The U.S. Equestrian Federation has substituted a horse on the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) has withdrawn Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Cubalawn, due to veterinary concerns.
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Dutton’s direct reserve Mighty Nice, HND Group’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, will replace Fernhill Cubalawn. Fernhill Cubalawn sustained a minor injury while training and is expected to make a full recovery.
“I’m disappointed to announce that I’ve withdrawn Fernhill Cubalawn from the Olympic Games after he strained a tendon yesterday in his final gallop before shipping to Ocala [Fla.] for U.S. team training camp,” wrote Dutton on his Facebook page. “I am sorry for his owners, Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt and Caroline Moran, and our team, especially Emma Ford, as they have all worked so hard to get Cuba to Rio. We are very lucky to have a top reserve horse in HND Group’s Mighty Nice to step in and take Cuba’s place on the U.S. team. Thank you to my sponsors, owners, family and team for supporting us on this journey to the Olympics. Happy is in top form and ready to make Team USA proud.”
