Boyd Martin has made a substitution for his Tokyo Olympic eventing mount after Luke 140 sustained an injury in training.

Martin originally was named to the Olympic team with the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Landos—Omega VI, Limbus), owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate,  after the pair won the Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L (New Jersey) in May.

He will substitute Tsetserleg TSF, a 14-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall—Thabana, Buddenbrock) owned by Christine Turner, Thomas Turner and Tommie Turner. He also has  On Cue, who he owns with Christine, Thomas and Tommie, as a direct reserve.

Tsetserleg TSF and Boyd Martin. Lindsay Berreth Photo

“Unfortunately, Luke 140 looks like he has tweaked his leg on his last gallop,” Martin said. “My gut feeling is that if I push on with him towards the Tokyo Olympics that it could turn into a bad injury. Luke is a young horse and has a huge future ahead of him, and I believe it’s better to save him for another day. This is a heartbreaking decision as Luke has been in fantastic form in his training in the build up towards Tokyo. I am very grateful that I have a tremendous replacement horse in Thomas (Tsetserleg) whom is also in sizzling condition. I would like to thank and tell the group of owners behind Luke how sorry I am.”

Martin and Thomas won team and individual gold at the 2019 Pan American Games (Peru) and finished second at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky CCI5*-L.

In 2020, they won the MARS Equestrian Tryon International CCI4*-L (North Carolina) in November and competed at Kentucky this spring, but they fell on cross-country a few fences from home.

Both Thomas and Luke show jumped at the Loudoun Benefit Horse Show (Virginia) on June 16.