Carl Hester’s new dressage sensation Uthopia, who so impressed in his first step up to big tour at the sunshine tour 2010, will not campaign for the World Equestrian Games later this year.
The nine year old dark bay stallion by Metall has been off work for a couple of months with a mild injury. Although back in training now he will not compete in the summer internationals this year.
Carl Hester commented: “The vets advised us it would be touch and go whether Uthopia would be ready in time to campaign for WEG. He’s a young horse and we decided we didn’t want to hurry his return to fitness. Our main aim with this horse has always been the London Olympic Games in 2012, I don’t want to rush anything now and jeopardise that goal.”
Unlike other nations who face the pressure of gaining their Olympic qualification at WEG in Kentucky this year, Team GB as the host nation, qualify automatically for the competition in London 2012. This takes some of the urgency off GB and means our young talented horses can be allowed to develop at their own pace.
In the meantime Carl Hester has been temporarily reunited with his European Championship ride Liebling II, a 13-year-old Holstein gelding by Lorentin who was part of Britain's team silver medal-winning effort in Windsor last August. The pair will contest Hartpury and Hickstead CDI’s later this month in the hope of keeping Carl’s WEG 2010 team selection hopes afloat.
The horse, which was bought by Canadian owner John Risley in the spring of 2010 for Cheryl Meisner to ride, has been kindly loaned to Carl and will return to Meisner's stable later this year when she will resume the ride.