Sports Equestrian Championship
“Guckige Stallions” – plastic horses cause trouble
Status: 30.08.2023 | Reading time: 2 minutes
The temptation and distraction was obviously too great – before the start of the Equestrian Championships, two plastic horses have to be removed from the course
Source: dpa/Friso Gentsch
Before the start of the European Riding Championships, two horses cause trouble. The two journeymen are made of plastic and obviously distract their lively colleagues too much, especially the stallions. The world association intervenes only hesitantly at first.
The European Riding Championships begin in Milan on Wednesday. Of course with many live horses, but actually also with two specimens made of plastic. These two journeymen caused a lot of trouble a few hours before the start of the show jumping competitions. The two plastic animals were incorporated as part of an obstacle for Wednesday’s time trial.
Flanked by the two journeymen, the riders should jump over the obstacle on their horses. Much to the incomprehension of the riders and their trainers. “That’s not possible, it distracts the horses,” said national trainer Otto Becker: “It can be difficult, especially with stallions.”
For this horse, the European Championship ends before it begins
Source: dpa/Friso Gentsch
The World Equestrian Federation FEI initially had the artificial horses move about a meter away from the obstacle in order to direct the focus of the live animals to the bars to be jumped over. But obviously that wasn’t enough for everyone. “That’s just unfair,” complained Christian Kukuk. The individual starter at the European Championships said that his stallion Mumbai will keep an eye on the plastic animals from the moment they enter. Mumbai is “not really peppy,” explained Kukuk, but through breeding he knows such dummies and is distracted by them on the course. “He’ll be looking there all the time.”
Ultimately, those responsible reacted consistently, and not just because of the snooty Mumbai. Since the plastic journeymen persistently remained standing next to the obstacle, the organizers grabbed hold of them and carried them out of the course.
German team only with outsider chances
Even without the distraction of the plastic horses, the German team only has outsider chances at the European Championships. “I see a few teams that are better on paper,” said Marcus Ehning, who recently won the Aachen Grand Prix. “We’re not as strong as we used to be.” From his point of view, the teams from Switzerland, the Netherlands and Great Britain are among the hot contenders for a medal. “Many nations are strong,” said the 49-year-old. Most recently, the German team won silver at the European Championships four years ago in Rotterdam and two years ago in Riesenbeck.
