Martin Fuchs Injured During Mercedes-Benz CSI5* Zürich

Martin Fuchs after winning the Longines Grand Prix of Zurich on Friday, January 2017, 2017.Ph. Mercedes-Benz CSI Zürich

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs was injured following a fall from his horse while competing at the Mercedes-Benz CSI5* Zürich on Saturday, January 28, 2017 in Switzerland.

The fall happened during the Toshiba-Jokerspringen 1.45m accumulator class, when Fuch’s horse Cristo, a 10-year-old OS gelding (Cristo X Stakkato), took an extra stride to the joker fence. The horse jumped into the obstacle and stumbled in the landing. Fuchs came unseated and fell forward over the neck of the horse making him land in front of Cristo. The horse’s hoof clipped his face,  breaking his nose.

Just the day before, the Swiss rider won the Longines Grand Prix of Zürich aboard Chaplin, a major victory on home soil for the young star. He’d hoped to compete in Sunday’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Zurich, despite his injury, but after consulting with his doctor on Sunday morning he was advised to sit the class out.

“First I thought I would still ride in the World Cup, but then on Sunday at lunch time I went to see my doctor, who is also a good friend, and he told me not to ride in the class,” explained the young Swiss rider.

While Fuchs is feeling much better, he’s scratched from showing this weekend at the CSI3* Villach in Austria. He expects to be back in the saddle for the Longines Hong Kong Masters CSI5* next week.

“I feel actually good,” Fuchs added. “I have no pain anymore and [on Monday] I go to the hospital to check my nose.”