Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Legend of Love. Screenshot via YouTube
Well, shoot. Yesterday we were on cloud nine after H&M released a new video of Olivier reading a love note of sorts to his true soulmate, H&M Legend of Love. The two have been together the mare’s entire FEI career, and were making their debut in the FEI European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden this week.
Unfortunately, things went south in the warm-up.
According to photographer Jessica Rodrigues’s description, Oliver and Legend of Love had a refusal at the open water during the official FEI training session this morning, and while Olivier was not hurt in the fall, he injured his shoulder attempting to catch the hot-blooded mare. From what we understand, he may be headed back to Belgium to have the injury treated, which we suspect means surgery.
We’re terribly disappointed on his and the team’s behalf, and hope for a speedy recovery. We’ll cross our fingers that we’ll see Olivier astride his gray lady again soon.
Olivier was part of the Belgian Team for the continental championships, so he was replaced last minute by alternate Jerome Guery and Grand Cru van de Rozenberg.
Take care of those shoulder muscles, JN, and Go Jumping.