A Tragic End to the German Eventing Championships: Chiquita Euthanized After Falling on the Cross-country Course
Equine Euthanized Following Controversy at German Championship Event
Popular eventing horse, Chiquita, is no more following a dramatic incident at the German Championships in Luhmühlen. Her rider, Maj-Jonna Ziebell, was unable to avoid a fall during the cross-country phase, leading to Chiquita's unfortunate demise.
According to unconfirmed reports, Chiquita sustained a shattered shoulder after the fall, a catastrophic injury that could not be alleviated, leading to the heartbreaking decision to euthanize her. The incident occurred in the final stages of the cross-country course, just after the water jump over a brush fence. Despite Ziebell managing to stand, her beloved horse could not.
Ziebell, a 29-year-old equestrian from Döhle, shared her heartbreak by saying, "My horse was something very special. Anyone who had the chance to get to know Chiquita - a horse that chose herself - fell in love with her. I've lost my closest companion and I'm devastated."
The Race for the Top: Krajewski Leads as Competitors Prepare for Sunday's Show Jumping
Whilst the tragic incident cast a melancholic shadow over the event, Julia Krajewski continues to dazzle as she maintains her lead in the German Eventing Championships. Krajewski, a 36-year-old Olympic champion from Tokyo, has been dominating the competition since the beginning with her 11-year-old horse Nickel.
She incurred 2.4 penalty points due to a time overrun in the cross-country phase but has built up a significant buffer, preparing her for the final show jumping competition on Sunday (13:00 CET/NDR). Speaking about her performance, Krajewski expressed her satisfaction, saying "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."
Emma Brüssau currently holds the second position, having made a remarkable climb from fifth place, partnering with Dark Desire for the competition. The traditional event in Luhmühlen, situated south of Hamburg, was attended by 20,000 fans.
Sources: ntv.de [ara/dpa]
- Notable Equestrian IncidentsIn the world of equestrian sports, incidents such as Chiquita's tragic fall are unfortunately all too common. These incidents serve as a harsh reminder of the fragility and sensitivity of these magnificent creatures, necessitating a continuous focus on safety and training.
Despite the tragedy during the German Eventing Championships, the race for the top continues. Julia Krajewski, an Olympic champion, maintains her lead as competitors prepare for the Sunday show jumping. Meanwhile, the equestrian community grapples with the reality of Chiquita's accident, underlining the need for ongoing safety and training in equestrian sports.
