<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><strong>Mark Todd’s campaign for
a seventh Olympic Games has received a set back with the withdrawal of his top
horse.</strong><br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The two time Olympic
gold medallist has had to withdraw NZB Land Vision from contention after the
recurrence of an old tendon injury.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The 2011 winner of the
Badminton Horse Trials will be stood down from training and competition for at
least three months to allow a complete recovery.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">In accepting the
veterinary advice Todd expressed his disappointment, especially as he rates
Land Vision as one of his best.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">He proved himself at
Badminton last year as one of the best four star horses in the world and I
thought if I got him to the Olympics fit and sound he would have had a good
chance at winning a medal,” said Todd.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">It is very disappointing
for me, my sponsors New Zealand Bloodstock and the New Zealand team.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The long term prognosis
for Land Vision is good given his relatively youthful age of 11, and Todd
remains available for selection for a record seventh Olympic Games with other
horses in his stable including the 10-year-old NZB Campino.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">All is far from lost,”
he said. “Campino is very good in all phases too and while he is not quite as
experienced as Land Vision he can also be a competitive (podium) prospect.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The cancellation of
Badminton this weekend has thrown a real spanner in the works for a number of
international riders and teams. <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">It hasn’t helped Todd either,
who still needs to achieve the Olympic qualification standard for another star
of his stable, NZB Grass Valley, on whom he finished 11<sup>th</sup> individual
at the 2010 World Championships, and contributed to a team bronze medal. <br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Grass Valley will now
head to the famous three star event at Saumur in France while Campino will
compete at Chatsworth (UK) this month and Major Milestone to Tattersalls in
Ireland, followed by Luhmuhlen in Germany – the latter the only top level (four
star) competition on the eventing calendar before the Olympics begins on July
28.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Todd remains confident
that the Kiwis have the horse power to do well at the Olympics. “With some very
experienced riders, we’ve certainly still got the basis of a very strong team
for London.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Equestrian Sports New
Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris said that everyone in the team
was disappointed at Land Vision’s withdrawal.<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Tendon injuries are not
unusual for eventing horses and rest is the only option in this case,” said
Harris “Mark remains eligible for selection for London and I fully expect to
see him as part of the Kiwi team in July.”<br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p>
