The United States Equestrian Federation announced yesterday, July 30, that Leslie Morse withdrew Kingston from the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team due to unspecified veterinary reasons. Morse, Beverley Hills, Calif., was to be the traveling reserve rider for the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Aug. 13-19.

According to USEF selection procedures, Michael Barisone will take Morse’s slot with Jane Suwalsky’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Neruda.

Barisone, Califon, N.J., and Neruda had been quarantined in Aachen, Germany since July 17 along with Morse and the rest of the U.S. dressage team: Stephen Peters on Ravel, Debbie McDonald on Brentina and Courtney King-Dye on Harmony’s Mythilus. All four horses flew to Hong Kong yesterday, July 30. This will be Barisone’s first trip to an Olympic Games.