McLain Ward and Sapphire Disqualified from SJ World Cup

As a quick note before we jump into our penultimate preview group, the FEI announced in a press release last night that McLain Ward’s incredible show jumper Sapphire was disqualified for veterinary reasons from the World Cup Final in Geneva.  Apparently the FEI vets used a thermography and clinical examination of Sapphire’s legs to determine she was unfit to continue the competition.  The USEF SJ team vet, Dr. Time Ober said in a statement this morning that Sapphire was sound and that the FEI test results did not warrant disqualification.  There is obviously much, much more behind this story.  USEF Press Release, Princess Haya Statement, *COTH’s Article*