Champion rider Jonelle Price has been forced to pull out of her Badminton three-day equestrian title defence.
The Kiwi's mare Classic Moet is dealing with a foot injury, leaving Price with a heartbreaking decision to withdraw less than 48 hours from the event.
Price, who won the 2019 crown just nine months after giving birth, said things didn't always go to plan.
"We were optimistic we would get there in time," she said. "It just turned into a race against the clock really - and the clock has won.
"It's never an easy decision, but it's a unique thing with our sport. We're dealing with a live animal and it doesn't always go to plan.
"We've just been struggling a little bit with her feet. She would like the ground a little softer than we've seen this spring and we just haven't had the rain."
Price's focus now turns to supporting her fellow Kiwi riders, including husband Tim Price.
Newshub.
