Sunday, June 12, 2010.  Guenter Seidel, a three time Olympic team bronze medal and WEG team silver medal winner,  has been injured in a serious fall while preparing for a European tour.  

He had just arrived on Saturday at Klaus Balkenhol's stable prior to attending several shows as a warm-up for the team selection.  

Seidel was riding UII, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, for the first time since arriving when the horse began bucking to the point that Seidel was thrown off.  Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet.

Seidel was taken to a local hospital then moved to a clinic in Munster where he was operated on for a broken pelvis.  It is expected that he will make a full recovery, but unfortunately his plans for the WEG are completely undone.

UII is a 9-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding.  According to Ken Braddick of Dressage-News who spoke with owner Jane Brown,  the current plans are for Seidel to remain in Germany while recovering and that Balkenhol will train the horse during that time.