Does anyone kinow what happened with this horse and rider on the WEG cross country course? Did he retire? Why? An injury? Thanks…
It was a hind leg injury- can’t remember which leg. Paul felt that he was off and pulled up. He was weight bearing but lame as they left the course. It wasn’t obvious how the injury occurred. I hope we hear more about the exact nature of the injury and the prognosis at some point.
IIRC, It was LH. Appeared to rap it hard coming over the table to the double corners (Daniel Boone or something such). Horse lands funny and takes a couple of funny steps between those jumps. Loses the canter behind a few times leading to the retirement. Probably what Paul felt. So glad he pulled up. Would have been terrible to do more damage to that wonderful horse. Would love to hear an update on how he is doing.
Posted to Paul’s Facebook page, he has a fractured stifle. SOunds bad, but they said he had been treated and was resting comfortably in his stall.
thanks very much! Love the reliability of the COTH forums!
:eek: I hope it is just a hairline fracture. What’s the facebook page link, is it public?
Prayers going up.
Oh no, their dressage test was a highlight for me, he has a beautiful trot. Thinking good thoughts for a full recovery.
I was so happy to see him pull up. He knew the horse didn’t feel right, but wasn’t obviously lame when ridden. Much better than some other riders might do… Save the horse for next time (hopefully).
Didn’t WFP’s Tamarillo have the same injury at Athens? He recovered completely and went back to competition again, hopefully this horse will be as lucky.
Did not see it myself but when announcing his round, the announcer stated that he had dropped a hind leg and hit the corner with it- presumably that leg.
Paul is a great guy. We saw him escorting his elderly parents up the steps in the covered stadium seating dressed in his shadbelly after his test. We also met him at Bit of Britain and he was just a great guy. We were just sick to hear he had retired on course and I hope his horse will be OK.
[QUOTE=equinedriver;5133962]
Posted to Paul’s Facebook page, he has a fractured stifle. SOunds bad, but they said he had been treated and was resting comfortably in his stall.[/QUOTE]
To be more specific the fracture/large chip is in the patella (small bone over the stifle). The official release says he’s expected to make a full recovery. Also, several upper-level eventers have had this common injury and returned to full form 
We saw the horse take funny steps on the live feed, Paul pulled up, trotted, the horse smoothed out of it, then cantered on, went hopping again, trotted, was ambilvlent, jumped a fence & then must have decided it wasn’t something he was going to “unsting” and pulled up. Everyone in the barn office was going “pull up, pull up” and he did (like he could hear us!).
I heard from one of the Aussie team that the horse is expected to make a full recovery with rest.
