Rath withdraws Totilas from Olympics
By Staff Report July 5, 2012German dressage rider Matthias Rath has withdrawn himself and his champion mount Totilas from consideration for the 2012 Olympics. The announcement was made today at the CDIO Aachen, where the duo missed its second Olympic selection trial.
Rath, 27, has been suffering from mononucleosis. Totilas was the 2010 Reem Acra World Cup Dressage winner with Dutch rider Edward Gal. The KWPN stallion was purchased by breeder Paul Schockemöhle for Rath to ride for Germany at the 2012 Olympics.
Although the price was not disclosed, various media reports pegged it as anywhere between$12 million and $18 million.
The move was seen at the time as a masterstroke by Germany to revive the fortunes of its once-great dressage team, which had ceded ground to the Dutch and also been tarnished by a drug scandal.
Dutch dressage enthusiasts were bitter about the horse being sold out from under Gal (who rides under the flag of the Netherlands), a move that stung even more in that it placed the rock star steed in the camp of Holland’s top rival.
Some were quick to characterize this news as the latest sad chapter for the talented mount. “It was my big dream to compete for Germany with this unique horse and this fun, young team at the Olympic Games,” Rath in making the announcement July 5. “It would be irresponsible towards my own health and towards my team colleagues to be nominated in this condition.”
German dressage selection committee chair Klaus Roeser called the news “bitter for Matthias” and “regrettable” for Germany, and wished him a speedy recovery.
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