A Devastating Fall at the German Championships
Equestrian Animal Put Down Following Controversy at German Championship Event
The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials were shadowed by a heartbreaking incident. The 13-year-old Polish mare, Chiquita, sustained a fatal injury during a fall with her rider, Maj-Jonna Ziebell, in the cross-country phase.
The accident occurred at fence 14's C element. Upon impact, Chiquita suffered a broken shoulder, causing immediate concern for the veterinary team present. Despite providing prompt care on the scene and transporting the mare to a nearby veterinary clinic, the severity of her injury led to the heartbreaking decision to euthanize her.
Maj-Jonna Ziebell, a 29-year-old rider from Döhl, shared her deep sorrow, stating, "Chiquita was something very special. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing her found it hard not to fall in love with the horse. I've lost my best friend, and I'm incredibly sad."
Despite this emotional setback, the competition continued. Julia Krajewski, a 36-year-old Olympic champion from Tokyo, managed to maintain her lead after the cross-country phase. Partnered with the 11-year-old Nickel, Krajewski incurred only 2.4 penalty points due to a time overrun in the cross-country. "I had a few points of buffer, so I said to myself: Okay, if it doesn't work out with the last second, then that's also a good, very safe round," said Krajewski. "I'm totally satisfied."
As the competition unfolds towards its conclusion in the show jumping phase, Emma Brüssau holds the second position, having moved up from fifth place with Dark Desire. Approximately 20,000 fans attended the traditional event in Luhmühlen, south of Hamburg.
Sources: ntv.de, ara/dpa
- Equestrian Sports
- Enrichment: The details of Chiquita's accident during the German Eventing Championships included her suffering a broken shoulder at fence 14's C element. Additionally, several other pairs opted out of further competition due to various reasons unrelated to the accident. Despite the tragedy, the eventing community expressed deep sympathy for Maj-Jonna Ziebell and honored Chiquita's memory.
The equestrian sports community at the German Championships was disrupted by a tragic accident during the cross-country phase of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, where a Polish mare, Chiquita, suffered a fatal broken shoulder at fence 14's C element. Despite several pairs withdrawing due to unrelated reasons, the eventing competition continued, with riders displaying sympathy towards Maj-Jonna Ziebell and honoring Chiquita's memory.
