Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We have another big contender who has now bowed out of selection for next month’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championships at Blenheim Palace (September 18-21). Julia Krajewski (GER) announced on social media on Friday that she will not be pursuing selection with Uelzener’s Nickel, who most recently won the Meßmer Trophy German Championship at Luhmühlen and was also Julia’s partner at the Paris Olympics last summer.
The 2020 Olympic champion cited the terrain at Blenheim as one deciding factor, holding to the “horses for courses” concept with an eye to longevity.
“When I heard that the European Championships for this year had been given to Blenheim I thought ‘very cool venue, but I don’t think it’s for Nickel,'” Julia wrote. “I’ve been in Blenheim twice, with fond memories and for the right horse it is a great course and impressive venue! Though, knowing Nickel for some years now, I felt that the very hilly terrain and subsequent intensity isn’t something that makes him thrive and we don’t want to push him into something I know he doesn’t feel comfortable with.”
“After contemplating all aspects, his ever supportive owner Professor Bernd Heicke and I decided to stay out of the selection process and rather have him do a 4*L this autumn that I know suits him better,” she continued. “As said, this is absolutely nothing against the venue itself, but I am a firm believer in ‘horses for courses’ and try to live by that!”
Germany has yet to nominate its entries, but you can view their starting list here, which will still feature many heavy hitters even with the absence of Julia and Nickel. We should begin seeing nominated entries beginning next week as the August 18 deadline for submission looms. Definite entries will be due on September 1. You can learn more about the FEI Eventing European championships here and see more coverage on EN here.
