United States Eventing Association

Earlier today, Jennie Brannigan released the following statement regarding Twilightslastgleam's withdrawal from the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d'Angers:

"I am super bummed that Tim, Nina, and I have decided not to run Twilightslastgleam at Mondial Du Lion. We had some concerns about him having a potential injury brewing and decided that his future is bright, he is young, and to give him a break and bring him out 100% next spring. We are so grateful to the United States Eventing Association (USEA), Timothy Holekamp, and Chris Turner for the opportunity. I am also grateful to my vet Mary Griffin for looking out for the horses so diligently.

It is wonderful to have owners that make the right call for the horses and I have to say that this was a very tough and close one to make. My heart breaks for them but I know Comic will make them smile quite a bit in the future."

Twilightslastgleam (National Anthem x Royal Child), a 7-year-old Thoroughbred known in the barn as Comic, was named as the recipient of the 2017 Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Le Lion d’Angers Prize and Grant, which is awarded to the highest scoring horse from the USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old East and West Championships combined that is qualified as a 7-year-old and willing to compete in the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships. North American-bred winners of the Grant are awarded with a cash prize of $17,500 to offset the expenses of traveling to Le Lion d’Angers in France for the Championships, while imported horses are awarded $8,000.

"We are genuinely disappointed," said USEA CEO, Rob Burk. "We were really looking forward to watching Twilightslastgleam compete at the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships. We completely support the decision of his owners, Tim and Nina Gardner, and his rider, Jennie Brannigan, to put Comic's welfare before all else."

Unfortunately, there was not enough time to utilize the grant funds this year to send a different horse to the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships. The good news is that these funds will continue on to next year and we will be able to guarantee sending horses to Le Lion one year beyond what had previously been budgeted for.

"Comic and Jennie have a bright future together and we look forward to seeing them compete at the upper levels in the future," said Burk.

The United States will be represented by two entries in the 6-year-old championships: Tiana Coudray and G, a 6-year-old gelding (Back Gammon x Tatjana L) and Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver, a 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal).