With the outdoor season rapidly approaching in this important Olympic year, Eurodressage wondered how Imke Schellekens-Bartels top horse Sunrise is doing now that the mare is making a slow recovery from the injury she sustained in December 2010.
The Smarius family's Hanoverian mare Sunrise (by Singular Joter x Werther) injured herself in a lunging accident in December 2010 and though the injury was considered to be minor, the mare was off for the entire 2011 show season. She missed out on the 2011 World Cup circuit as well as the 2011 European Championships in home country The Netherlands.
For many years Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Sunrise were a fixture on the Dutch team and competed at the 2006 and 2010 World Equestrian Games, 2007 and 2009 European Championships and 2008 Olympic Games, winning numerous team silver and gold medals. They showed in four World Cup Finals finishing second in 2007 and third in 2010.
With the Olympics are taking place in six months, the question is if Imke believes the 18-year old mare will be ready to contend for a spot on the Dutch Olympic team.
"Sunrise is doing well," Schellekens-Bartels told Eurodressage. "I train her daily but not fully. I train her quietly onwards but have not yet made a show schedule. To me it is most important that she stays healthy and I will not pressure her for the upcoming season. We'll see how it goes."
Schellekens is actively training her rising Grand prix horse Toots (by Jazz) which she aims to present at the Dutch Olympic qualification events.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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