Carl Hester has had a disappointing few weeks. His former ride and three-times national champion Legal Democrat was put down last month at the age of 22. Carl was on the team with Marcia Kelsey’s Dutch-bred gelding in 1999, finishing 13th at the European Championships, and they were national champions from 1997 to 1999.
Anna Ross-Davies and Liebling II will be on the British team for the 2007 European Dressage Championships in Turin, Italy, 30 August – 2 September. They are taking the place of Carl Hester and Lecantos, who were forced to withdraw after Lecantos knocked his off fore, bruising a tendon.
Britain is fighting for three remaining places up for grabs at the Europeans to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games (with The Netherlands and Germany already qualified). They face tough opposition from Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland.
Denmark have also been dealt a blow as not only is Andreas Helgstrand not able to take his World Games ride, Blue Hors Matine, but his second horse, Blue Hors Don Schufro, is also out of action. He will ride the inexperienced eight-year-old Gredstedsgaards Casmir to head a young Danish team.