Piggy French may miss being selected for this summer’s European Eventing Championships in Malmo (29 August-1 September).
Her top ride, Jakata, is out for the season with a suspensory ligament injury.
It has been a torrid 12 months for the 32-year-old former European individual silver medallist, who missed out on competing at London 2012 when both her selected horses — Jakata and DHI Topper W — sustained injuries.
Her father Wally French and Michael Underwood’s Jakata had returned to full fitness and was on course for Badminton this year, finishing third in his final prep run, the CIC*** at Burnham Market, in March.
“He had come back as good as ever and felt on fantastic form, but he won’t compete again this year, which is so disappointing,” Piggy told H&H.
“He’ll be 16 next year, but I’m hopeful there will be opportunities for him to shine again at the top level.”
Piggy’s other top ride, Topper, is back in work but will wait until the autumn for a three-day event run.
She has two other three-star horses currently competing — Westwood Mariner, who is entered for Bramham, and Tinkas Time, who will head to Saumur.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (23 May 2013)
