Anky Not to go to WEG in Kentucky
15 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Anky Not to go to WEG in Kentucky
ERP, The Netherlands, May 31–Anky van Grunsven announced Monday that she will not seek to go to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky beginning Sept. 25.
In a posting on her Internet site, the nine-time World Cup champion, Olympic and World Championship gold medalist said that her 2008 Beijing Games mount Salinero was still not healthy two months after injuring himself in his stall.
“Salinero’s withers got injured after a trauma in his stall,” she said. “He still needs at least one month of rest from now.
“To be present at the WEG, it would take another three months to be back in full training.”
Anky said she does not want to force the healing, so has decided not to go through the Dutch selection process for the WEG so as to give Salinero “all the time he needs to recover.”
Anky said she made the decision not to go with I.P.S Painted Black, either.
“The stallion’s results went up and down the last months and he has had a light injury as well.” she said.
Anky said she thinks the chance of her being in the first five positions to make up the team and a reserve “is very small.”
She said she does not think her withdrawel will have an adverse impact on the Dutch team’s chances at the WEG.
“The other Dutch combination have enough quality to be a qualitative complement to the ultimate team effort.” she said.
The most likely team for The Netherlands is Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas and Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, the two top ranked combinations in the world, and Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Hunter Douglas Sunrise.
Anky did not qualify for the World Cup Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, earlier this year and is reported training and competing in reining events with an eye to making the Dutch reining squad at WEG.
Sjef Janssen, her husband, is the Dutch dressage team coach.
