The German para dressage group is grieving the lack of championship medal-winning mare Nautika, who has died weeks sooner than she was once because of compete within the Paralympics.
The 18-year-old mare and her 63-year-old rider Martina Benzinger have been decided on to constitute Germany in combination at a 2d primary championship however Nautika have been discovered “now not in her standard shape”.
“To resolve the topic, Nautika was once subjected to a CT scan, which rapidly printed critical headaches,” a spokesperson for the German equestrian federation mentioned.
“For a number of days, the whole lot was once attempted to avoid wasting the mare, however in spite of everything it was once unsuccessful.”
Martina and the Lipizzaner, a former riding horse, have been in combination since 2020 and had 28 global wins in combination.
They have been decided on for the 2022 Global Championships however needed to withdraw at brief realize, making their debut in combination as an alternative on the 2023 Europeans, the place they have been at the group that received silver. In addition they took silver within the grade I particular person take a look at, and bronze within the freestyle.
“We’re all so very sorry for Martina. We understand how a lot Nautika intended to her and the way nice the loss is for her. Nautika was once one thing distinctive in all her tactics, an actual character,” mentioned Nico Hörmann, German para dressage group chief.
In a separate observation, the German para dressage group mentioned Nautika’s dying got here “a ways too early”.
“The grief of the lack of this particular horse runs nice around the group,” the observation mentioned, including a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “What you possess deep to your middle can’t be misplaced by way of dying.”
Martina mentioned: “We will be able to by no means overlook you, in my middle Nauti will at all times have an overly giant position.”
Regine Mispelkamp, additionally a member of the German para dressage group, mentioned Nauitka was once a pleasure to paintings with.
“A large number of air of secrecy, persona and a huge expression have been the traits of the little mare,” she mentioned. “Supplied with a tactful or even stride, the little mare carried her rider Martina safely, reliably and piously thru each take a look at. Together with her now and again very full of life temperament and her personal energy of opinion, she was once a little bit particular to maintain.
“We’re positive Nauti now has a spot of honour within the sky at the particular clouds, she unquestionably merits it. We nonetheless can’t consider it and need you, expensive buddies, our condolences and a large number of energy. Nauti will at all times be in our hearts!”
Isabell Nowak joins the German group with Siracusa OLD, and Melanie Wienand and Lemony’s Loverboy are the brand new reserves.
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