Zara Phillips, reigning World Champion and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, won’t be going to the Olympics in Hong Kong this year with Toytown. The 15-year-old chestnut gelding suffered an injury during training.
“I’m very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go,” said Phillips.
Phillips, 26, has been a stalwart on the British team for the last several years. She had to miss the 2004 Olympics when Toytown was injured, but she went on to win the European Eventing Championships in 2005 and earned the individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2006. She also helped Great Britain earn team gold in 2007 at the European Championships.
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Great Britain named their eventing team back in May. Besides Phillips, the list included William Fox-Pitt on Ballincoola, Parkmore Ed or Tamarillo, Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town, Mary King on Call Again Cavalier or Imperial Cavalier and Lucy Wiegersma on Shaabrak.
A new team member will be chosen as quickly as possible. Those on the reserve list include: Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic, Daisy Dick on Hope Street or Spring Along, Ruth Edge on Two Thyme and Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis.
