Hexagon’s Ollright, the 11 year old homebred and produced gelding of Dutch Laurens van Lieren, will not be competing in Las Vegas in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. A minor injury of one of the branches of a ligament that already caused his withdrawal from the ‘s-Hertogenbosch horseshow ten days ago now made the veterinarians decide to advise against competing in the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Las Vegas. Laurens van Lieren was very disappointed, especially as he had not expected the decision. “But the most important is the well being of my horse. Both he and I are too young to be sidelined yet. We hope for many more chances to come”, reacted Laurens.

Laurens van Lieren is now replaced by the first reserve-rider in line, Dutch Marlies van Baalen. She will bring KWPN-approved stallion BMC Kigali to Las Vegas. Now the former world champion showjumping as a six year old partnered with Nathalie van der Mei will compete in the world’s highest dressage contest as a 15 year old partnered with Marlies van Baalen!
Marlies van Baalen felt very sorry for her Dutch team mate Laurens van Lieren, but also was too happy with her unexpected last minute chance to compete in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. “BMC Kigali is very fresh and well. By coincidence we just had an extra check yesterday by our vet. I am looking forward to our Frank Sinatra-Freestyle in the USA! And especially I will enjoy seeing Idocus back with Courtney King in Las Vegas. We have a nice mail contact several times a year and it will be very special to compete together now.”

Earlier veterinarians advised Australian rider Matthew Dowsley and owner Claudia Harper against going to the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Las Vegas to avoid further stress and to be able to start surgery to Dowsley’s horse Cinderella.

FEI World Cupâ„¢ Dressage Final Las Vegas (USA) April 18-22
Media Contact: Marty Baumann
Office +1 508 698 6810
Website www.worldcuplasvegas.com
E-mail info@worldcuplasvegas.com

For further information on the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) www.horsesport.org
For further information and all FEI World Cup â„¢ news: www.feiworldcup.org

The FEI World Cupâ„¢ Dressage, initiated in 1985, is the only worldwide series in this discipline. It comprises qualifying leagues encompassing Western and Central Europe, North America, Canada and Australia. Each FEI World Cupâ„¢ Dressage qualifier comprises a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to music competitions, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judges on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cupâ„¢ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

Contact

Malina Georguiev
FEI Communication Department
Fédération Equestre Internationale
m.gueorguiev@horsesport.org
t +41 21 310 47 47
f + 41 21 310 47 60

www.horsesport.org