Bonaparte and Elvis, two of Germany's most experienced top competition horses, have been forced by injuries to withdraw from the European Championships, further decimating medal hopes.
Withdrawal of the 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding Bonaparte that was ridden to team gold at the 2008 Olympics by Heike Kemmer was announced Saturday by the German Olympic Committee.
Olympic team mate Nadine Capellmann also reported that Elvis VA, injured shortly before the CHIO in Aachen, “has not cured his injury yet” and will also miss the European Championships in Windsor, England Aug. 25-30.
The dressage committee of the German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports announced Sunday the team for the championships as: Susanne Lebek with Potomac, Matthias-Alexander Rath with Sterntaler-Unicef and Monica Theodorescu with Whisper. The fourth pair will be Ellen Schulten-Baumer with Donatha S on condition that a checkup in the next few days show she is fit after a fall. Otherwise, she will be replaced by Carola Koppelmann and Le Bo.
The unavailability of Bonaparte and Elvis was another blow to German hopes of a strong showing at the European championships.