Fans were stunned when Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival (NED) pulled up just a few movements into the Grand Prix test.
Cornelissen was clearly gutted to have her amazing horse go out on such a low note, and revealed that an infection was to blame.
“It started yesterday morning, I came to the stable and his cheek was completely swollen. It appeared that he was bitten by a spider or mosquito or whatever,” she explained. “His body was full of toxic fever, over 40. We managed to get that down yesterday, he was on liquids and then yesterday evening was all good. Temperature was down again and this morning also. I discussed it with the team vet and he said ‘Ok, give it a try for the team result’ but then he felt totally empty and I didn’t want to push him through this. He didn’t deserve that, did he?”
The pair burst onto the scene in 2008 when they won the Grand Prix and were second in the Special at the World Cup Final. Fast forward to the 2012 Olympic Games, where they were part of the bronze medal Netherlands team and went on to earn the individual silver medal. At 19 years old, the chestnut gelding was to be retired this year.
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