Equine euthanized following tumultuous events at German Championship
Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, E-Mail, Print, or Copy Link this devastating news: Ahorse met its untimely end at the Eventing Championships in Luhmühlende, Germany. The 13-year-old Polish mare, Chiquita, suffered fatal injuries during a fall on the cross-country course with rider Maj-Jonna Ziebell.
The accident apparently occurred at fence 14's C element during the cross-country phase[1][2]. Upon falling, Chiquita sustained a fractured shoulder, which proved too dire to recover from[1]. Immediate medical assistance was provided on-site, and the injured mare was transported to a nearby veterinary clinic for further examination.
The event organizers announced in the evening that the veterinary team had made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize Chiquita after a thorough assessment[1]. Rider Maj-Jonna Ziebell, a 29-year-old rider from Döhl, shared her sentiments, describing Chiquita as "something very special" and confessing her deep sorrow over the loss, expressing that Chiquita was "my best friend."
Olympian Leads the Pack as Championships Continue
Despite the somber atmosphere, the eventing competition continues with 20,000 spectators attending the traditional event in Luhmühlensouth of Hamburg. Julia Krajewski, the 36-year-old Tokyo Olympic champion, maintains her lead in the German Eventing Championships following the cross-country phase. The champion is riding the 11-year-old Nickel at the event, incurring only 2.4 penalty points due to a time overrun during the cross-country round.
Emma Brüssau currently holds second place, having made a notable improvement from fifth place with her partner Dark Desire. The final show jumping round will determine the winner, set to commence today at 13:00 CET/NDR[2].
Sources: 1. ntv.de 2. ara/dpa
Depth Insights: - Chiquita was a 13-year-old mare that fell during the CCI4*-S cross-country competition at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, part of the German Eventing Championships - The accident occurred at the C element of fence 14 during the cross-country phase. The horse had a fractured shoulder from the fall. - Chiquita was attended to immediately on-site by veterinary professionals and was later humanely euthanized due to the extent and critical nature of her injury. - The event attracts top competitors and significant attention within the equestrian community. The incident has drawn widespread condolences from the equestrian community and event organizers, highlighting the risks involved in high-level eventing.
- Synonyms used: met — faced, died — perished, stumbled — fell, significant — notable, spectators — fans, incurred — accumulated, finals — conclusion, sapling — young tree, incurred penalty points — accumulated penalties, hoofed — equine, contemporary — modern, outrage — widespread condolences
- In the face of the tragic loss at the Eventing Championships in Luhmühlensouth of Hamburg, where Chiquita, a 13-year-old horse, perished due to injuries sustained during a fall on the cross-country course, many are sharing emotional messages, reminiscing about a life cut short in the world of equestrian sports, and horse-racing.
- As the final show jumping round approaches today at 13:00 CET/NDR, the intense competition for the German Eventing Championships continues, with top athletes like Julia Krajewski, the Tokyo Olympic champion, maintaining her lead, despite the recent accident that has brought a somber mood to the event, a notable reminder of the risks and love for the sport that unites both riders and their horse-racing partners.
