Two of the favourites for team and individual honours are now out of contention for the 2025 Agria FEI Eventing European Championships at Blenheim Palace in September. Following the withdrawal of the defending European champion Ros Canter from selection for the British team due to her pregnancy, Germany’s Julia Krajewski has now also withdrawn from the selection process.
Julia has made a statement on her Facebook page saying that she didn’t think that the CCI4*-L course would suit her horse Uelzener’s Nickel, recent winner of the CCI4*-S at Luhmuhlen and part of the German team at Paris 2024.
“When I heard that the European Championships for this year had been given to Blenheim I thought ‘very cool venue, but I don’t think it’s for Nickel’” says Julia
“I’ve been in Blenheim twice, with fond memories and for the right horse it is a great course and impressive venue! Though, knowing Nickel for some years now, I felt that the very hilly terrain and subsequent intensity isn’t something that makes him thrive and we don’t want to push him into something I know he doesn’t feel comfortable with.
Therefore, after contemplating all aspects, his ever-supportive owner Professor Bernd Heicke and I decided to stay out of the selection process and rather have him do a 4*L this autumn that I know suits him better. As said, this is absolutely nothing against the venue itself, but I am a firm believer in ‘horses for courses’ and try to live by that! Obviously, I wish the German Team the very best of luck”.
While the German selectors will be making their shortlist following the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Arville this week, Great Britain has revised their original longlist and will also be making a further announcement next week.
Follow our coverage leading up and during the 2025 FEI Eventing European Championship 2025 here
