Reigning world champion dressage stallion Totilas is back in work with Matthias Rath after a minor injury, but his owners have decided it wouldn’t be in his best interest to come to Florida for the World Dressage Masters competition, which will take place Jan. 26-28 in West Palm Beach. 

“Totilas twisted a joint in his leg a few weeks ago, just two days before the Frankfurt show [held on Dec. 16-18 in Germany],” said Paul Schockemöhle, who co-owns Totilas with Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. “The horse was lame and was treated by the vet but still lame after four weeks. The vet asked that the horse be walked again for 10 days during Christmas and is just starting back in light work. We really feel the time is too short for the horse to be in top form for the Masters. Our main focus is for the horse, and this is very important.”

Despite Totilas’ withdrawal, the competition should still be a clash of the titans competing for almost $130,000 in prize money. Last year’s winning combination, U.S. rider Steffen Peters and Ravel, will face a strong rival in Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, members of the team that won the gold medal for Britain at the 2011 FEI European Dressage Championships. This will be Dujardin’s and Valegro’s first appearance in North American dressage competition.

The WDM organizers are also making the effort to find another superstar combination to replace Totilas and Rath.

“We are in talks with Carl [Hester], who has expressed a keen interest in attending the WDM Palm Beach,” said Noreen O’Sullivan, one of the WDM organizers. “We are hoping to confirm his participation on this short notice.”