Athletes spend at least four years of their lives dedicated
to one thing, and one thing only: training for the Olympics. You can only
imagine how it feels to finally step foot into an Olympic arena.
Now, imagine getting there — and turning right around to go
back home without getting to prove yourself in the Games. For one equestrian,
that’s exactly what happened in the recent Grand Prix competition in Rio.
In years past, Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen has
won an Olympic silver and bronze, plus World and European gold medals. For all
of these medals, she’s had her chestnut gelding horse named Parzival to thank.
This year, the pair was all set and ready to go. This is
what Adelinde has been training so hard for. “The first days in Rio went
according to plan: a relaxed flight, stabling good, training good,” Adelinde
wrote on Facebook. “Parzival feels happy and fit.”
But instead of finishing out the Games, Adelinde decided to
retire mid-test — in the middle of the arena, with thousands of people
watching.
Scroll down to see the incredible and powerful reason why
Adelinde and Parzival’s story of ultimate friendship is going viral…
 |
| Adelinde Cornelissen |
Olympic dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen recently told
the following story on Facebook:
“My story….
Lots has happened…
The first days in Rio went according to plan: a relaxed
flight, stabling good, training good. Parzival feels happy and fit.
Until yesterday morning… I planned to train early on Tuesday
morning, so I was at the stable at 6am. Saying good morning to Parzival, I saw
the right side of his head was swollen, he had been kicking the walls. I took
his temperature: he had a fever of over 40 degrees Celcius, but he still didn’t
look sick.
He was eating and drinking and while walking I had a hard
time keeping up with him, as always…”
 |
| Ken Braddick / dressage-news.com |
“Jan Greve came right away and after double checking with
the vets here they concluded he was bitten by an insect or spider or some sort
of animal which produces toxics.
To get the toxics out of his system we gave him fluids. From
6.30 to 15.45hrs we kept him on this. It helps the kidneys to clean up the
toxics out of the body.
The vets at the clinic took swaps from the nose and checked
the blood. The temperature dropped gradually and by 15.30 it was 38.4… We then
took x-rays from the jaw and echoed the area. Just making sure.. All ok.
At the end of the day the fever was down and I hand-walked
Parzival a bit. He looked a lot better and the swelling of his head was at
least 1/3 the size of this morning…”
 |
| Sina |
“Then difficult descisions came… We requested the FEI if we
could swap starting places within the team, so Parzi could get a day to
recover. Competing on thursday in stead of wednesday. But the FEI declined.
At that point I didn’t want to compete anymore… Parzival’s
health is more important than anything else in this world!
I slept at the stables, checking up on Parzi every hour… I
was not going to leave him alone! Of course I didn’t get any sleep…
Main thing, this morning temperature had dropped to 37.5!
And the swelling again had come down a bit.”
 |
| NOS |
“New difficult decisions to make.
I had decided yesterday I was not going to compete, but now
the temperature was back to normal, he looked fit, was eating and drinking
good, I also didn’t want to let the team down… In the back of my mind knowing
we had no reserve combination here….. What to do?
“I discussed with Jan Greve and Johan Rockx and decided we
were going to walk and trot under saddle for 10 min and see how he was…
And so we did… We went to the arena, rode a few laps and he
looked happy and fit. Coming back to the stables the temperature was still
down…
Again difficult descisions… What to do? He is fit now, but
you know what happened yesterday… Nobody to fill in my place if I would
withdraw, letting the team down. Questions questions… What is wise? I discussed
with several vets and the team coach.. The FEI vets came and checked up on him
around 10am.
“The fever was down, which means the toxics are out of his
system. There is still a bit of swelling in the jaw, but we cooled it all the
time and the swelling gets less…
I agreed to give it a try.
Knowing the story, I took it easy in the warm up and didn’t
want to ride full. He was ok, although he didn’t feel very powerful. Normal of
course after a day like yesterday.
“When I entered I already felt he was giving his utmost and
being the fighter he is, he never gives up… But in order to protect him, I gave
up…My buddy, my friend, the horse that has given everything for me his whole
life does not deserve this….
So I saluted and left the arena…..
#twohearts”
Adelinde is so noble for putting her horse’s needs before
anything else. Please SHARE this inspiring story with your friends on Facebook!
Source : Little Things