2002 World Equestrian Games

Dressage Vet Inspection Blocks Gestion Silvano N

The merciless "not passed" was surprisingly called for Gestion Silvano N, the Holsteiner licensed stallion ridden by Dutch Ellen Bontje. Even though the horse showed a tender trot during the jog, he was definitely not the most irregular one of the pack. A few horses still seemed stiff and sore from the long trip to Spain -- the Canadian horses had to stay an extra 9 hours on the plane because the horses of the American Driving team had problems with their transportation papers -- but none of them showed real lameness problems. Yet, it can not be denied that Silvano N was not irregular.

The harsh judgment of the judges, ending not only Ellen Bontje's WEG dream, but also her last competition with this horse, and probably the chance for the Dutch team to win the silver team medal, felt like an electroconvulsion shock. Dutch chef d'equipe Ghislain Fourage, the team vet, and other Dutch officials immediately started lobbying and pleading for Silvano's case. For a while, the rumour was spread that Silvano N would receive the chance to be re-inspected the next day at 8 AM, but that was a pipe dream for Bontje. The new FEI rule, issued in 2002, says that the call by the judges at the day of the vet check is binding and that horses no longer receive a second chance by being reinspected the next day. Consequently, Bontje is out of the Dutch team and her position will be filled in by reserve rider Tineke Bartels whose Broere Jazz (KWPN, by Cocktail) did pass.

Text by Astrid Appels