Great Britain's top dressage rider Carl Hester has withdrawn from this week's prestigious four star show in Hagen, Germany.
British Dressage confirmed that Hester and his top horse Uthopia would not be joining his international team-mates Laura Bechtolsheimer, Charlotte Dujardin and Emile Faurie at the event.
Uthopia, Hester's intended ride for London 2012, lost a shoe in the field at his base just outside Newent in Gloucestershire last Friday. "It is obviously disappointing, but it isn't anything major," Hester said.
The world number two has dismissed any fears of long-term problems after British Equestrian's world class programme farrier Hayden Price visited the horse.
Hester said: "Another 48 hours and it might have been different, but it's not a risk worth taking.
"I will now work with the selectors to rejig his competition schedule, but I may look at taking him to the Addington Premier League show next week.
"We will see how well he responds to poulticing, and then when Hayden puts the shoe back on we will make a decision from there."
Hester won three medals at last summer's European Championships in Rotterdam, including team gold alongside Bechtolsheimer, Dujardin and Faurie.
And he is set to spearhead the British bid for a first dressage medal in Olympic history at Greenwich Park in August.