Together with Kevin Staut, Roger Yves-Bost and Pénélope Leprévost, Simon Delestre was selected to represent the tricolor aboard the 11-year-old Selle Francais by Hugo Gesmeray x Ryon D'Anzex. Last year the pair got their selection jumping to the fifth place at the FEI European Championships. Rozier and his horse Rahotep de Toscane are in Rio De Janeiro with the team, and are now ready to step up.
Last night sad news reached the French show jumping team as Simon Delestre's mount Hermes Ryan des Hayettes came out of his stall not quite right. The show jumping horses arrived at Deodoro Equestrian Complex in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil well ahead of the start of competition for familiarization and to settle in. Olympic show jumping begins on Sunday, August 14th, with the horse inspection scheduled for Friday, August 12th.
Earlier today French chef d'Equipe, Philippe Guerdat explained that Ryan immediately underwent a thorough veterinary examination:
“If there is any risk, we will not take it.”
“It’s still early to know precisely what he had. We spent the day doing an MRI, we did everything we could. We don’t see anything on the ultrasound, no fracture on the hip. We don’t know if he rolled, if he badly stood up. It’s inexplicable, it’s more than bad luck.
“We have to wait for tomorrow, as we will wait for 48 hours before releasing an official prognosis. Unfortunately, for the horse, for Simon and for the French team, the couple could be out. They are one of our assets and we have built our team around [Penelope Leprevost’s] Flora and Ryan. He was preserved all season for these Olympics, so it would be unfortunate not to have him participate, but Ryan’s health is our priority and everything will be done for him. But if there is any risk, we will not take it.”
