Everybody was already talking about the news of the day before the beginning of the hastily arranged press conference: Totilas is out of the Championship! The stallion was transferred into a clinic. The European Championships are over for Matthias Rath. Details about the ifs and hows were revealed at the press conference by the German Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser (GER) – well, at least that was the plan.
The fact that Totilas did not move his hindlegs in a normal way was obvious even to the untrained eye and videos were shared all over the internet. However, Klaus Roeser stated that ‘he was not able to see that from where he was standing during the Grand Prix’.
It seems a bit odd, that a massive amount of spectators saw that Totilas was not walking correctly and the German team officials thought that everything was okay.
It is also odd, that there was talk in the stables about the fact that Totilas had to do the trot at the Vet Check several times and they had to ‘motivate’ him with force to trot in a normal way. Probably only rumors.
The press conference itself was full of contradictions and some statements caused surprised faces and sometimes even shocks.
Read the transcript from the press conference with Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser who had to deal with mostly German journalists.
Note: The transcript is written according to an audiorecord from the press conference, that’s why some of the sentences may appear a little off.
Transcript of the press conference regarding the withdrawal of Totilas
KLAUS ROESER:
We – Matthias Alexander Rath, the German coaches, the team vet and the Chef d’Equipe – wanted to take the opportunity to announce that we decided, after a video analysis of yesterday’s ride, since we could not see everything clearly from where we stood we analysed everything intensely. And yes, it’s true. He was not walking evenly with his left hind leg and that is nothing that is up for discussion. We could not find any indications for that on the surface and can therefore not explain it. We need to have a deeper look into it and that is why we decided to withdraw Totilas for his own good.
The German journalists did not hold back with their questions, but the answers were – as usual – quite elusive.
QUESTION:
It seemed, that the team officials never really thought that the horse would be able to compete in all three competitions. Do you think that you need to deal with the accusation that you took an unfit horse into the team with the hope for a score over 80 percent to secure gold for the German team?
ANSWER:
That’s something you could think. It is understandable. We can understand it as well and we also understand that we have to deal with this discussion right now and that is why I am sitting here today. On one hand, no. Of course it was our goal to win the title – obvoiusly. The results showed that you need combinations who can score more than 80 percent. Totilas had good results in Hagen, he had some mistakes there but there was no reason to think that the horse could not do three competitions. Otherwise we would have definitely decided diferrently. That is something I want to say with all clarity.
QUESTION:
During the warm-up in the arena Matthias rode a half-pass to the right were the irregularites were obvious. You stood there, why did you not see it when we and everyone else saw it?
ANSWER:
I can only speak for myself. I can not talk for people, who are not even sitting at this table. I did not see it, because I was not there at the time. I was watchig the british and dutch riders, because I thought it was exciting and I wanted to know how the race would end. That’s why I would like to ask for your understanding that I can not say anything about this.
QUESTION:
As a rider you should be the first to feel that something is wrong with your horse. Did Mr. Rath describe it to you?
ANSWER:
Of course we talked about the ride with Matthias, but it is not like he said: something is wrong.
QUESTION:
He did not say that?
ANSWER:
No.
QUESTION:
Where is Totilas going now?
ANSWER:
To a clinic, I think in Belgium.
QUESTION:
There was a training camp before. He was ridden an trained there as well. Did you not see anything coming? Especially since he already caused some discussions at the Vet-Check.
ANSWER
Well: there was a training cam, sure, and the training camp was good, we trained there. That is why you have a training camp, of course. About the question – every horse has some problems. I don’t know any horse that has no problem. To say – it was the statement – it was not like we could not nominate him with a clear conscious.
QUESTION:
So you are saying that you thought the horse was unstable for a longer time?
ANSWER:
Well, you tell me, what a longer time is and define unstable and I will answer your question.
QUESTION:
You have to explain that. Was he fit to compete?
ANSWER
To me, all horses that were in the training camp were yes, stable.
FRAGE:
Did he have a problem before on that leg?
ANSWER
No.
QUESTION:
What’s the outlook for Totilas, the medical examinations? Is the plan to keep Rio in mind or not?
ANSWER:
No, we can not think that far ahead, because we have no idea where the problem is. It would be too early to think about that. We still have competitions here and three riders to go. We still have chances with them and will do the best to make it successful. We want to go for it.
QUESTION:
You did not deny that there was a discussion during the Vet-Check. What was going on?
ANSWER
I can not say what was discussed between the competitors and the ladies and gentlemen who did the Vet-Check. I was standing on the other side, Totilas was standing in between and on the other side the ladies and gentlemen who did the Vet-Check. I do not know what was discussed.
QUESTION:
So that is not discussed with the Chef d’Equipe?
ANSWER;
No. At the Vet-Check there is only accepted or another trot-up or holding box, nothing in between.
QUESTION:
But you surely have spoken to the rider by now?
ANSWER:
Please understand. Vet-Check is Vet-Check and accepted is accepted.
QUESTION:
Do you regret it as the head of your department that you did not put the horse up for a bigger test before?
ANSWER
You are always smarter afterwards. That’s the way it is. We will discuss this internally. You can be sure, that we will discuss everything after this event in a smaller round and find a solution. Regarding the future.
QUESTION:
It is not the first time, that problems during a championship occur for Totilas and Rath. Do you regret the nomination? After all, you were responsible.
ANSWER
That is the fact, yes. That is why I am sitting here. We nominated him. We nominated him together and after his good results in Hagen and before we did not have a doubt about it.
The decision was made and I stand by it. Everything else has to be discussed afterwards.
QUESTION:
Why did you not give some of the upcoming combinations – like Dorothee Schneider – a chance regarding Rio? Was the decision only made for Aachen and not at all for Rio?
ANSWER:
Of course we had Rio in mind. For the couple that you just named it would have been to early to talk about Championships. Of course you can try things, you have to. On the other hand a Championship is important to us and we wanted to win which we did not. All of you know the longlist that was announced. There are some things that we need to consider. We will think about the way we nominate with our experiences. And – again – only if we want to be successful in Rio – which is a goal – we need to send the best combinations, otherwise it is difficult to impossible. I think that even though we are in shock from the happenings and we missed our goal we do not have to be sad. We have good combinations coming up, strong riders and are therefore positive for Rio.
QUESTION:
Will it happen again, that you nominate a horse that could possibly get a lot of points but is not in the best health condition – will it happen again that you make special rules and nominate couples without pre-selection events? Or did you learn from this?
ANSWER
It has been a learning process for us, sure. However, I ask for your understanding since we are still in the middle of a championship – like I just said – and we will analyse and talk everything through with the involved persons – and that is not only the Chef d’Equipe. We will learn from it and see how we deal with it in the future. But I can not tell you yet. We need to think about it for another one or two days and see what caused everything. I ask for your understanding and that you give us the time.
QUESTION:
Why did you have a shock as you said before?
ANSWER
Because of yesterday’s third place and of course, again: we came as title defenders and went home with bronze. That is not what you want.
QUESTION:
What do you think about the fact, that Matthias Alexander Rath did not notice the irregularities in Totilas’ walk?
ANSWER
Riding here, knowing that it is for the team, knowing how close the competition is, I can not accuse him of anything. Again. I ask everyone to take his place and think about the situation from his perspective. What a person feels or does not feel – some can handle the pressure, some deal with it in a different way. Everyone has his own ways. I can not reproach him.
QUESTION:
Is the topic Totilas done for you now?
ANSWER:
I would like to know what the problem was. I do have a problem and I need to analyse it and once I know the cause, I can decide what to do next. Without knowing what the cause is, it would be unfair for the horse, rider and everyone else to make a judgement.
QUESTION:
Are you sure that you will be updated about the health condition of the horse? Last year when he had a ganglion he was out for almost a year… No one believes that anymore. Are you sure you get the full diagnose?
ANSWER:
I am sure.
QUESTION:
That you communicate?
Interruption from a journalist:
No!
Laughter in the room
Objection of the spokesman:
Question answered?
Since there is no answer: The press conference is over.
Fact is, that Totilas is already in a clinic in Belgium and his future is yet to be decided.
Watch the interview with Chef d’Equipe Klaus Röser here »
Watch the interview Matthias Alexander Rath here »