'These past few days have been agonising for her,' said husband Sam Lee yesterday. 'Jennifer has been under a lot of stress and has been sleeping only a few hours every day. She is really relieved this is all over and she can now take part in the Olympics.'

Lee's sacrifice of her American citizenship in an unprecedented bid to represent Hong Kong at the Olympics seemed to have been in vain when her world collapsed around her last Sunday. Hong Kong equestrian team veterinarian Eduardo Felix diagnosed Mr Burns with laminitis and withdrew him from quarantine at the team's training base in Belgium, despite fierce objections from Lee that her horse was sound. Her convictions were proven right when subsequent tests proved Mr Burns was not suffering from laminitis, a painful hoof disease, which makes it difficult for the horse to walk, let alone jump.

'It was proven 100 per cent that he does not have laminitis,' Sam Lee said. 'What had happened was that the shoe he had on was probably not right. Now the shoe has been adjusted.'

His wife was unavailable for comment yesterday, but Lee revealed she was thrilled the whole nightmarish episode was behind her. 'She is very happy, although a bit concerned over the time lost due to this incident.'

Hong Kong Equestrian Federation secretary-general Soenke Lauterbach, who played a pivotal role in convincing various parties that Mr Burns was fit, said an inquiry would be held after the Games.

'It has been an emotional roller-coaster ride for Jennifer. But we are happy the horse's condition has improved and we have taken steps to see he is flown back as soon as the new quarantine is over,' Lauterbach said. 'We will carry out an inquiry as to how this all happened at a later stage. Right now, the most important thing is to get Mr Burns back.'

The Equestrian Federation having been working closely with the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the International Equestrian Federation, a shipping agent and an airline to smooth the way for Mr Burns.

Mr Burns was due to arrive in Hong Kong on Monday, but he will now only arrive next Saturday, six days before the showjumping starts in Sha Tin. Mr Burns will be the last of more than 200 horses to fly into Hong Kong. Lee will have one last obstacle to surmount - getting the green light from Beijing Olympic organisers who had apparently scratched her name from the showjumping list after being informed of the 'injury' to Mr Burns.

'We have written back to Bocog and told them that the horse is okay,' said Pang Chung, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee. 'It is not ideal, all this to-ing and fro-ing, but given our close relationship with Beijing, we are confident Jennifer Lee will get the approval.'