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.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/tvbVvQ95LZY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
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