On Tuesday the bad news that Michael Jung was withdrawing his mare fischerRocana FST from the World Equestrian Games due to a strain in her fetlock joint, spread like wildfire, fortunately the injury is not serious but needs time to heal. Michael’s place in the team will be taken by the reigning World Champion Sandra Auffarth, however she won’t be riding Opgun Louvo, her horse from the last World Championships, but the 9 year old stallion Viament du Matz (Photo). This makes WEG from the German perspective definitely more interesting……..

At the final selection for the German team in the CIC3* in Strzegom Sandra presented the stallion in top form and won the event finishing on her dressage score of -28,8 confirming the positive development of the chestnut. In Aachen in 2018 it became apparent that Viamant du Matz has the potential to become a future championship horse or perhaps even champion, an average dressage result and a slightly slower round cross country (intentionally) resulted in them finishing “only” in 12th place. However this performance moved them 15 places up the leader board having been 27th after dressage.

However it will still remain interesting and Sandra Auffarth will need all her experience and strong nerves; she fortunately has enough of both. The 9 year old stallion has no 4* experience, the qualification result was achieved in the CCI3* in Sopot, where they also took it easy in the cross country. We place our trust in the experience and good assessment skills of the National Trainer, Hans Melzer and the rider, Sandra Auffarth and look forward to the first big championship performance of a horse with super potential.

Report: HR-GE
Photo: Diana Jung

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