Dutch triple Olympic gold medallist Anky van Grunsven (42) announced that she has withdrawn herself for Dutch WEG team participation. The reason is that both her horses suffer from an injury.
Anky's 16-year old Hanoverian gelding Salinero (by Salieri x Lungau) has been injured for two months after hurting his withers in his stable. The healing process is taking much longer than expected and will take at least one more month, Anky says. “My withdrawal might come as a shock to the world, however I have been able to think a little longer yet and discuss this with my partner and trainer Sjef quite some time. I am not devastated or sad but happy with this decision as it is the only fair thing to do. To bring my decision in public now before the Dutch selection trials will starts at CHIO Rotterdam, is only fair too for all other riders to make the best of it to select themselves”, Anky explains.
Van Grunsven also decided not to qualify with her second mount, the KWPN stallion Painted Black (by Gribaldi x Ferro) for Dutch team selection. IPS Painted Black also suffers from a minor injury and Anky feels the up-and-down performances of the stallion the last few months diminish her chances to finish individually in the top five, which is her personal goal considering her successes in the past.
Meanwhile Anky has given no thoughts yet to the possibility to be present at WEG as trainer. Neither does she think her withdrawal will influence the chances for the Dutch team for the optimum team performance. “There is a lot of reliable potential”, Anky says. And in the end she neither feels this withdrawal as the end of her international riding career. “I am looking forward to the recovery of both of my top horses and will train them up slowly for the indoor season. I’m also very happy with my newly build education centre and all possibilities. And not in the least I am very happy to be a good mother of two”, Anky concludes.
Anky van Grunsven has been in the Dutch squad since the OG 1988 in Seoul riding Prisco. She only missed once the team before, in 1993 at the EC in Lipica when both of her horses Bonfire and Cocktail were injured. Prisco, Bonfire, Krack C, Idool, I.P.S Painted Black and Salinero have been her team horses so far.