As a quick update on Michael Pollard and his thoroughbred Icarus, who had a very tough fall late on the Burghley course at the drop into the new water complex (#26), both are doing considerably better just a few days after the fall. Michael arrived back in the US last night and Icarus is still in England. I spoke with him briefly this morning and he sent us a quick statement about his trip to Burghley this afternoon.
Michael told me that although he was initially convinced on Saturday that the wrist was broken, by Sunday morning it was feeling a lot better and he is now sure that the wrist is not broken. Michael is on a vet tour for Cavalor in the northeast this week, but he said that he should be able to ride as early as later this week when he returns home to Georgia. This is great news because Michael has been named to the US Pan American team on Schoensgreen Hanni and obviously there were concerns that a broken wrist might affect his Pan Am preparation.
Icarus is still in England under the care of Michael’s barn manager and groom, Katie Thornton. Icarus was quite sore in his front legs immediately following the fall, but he is feeling much better and the main concern now is cuts and swelling in his right hind leg from a bad reaction to the water in the water jump. Icarus is scheduled to return to the US next week.
The frustrating thing for Michael is that Icarus jumped really well through all of the tough parts of the Burghley course. They were just a few jumps from almost a great addition to their Olympic resume. Icarus started to really tire towards the end and although Michael felt him get a second wind turning for home the horse just didn’t have any jump when they reached the water jump. Michael told me that “there has to be something underlying that caused [Icarus] to tire like that.” He felt that they had had good fitness preparation leading up to Burghley and mentioned that Icarus might have been suffering from a shipping sickness. Michael’s plan with Icarus is to target Rolex this coming spring.
Michael sent us this quick statement about his Burghley trip this afternoon.
From Michael:
The most difficult type of lesson to take is from the school of hard knocks. I had a crash course this trip to Burghley. Thank goodness both Icarus and I seem to be in good shape following the biggest fall we have both experienced. I am extremely proud of him because he did absolutely everything asked despite his fatigue. In the end our undoing was my responsibility.I am not yet sure why, but Icarus tired much more than would be normal for him on the XC. Perhaps I did not prepare him enough, or he was not feeling 100 percent from his trip, but the bottom line is I will need to go back to the drawing board in order that he does not need to labor this hard in the future.I was really honored to be a part of representing the US alongside my colleagues this year, and I am really proud of their accomplishments last week. I think there is a lot too look forward to on the international front for US Eventing!Thank you for all the kind words I have received these last two weeks and to my team for making these things possible. Also, a special thanks to Land Rover for giving grants for this years Burghley. While I did not have personal success, I am sure I will be much better for having had the experience. After a short break I’ll be back competing and preparing for the Pan Am games. I am excited to take on the rest of the year! ~Michael Pollard
As other injury updates from Burghley, Will Coleman and Twizzel both had to withdraw before the dressage when Twizzel suddenly went lame in the warm up. Will and Twizzel are returning to the US tonight and Will’s vet, Kevin Keane, will perform further evaluations this week.
Oliver Townend’s horse Neo Du Breuil received a puncture wound to his chest on the cross-country, which was treated at the on-site Burghley hospital and he was back in the stables later that day according to Oliver’s Twitter. Overall, this was a very safe Burghley and a tremendous weekend for eventing.
Go eventing.
