Parbery Boxes On While Beresford's Out of WEG

Hayley Beresford & Relampago do Retiro. Photo: Franz Venhaus, EA.

The Australian Dressage team at the World Equestrian Games suffered a blow when Hayley Beresford and her mount Relampago do Retiro had to retire after the stallion presented uneven in his second trot extension.

“I was coming across the arena in my extended trot and about a third of the way across I felt a hiccup,” explained Hayley “After that he was not right.”

Back at the stables afterwards the horse was examined by the FEI veterinarian who was satisfied that the horse was the same as he had seen it at the trot up. He trotted up sound.

“He warmed up perfectly, he felt amazing, then all of sudden he was uneven. it is just one of those things,” added a philosophical Hayley. “As long as he is OK, that is the most important thing. At this stage it does not seem to be anything serious.”

“It is quite possible that he strained something and he will be totally fine.”

Having managed a creditable 18th place at the last Olympics just eight months after their Grand Prix debut, it was a disappointing for the Team as Beresford and Relampago were expected to be one of the scores used for the overall result.

Brett Parbery and Victory Salute posted the highest score of the Australians, with 70.085% to see the team finish up in eighth position. Parbery’s 15th and Rachel Sanna's 23rd place sees them continue on in the competition to Wednesday’s Grand Prix Special.

The Netherlands have secured the Gold with Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas scoring 84.043% while British rider Laura Bechtolsheimer is in second individually with America’s Stefen Peters in third.


Individual leaders, Edward Gal & Moorlands Totilas. Photo: Kit Haughton, FEI.

Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht are in fourth spot on 75.404%.

Great Britain has secured silver and Germany bronze in the team competition.

Beresford was not the only unfortunate rider to be belled out on the second day with the Netherlands’ other big hope Adeline Cornelissen and her horse Parzival also exiting the ring prematurely. On the way to a plus 80% test the quirky chestnut bit the end of his tongue and after blood was spotted by chief judge Stephen Clark their gold medal chances were dashed.