Two more horses have been added to a growing list that will not attend the European Championships next month in Aachen, Germany. Over the weekend John Whitaker revealed that he will not make Argento (pictured above with groom Damien O’Halloran) available for team selection. “I’m not doing the Europeans,” Whitaker confirmed. “Argento is a fantastic horse but he loves small arenas. He’s not quite as comfortable in the big grass arenas. I think Aachen is quite the unique place; he always tries his best and I don’t want to break his heart in something he’s not very comfortable in.”
The British Team is said to be announced following the CSIO5* event in Dublin, Ireland.
After sustaining a minor injury in Rotterdam last month, Christian Ahlmann’s Codex One will not be made available for selection for the European Championships in August. The stallion’s owner Marions Jauß alongside Christian reached the conclusion together, citing the horses health and future as the source of their decision.
Codex One is on a steady road to recovery following his minor injury in Rotterdam, however, the time between now at the Championships in Aachen is too short, explained Ahlmann on his website. Therefore, Jauß and Ahlmann have thus decided to bring Codex One back slowly.
However, the 2014 winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen still holds a chance to be named on the German team with two mounts nominated; Taloubet Z and Epleaser van’t Heike.
The winner of the weekend’s Longines Grand Prix of London, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, also confirmed that he will not pursue participation in the European Championships with Casall Ask. “I knew already in February that Casall, with respect for his age and everything, that he’s not going to be competing in the Europeans this time,” Bengtsson said.