Germany's star horse Totilas will not compete at London 2012 after rider Matthias Rath contracted glandular fever.
Star dressage horse absent from Olympics due to rider illness
Germany's star dressage horse Totilas will not compete at London 2012 after rider Matthias Rath contracted glandular fever.
The black stallion, whose value is estimated at over £10million, is sidelined due to his rider being laid low by the illness.
The German Equestrian Federation have announced that Rath, who took the ride on Totilas last year from Dutch star Edward Gal, will not recover in time for London.
Totilas and Gal set a grand prix freestyle world record under floodlights at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor.
He became the first horse in dressage history to be awarded a mark of more than 90 per cent, in addition to winning five world and European gold medals and one silver.
Although the horse has not threatened to rediscover those performance levels with Rath aboard, he would still have been a major gold medal contender at Greenwich Park.
Health risk
The German team has not yet been picked, but Totilas and Rath would undoubtedly have been heading for London if the rider was fit.
German team doctor Manfred Giensch said: "Today's analysis of his (Rath's) blood test results show, to be in the foreseeable future, no physical exertion.
"Another preparation for the Olympics and a possible start in London would be associated with a severe health risk."
Rath added: "It was my big dream to go with this one horse, and this great young team for Germany at the Olympic Games.
"But it would be irresponsible for my own health and to my team-mates if I were nominated with this health condition."
Great Britain's trio of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin are strong team and individual contenders. Britain has never previously won an Olympic dressage medal.
