Laura Collett has withdrawn Mr Bass from this week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (30 August-2 September).
“I can’t quite believe I’m having to write this, but sadly I’ve had to make the tough decision to withdraw Mr Bass from Burghley due to him not feeling 100% when I worked him yesterday. As hard as it is, we know this is the right decision… roll on Badminton 2019,” said Laura on social media.
Laura and Mr Bass were on the British long-list for the World Equestrian Games (WEG), which takes place in Tryon, USA, two weeks after Burghley, and when they were not selected, many hoped they would score a top result at Burghley to prove that they would have been worthy team members.
Laura has been on top form this season and finished eighth in the final Event Rider Masters (ERM) leg at Blair last week riding London 52, securing herself second place in the ERM overall league.
Other recent Burghley withdrawals include Treason (Sarah Cohen), Euro Prince (Clare Abbott), Strike Smartly and Toledo De Kerser (Tom McEwen), Cooley Lands (Chris Burton), Cooley Earl (Georgie Strang), Last Touch (Charlotte Bacon), Steady Eddie (Boyd Martin), Charlton Down Riverdance (Becky Woolven) and Leonidas II (Mark Todd).
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Full Burghley preview in the Horse & Hound magazine on sale now (issue dated 23 August) including course walk with Blyth Tait and form guide.