with the Australian team at the FEI Nations Cup at the 2026 CDIO Lier on 23 - 24 May 2026.

Oatley's horse, Forever Young HRH, is not fit to compete.

Not Fit

The German based Lyndal took to Instagram: "After great training yesterday, Flo came out of her box unsound. Sadly, we cannot find the source of her discomfort on X-ray or scan, so she will have a CT immediately. Unfortunately, this means no Lier, and who knows what’s ahead."

Oatley took over the reins of the 14-year old Westfalian mare Forever Young HRH (by Furst Fugger x Don Bosco x ) from husband Patrik Kittel in the spring of 2025. The pair debuted at the CDI Hagen in September 2026, posting a69.326% Grand Prix score. Two months later they competed at the CDI Stockholm for another 69.435% in the Grand Prix.

"Not Been My Season"

Lyndal has not yet shown internationally in 2026. She was supposed to compete at the CDI Lier Indoor competition in February as her first show of the year but right before the CDI a horse stomped on her foot and left her injured for a two-month period.

Lyndal added, "This has not been my season, first breaking my foot and nearly two months off, and now poor Flo. I’m sorry to let my team down and will cheer them on… but Flo is my focus. That you to everyone who is helping Flo and I through this… fingers cross for what’s ahead."

No Australian Team in Lier

Matthew on Faye at the 2026 CDI Aachen Dressage Days

Australia was supposed to make its team debut in the 2026 FEI Nations Cup series in Lier, but Oatley's withdrawal leaves them with only two riders, not enough to make a team.

Warwick McLean and Le Special will be back in action after their road accident on the German A3 motorway.

McLean is joined by Australian Olympian William Matthew as Australian representatives. Matthew rides his new Grand Prix hope Faye, Theresa Semler's 11-year old Oldenburg mare by Furst Wilhelm x Aljano, as individual competitors in the 5* CDIO division. A record eight nations will be participating in the Belgian leg of the FEI Nations Cup.