Tokyo Olympics 2020: British Team Makes Last Minute Change to Equestrian Team- Former World Champion to Join Squad

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is less than a week away, but teams are still making changes. In equestrian, the risk of injury to an athlete is the same as the risk of injury to a horse. This has led to many athletes losing their spot for the Games. Piggy March is the most recent victim of this unfortunate circumstance.

Piggy March bows out of Tokyo Olympics 2020

Having already missed out on the 2012 Olympics, Piggy March suffered another blow this week. The English eventer will have to wait another four years to make her Olympics debut. The owners of her horse, Arthur, decided not to send the animal to Tokyo.

Although this is a huge blow and crushing news for March, the statement from British Equestrian claims March gave her full support and backed understood the decision. Alison Swinburn, the owner of ‘Arthur’ Piggy’s horse, commented on the issue and gave her well wishes to the squad.

“The chance to represent your country on the Olympic stage is the pinnacle of every owner’s ambition but, taking everything into account, we have to put those dreams on hold for now. We wish the best of luck to the team in Tokyo, and they’ll have no bigger supporters as we all cheer them on.”

High Performance Director Richard Waygood threw in his two cents. “Tokyo will be a Games like no other and I’m grateful to Piggy and her owners, Alison, John and Chloe, for their openness and consideration around what was an extremely tough decision. We hope to see Piggy and Arthur in British team colours in the future.”

World Champion replacing Piggy March

Replacing the world #3 is former World Champion and European Champion Rosalind Canter. Canter won gold at the World Eventing Championships held in Tryon in 2018. In 2017, she clinched the European Championship as well, and ranks at #16.

Traveling with her is Allstar B, the stallion that’s brought her the most success since 2013. She will join the top ranked eventer in the world Oilver Townend, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

The circumstances of March’s dismissal seem controversial. However, the BEF has already gotten itself into a significant amount of hot water ahead of the Games. To redeem themselves, they depend on their riders to bring the gold home.

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