Swiss Dressage Team Pull Out of The Olympic Games
The Swiss dressage team will not take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics claiming the humidity, travel and Stress will have adverse affects.
The move follows the withdrawal of the team's top rider, Silvia Ikle, who doesn't want to expose her horse to the travel related stress and the humid conditions in Hong Kong during the summer.
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Ikle's decision has consequences for the entire national dressage team, as Switzerland has said it only qualified for the event due to the performance of Ikle and her horse, Salieri.
The Swiss dressage selection committee has therefore decided not to send any individuals or teams to take part in the dressage competition in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, which has a well-established racing circuit, was picked to host the equestrian events at the games due to concern over an outbreak of equine diseases and substandard quarantine procedures in mainland China.
There now appears to be growing concern over the summer heat and humidy and the effects on the riders very expensive horses. We may just see more and more withdrawals before the Olympic games begin.
Local Riding Tack & Togs
January 10th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Wonderful horse, such a pity she’s not competing but I wouldn’t risk my horse in bad weather in the UK never mind the heat and pollution in Hong Kong.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Canadian riders Cindy Ishoy and Ashley Nicoll-Holzer, members of the 1988 bronze-winning team in Seoul, have now announced their withdrawal from the Hong Kong-based 2008 Olympics.
Both citing potential equine health hazards posed by extreme climate and travel conditions.
Interestingly – Even The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which organises horse racing in the Chinese territory and has invested about £55.5m on building new venues for the events, doesn’t hold races during the summer months, when temperatures reach 32C (90F) with severe humidity
January 13th, 2008 at 10:05 am
last September British Paralympic rider Lee Pearson took part in a test event in Hong Kong.
His comment says it all really ……
“It’s like going into a sauna with your clothes on and then being asked to ride a horse that’s sweating up like it has a jumper on its back”
February 16th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Now the UK’s Nick Skelton and Arko have pulled out of the olympics. They quote Arko’s stud duties as the reason but that seems a little thin.