2009 World Cup Finals

Adelinde Cornelissen Out, Parzival Injured

April 16, 2009

It's game over for Dutch shooting star Adelinde Cornelissen at the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. Right before the start of the show, Cornelissen's horse Parzival injured a tendon and had to be withdrawn from competition.

The 29-year old Cornelissen had felt an irregularity in the movement of her 12-year old chestnut Dutch warmblood gelding Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft). Belgian team veterinarian Jef Desmedt scanned Parzival's left front leg and immediately noticed that the horse had pulled his suspensory.

It was a devastating blow for Cornelissen who has travelled the globe a second time in one year and not being able to compete. She was in Hong Kong as Olympic reserve and now she had high hopes for a top place in the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. With three World Cup qualifier victories, Cornelissen was considered a favourite for the title.

"Unfortunately I had to withdraw. Parzival injured himself, probably just by taking a wrong step," Cornelissen said. "I don't know yet how serious it is, but he'll be further examined. I'm totally bummed out for not being able to participate, but it's more important to get Parzival fit again."

Veterinarian Jef Desmedt indicated that it is a minor injury, but as it concerns a tendon it will probably take quite some time to heal. "It's hard to say how long," Desmedt explained, "but you can think in terms of months instead of weeks. We've taken some X-rays and they show that it is a very recent injury."

Parzival's injury sadly reflects a similar situation two years ago in Las Vegas when Andreas Helgstrand had to pull out his WEG medal winning mare Matine. The grey Danish warmblood mare injured her tendon slipping off the trailer while being unloaded on the scene. So far, this mare has not returned to the show ring and is still recovering (doing aquatraining in Germany).

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