The Portuguese dressage world suffered a big blow with the loss of Maria Caetano's Grand Prix horse Util. The 8-year old Lusitano stallion suffered from anaphylactic shock and died on Friday 3 September 2010.
Portuguese team vet Dr. Bruno Miranda told Dressage Portugal that Util suffered from a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic which made the horse go into shock. Despite many efforts the grey stallion could not be saved.
Caetano and Util were selected to represent Portugal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in twenty days. The combination was set to participate in a final training camp with Kyra Kyrklund before the team left for the U.S.A.
Caetano and Util (by Maestro x Zaque) were rising stars in Portugal. This year the combination won the Kur to Music at the CDI Vidauban and Nambroca. They competed in the 2010 Sunshine Tour and at the 2010 CDI Saumur.
The Portuguese team alternate is Nuno Palma e Santos aboard the Lusitano Sal, but it is not yet confirmed that he will substitute them.
Source © Equisport.pt
Photo © Rui Pedro Godinho
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