Equestrian: Denis Lynch will not travel to the Olympic Games later this month after Horse Sport Ireland opted to withdraw his nomination to the Irish team. The decision comes after the disqualification of his Nations' Cup mount Lantinus in Aachen last week.
The horse had tested positive for hypersensitivity of his legs. Lynch was one of two Irish show jumpers selected for the Irish team but Horse Sport Ireland has now asked show jumping manager Robert Splaine to put forward another combination from amongst his list of reserves.
Lynch released a statement on Saturday in which he stressed both his innocence and his support for the measures regarding hypersensitivity implemented by the FEI.
“At no stage, was there any inference that the hypersensitivity was anything other than natural occurring,” he said. “I feel this is very important to clarify and I would also like to state for the record that I fully support all measures regarding hypersensitivity implemented by the FEI.”
The Tipperary native explained the background to the gelding’s disqualification during a routine boot and bandage control. He stated that when the horse was examined two hours before competing in Thursday’s Nations’ Cup, a small wound on the near fore leg and an abrasion on the off hind leg were identified but were not associated with “any hypersensitivity or abnormalities in the thermographic examination. We were satisfied, therefore, for Lantinus to compete in the Nations Cup”.
On re-examination after competing in Thursday’s two rounds, when the horse lowered three fences, and again on Friday morning these areas of sensitivity had increased and it was advised that the horse “was now considered hypersensitive within Annex XI of FEI Veterinary Regulations” and on this advice, Lantinus was disqualified by the attending FEI vets.
Horses can incur hypersensitivity in natural circumstances while hypersensitisation is defined as the prohibited artificial production of hypersensitivity.