British Showjumping has today announced that Ben Maher has withdrawn his Olympic Champion Explosion W (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) from the FEI Jumping World Championship in Herning, Denmark, which will take place next week. Maher will instead compete the 12-year-old stallion Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde), his replacement horse for the championship. 

In a statement from British Showjumping, Maher said: “We’re incredibly disappointed to have to take this decision but Explosion W just isn’t quite at his peak fitness to take on the demands of this championship. He’s well in himself but jumping championship tracks over consecutive days takes a great deal of stamina. He’s simply too special a horse to risk so, with his welfare at the forefront of my mind I felt this was the best action.”

“Oakingham Stud’s Faltic HB has jumped fantastically this season, I’m really looking forward to being part of a very exciting British team in Herning,” Maher added.