Dressage Star Brentina Withdrawn from Individual Competition

Aachen, Germany - A brand new cross-country course awaits the eventers as they begin their first of three phases at the 2006 WEG. But before they can take to the new course (which will be contested in the short format without steeplechase), there are two days of dressage. And if the morning of the first day is any indication, it will be a cold and wet ride. In addition, it was the first day of a series of compulsories for the vaulting squads vying for medals.

But perhaps the biggest news of the day was the surprising decision to pull dressage star Brentina from the individual dressage competition at the 2006 WEG. During an afternoon press conference, Idaho’s Debbie McDonald was candid about the horse’s injury and the tentative future of the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare that has stood as one of the country’s most-loved international dressage stars for some time.

“I have to say she felt wonderful yesterday warming up, and I thought maybe I might have felt something [during the dressage test], so I did ride her a little conservatively,” said McDonald of her Wednesday ride that earned the U.S. team the Bronze medal in team dressage. “She finished through the test, and in the last extended trot I could feel that it wasn’t 100%.”

The horse was checked thoroughly last night, and nothing showed up. This morning was a different story when there was, according to McDonald, “a little bit of filling in the leg and so, in her best interest…we have decided to withdraw and find out what is exactly going on.”

This begged the question of the possibility of a retirement for Brentina. “You know, that’s a tough question to answer,” continued McDonald. “If this doesn’t end up to be something too huge, I would love the opportunity…to do the World Cup again in Las Vegas.” She said that they would take it from there. “But, again, [Brentina] comes first. And, if it means that she needs to retire, she can be a Momma,” ended McDonald. I’m not ruling out anything at this time.”

The withdrawal of the pair leaves the U.S. team’s highest-placed grand prix scorers, Steffen Peters and the 16-year-old Westphalian gelding, Floriano, and the pair of Guenter Seidel and the 14-year-old Bavarian Warmblood gelding Aragon in the run for an individual medal.