A rider I know in Germany lost his FEI horse due to a victory lap. The horse took a bad step and fractured his coffin bone. Underwent surgery but never recovered and had to be euthanized.
The points is, adjust your victory lap to suit your horses. Many dressage horses are not comfortable galloping victory laps, so agree not to gallop. Surely a bunch of riders at that level can organise themselves - and their horses - to perform a victory lap appropriate to the horses present. And surely the horses - despite huge value and investment - are not so precious (used in the emotive, not fiscal term) that they CAN’T trot a victory lap! Those who are just not capable (and I’ve had one or two) should just not try.
