Olympic gold medallist Julia Krajewski has withdrawn her top horse, Uelzener’s Nickel, from contention for the 2025 Agria European Eventing Championships at Blenheim. Despite their strong record, including being reigning German national champions and finishing 11th at the Paris Olympics, Krajewski believes the challenging, hilly terrain and long-format course at Blenheim do not suit the 11-year-old gelding. Instead, she and the horse’s owner have decided to focus on a more suitable CCI4*-L event later in the autumn.

Krajewski emphasized her philosophy of “horses for courses,” prioritizing the horse’s comfort and suitability for the venue over competition prestige. She expressed respect for Blenheim as a venue but chose to prioritize Nickel’s well-being and performance potential. The German team for the Europeans will be announced after the CCIO4*-S event in Arville, Belgium, later in August.