WEG Dream Dashed, Steiner and Rainier Look Toward 2004 Olympics, and a Different Summer Plan

Steiner said that the two weeks at Gladstone were tough on all the horses, and the strain was a topic the riders and Dressage Team Coach Klaus Balkenhol addressed. But though there was a great deal of pressure and tension involved, Steiner said those factors probably had no bearing on Rainier's injury. "It just wasn't meant to be for us this time. "Right now Rainier just needs some rest, which of course he'll get as much rest as he needs. Jane Clark, his owner, cares so much about him and will provide whatever he needs. The fortunate thing is that he's young and strong and an extremely willing athlete. He doesn't need to be pushed now, so after some rest and time to heal, he'll be able to go back and pursue his career."

There is a rule in the WEG Selection Procedures that states that if for a medical reason a horse cannot compete in one of the trials then the officials can take that into consideration and allow the horse to still be considered for the team. However, Steiner said she does not anticipate this being a possibility for Rainier. "The top three horses for the team are chosen," she said. "Christine [Traurig] and Lisa Wilcox will have to compete for the fourth place. The team is pretty firmly in place."