Fernhill Tabasco Replaces Paulank Brockagh on Australian WEG Team

Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Equestrian Australia announced today that Sam Griffiths has withdrawn Paulank Brockagh from the Australian team for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games due to a minor injury the mare sustained in training.

“Brocks,” a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, competed on the bronze medal team for Australia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and finished fourth individually, just 0.1 point behind Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice.

Sam said the mare will recuperate and aim for the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, which she won in 2014.

Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, have been called up off the reserve list to take the open slot on the Australian team.

“Firstly, I am sad for Sam and his horse; hopefully she will be back on track soon,” Emma said. “This is something I have been working towards for my entire riding career and it’s amazing it’s happening now.”

Emma and “Toby” will join the Australian eventing team camp set to begin on Thursday in the UK. The Australian team horses will leave from Belgium to start their trip to America on Sept. 5.

The two remaining reserve combinations for the Australian WEG team are Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett and Amanda Ross and Koko Popping Candy.

Definite entries for WEG are due Sept. 3, and we will likely continue to see horses called up off the nominated entries list over the course of the following week as last-minute injuries crop up.

Keep it locked on EN for all your latest WEG news.

[FEI World Equestrian Games Nominated Eventing Entries]