Competition Debut Postponed for Rath and Totilas

Due to a hoof injury that the dressage horse, Totilas, sustained just under two weeks ago Matthias Alexander Rath (Kronberg i.T.) and the 11-year-old stallion will not be able to give their debut performance at the equestrian show in Hagen. ?We very much regret not being able to compete in Hagen, but the health and welfare of our horses is always the top priority, explained the 26-year-old World Championship bronze medallist, heavy-heartedly.

The hoof abscess having to undergo medical treatment for a longer period of time, which means that although the treatment has been successful it is impossible for the horse to compete in Hagen due to the detection times that have to be observed. "We are very careful when handling all of our horses, but unfortunately one can never rule out a hoof abscess" explained their trainer, Klaus-Martin Rath.

Over Easter the pair were able to recommence with light training in the form of walk and trot work. Totilas has since been making good progress, the injury has healed completely. "We had a great feeling before the injury and the preparations and joint development were going much better than expected," stated Matthias Rath, "which is why we had made firm plans for our early competition debut in May and we were really looking forward to it."

Hagen would have been a good touchstone to see how Rath and Totilas fare up under competition conditions. Together with his father, Matthias Rath will now replan their competition schedule and will announce the debut event in due course.

Source: www.matthias-rath.de