Two U.S. horses who were slated to compete on the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S have been withdrawn. On June 25, Liz Halliday and Jennie Brannigan separately announced on social media that their mounts, Miks Master C and FE Lifestyle, will not be making the trip to Germany.

“We have unfortunately made the tough decision to withdraw Miks Master C from the team for CHIO Aachen next week,” Halliday wrote on Facebook. “He had an excellent cross-country round in the advanced at Stable View last weekend and finished very well, but when we checked him later that day it was apparent that he was not 100%.

“With the quick turn around to head to Aachen we decided that it was not in his best interest to put him on a plane and instead need to focus on getting him back to feeling his best,” she continued.

Halliday was scheduled to ride Shanroe Cooley as an individual, and according to her post, she will now ride that horse on the team, which will also include James Alliston with Karma and Alyssa Phillips with Oskar.

“I’m very sad to report that I have withdrawn Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle from Aachen,” Brannigan wrote on Facebook.

“After shipping him to and from the mandatory final outing in Aiken this week it turns out he has shipping fever. After consulting with [veterinarian] Mary Griffin and trusting my own gut as a horseman we do both feel it is not right to put him on a van/plane tomorrow,” she continued. “I am grateful to the USEF for the opportunity and to my owners who always let me make the right choice for the horses.”

Alternate Hallie Coon, riding Cute Girl, will replace Brannigan on the team.