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Youngest rider follows in Olympian father’s footsteps at World Championships: ‘Dad’s here as my groom!’

Pippa Roome — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:20:11 +0000

Alina Dibowski is the youngest rider at the eventing World Championships and made her German senior squad debut as she entered the dressage arena this morning with Barbados 26.

“It’s been great,” she said. “Now it’s a little bit overwhelming, entering the arena in the German squad for the first time, but it’s a very exciting thing.”

Alina is just 21 years old and her father Andreas Dibowski is a veteran of the German team – he has ridden at four Olympics, four World Championships and eight European Championships, with four European team medals (three golds and one silver) and an Olympic gold to his name.

“He’s my groom this week, on paper!” said Alina.

Asked what advice Andreas gave her before her test, Alina replied: “That I should ride as always, and do my best as always.”

Alina has been riding the 13-year-old Polish sport horse Barbados 26 for eight years.

She said: “We know each other very well, which is what makes our partnership unique, and he’s very loyal. He knows when it’s important and he showed it today again.”

Alina and Barbados scored 30.6 for their test, sitting just inside the top 25 at the lunch break.

“I feel it was very good,” she said. “I think we need to analyse the points for each single section and look at where I lost the points. But all in all, the horse did a very good job and I’m pleased with my riding so there’s nothing to complain about.”

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Germany names World Championship eventing squad – including rookie daughter of Olympic gold medallist

Pippa Roome — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 18:02:14 +0000

The German team for the World Eventing Championships in Haras du Pin, Italy (15-18 September) has been named.

The team consists of:

Sandra Auffarth with Viamant Du Matz
Michael Jung with FischerChipmunk FRH
Julia Krajewski with Amande De B’Neville
Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S

The individual rider is Alina Dibowski with Barbados 26.

Sandra, Michael and Julia all represented Germany at the Tokyo Olympics last year on the same horses, with Julia and “Mandy” taking individual gold. The German team finished fourth there.

Christoph has ridden at two championships as an individual, finishing seventh at the European Championships in Avenches last September, but this World Championships will mark his senior team debut.

Alina, the 21-year-old daughter of 2008 Olympic eventing team gold medallist Andreas Dibowski, will be riding at her first senior championship. She has previously ridden Barbados at two young rider and two junior European championships, landing young rider team gold in 2021 and junior team bronze in 2018. The pair confirmed their Pratoni spot with third individually in the Nations Cup CCIO4*-S at Haras du Pin last week, behind Michael on Chipmunk and British pair Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden.

Nicolai Aldinger has been named first reserve for the German World Eventing Championships team with Timmo and Sophie Leube first reserve for the individual spot with Jadore Moi.

The other reserves are Dirk Schrade (Casino 80), Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K) and Ingrid Klimke (Equistros Siena Just Do It).

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‘He’s a cool customer’: Nicola Wilson’s young campaigner storms home to boost British eventing team hopes

Martha Terry — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 11:31:06 +0000

Britain’s number two Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin coasted round the European Eventing Championships cross-country track inside the time to strengthen the team’s grasp on gold.

Deirdre Johnston and James and Jo Lambert’s 10-year-old gelding looked well within his comfort zone to stop the clock with 10 seconds to spare. The pair led after the first day of dressage on a brilliant score of 20.9 and stayed close-up in third, just 0.4 behind the eventual dressage leader, reigning champions Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. They now head to showjumping in no lower than individual bronze.

JL Dublin showed a huge amount of power and scope to frank his four-star winning form this year over this twisty track. He looked strong and fast, but just about biddable to Nicola’s requests to steady up where required. He has five-star written all over him, making this track look simple.

“He was squealing with excitement and gave me a super ride from start to finish,” Nicola said. “This was a different test for him but he just kept galloping. You never know riding a young horse on the team for the first time, but he was a cool customer and really focused.

“It walked and rode very intense, but it had a nice feel to it and was fair to the horses. It was fast and furious and felt like a four-star short.”

Nicola was Britain’s third rider out on track following Piggy March and Izzy Taylor posting clears inside the time. Following her compatriots she took the long route at fence 6, which didn’t impact on the overall time. There have now been four riders clear inside the time, three of them Brits.

“Dublin isn’t very blood but he’s fit and gallops and stays well. I knew [the time with the long route] was doable, and it was the advice of team orders.”

German rider struggles to make the time at European Eventing Championships

Germany were lying a close second to Britain overnight. Their first team rider, Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida, lying 11th after dressage, jumped clear but for 15.2 time-faults to drop them down the order.

“She was fighting too much against me, I had a lot of problems especially in the last three minutes to prepare her for the technical questions, because she has a big gallop,” said Andreas. “She wanted to keep that gallop but you need to collect the horse, to find the right line, and that was difficult for me and wasted a lot of time.

“I’m happy with the horse that she wants to jump everything, but if she could come back to me earlier and listen, it would be better for the time. So I’m happy about the clear round, but not the time – but I cannot change that.”

France’s Gwendolen Fer was the first rider not to complete, which has delivered a blow to France’s medal chances as she was in 14th overnight on her 2017 Pau CCI5* winner Romantic Love. She was tipped out of the plate at double of brushes into water at fence 23 when the gelding left a leg.

Dressage leaderboard reshuffle as riders slot into top 10 places at European Eventing Championships

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:27:38 +0000

Germany’s Andreas Dibowski went into third in the European Eventing Championships dressage with FRH Corrida earlier today (23 September). The pair performed a very polished and willing test for score of 25.6.

“I’ve had a very good few weeks with her after Tokyo – she was so fit and so motivated for the next competitions and also in her training and so I expected a good result,” Andreas said after his European Eventing Championships dressage test with the 12-year-old mare by Contendro. “I was very, very hopeful to come in with a score over 70%. I tried to do the best work today and the judges would see that and I’m really happy – she gave me the feeling that I could take a risk.”

Austria’s Robert Mandl produced a lovely test with his 12-year-old gelding Sacré-Cœur for a mark of 26.3.

“I’m very happy that the result is a good start for the event,” Robert said afterwards. “I know that the horse can do a very low score, but in the last three- and four-star events, every time I had a mistake in the test, and so this was very good.”

France’s Gwendolen Fer and Romantic Love scored 26.5, and sit in sixth at this stage of the European Eventing Championships dressage.

“Maybe he was not so brilliant in trot – it could be a little better – but he went very well in canter,” explained Gwendolen after her test with the 16-year-old.

German team for European Eventing Championships named: a comeback rider, Tokyo reserves and Michael Jung’s next star

Pippa Roome — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 19:01:05 +0000

The German team for the European Eventing Championships has been named.

Ingrid Klimke, who missed out on the Tokyo Olympics due to injury, will defend her individual European title with her gold medal-winning partner from the 2017 and 2019 Europeans, SAP Hale Bob OLD.

Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida, who acted as the German alternate pair in Tokyo, will have the chance to start this time after being named to the squad.

The other two named reserves for the Olympics, younger riders Christoph Wahler (Carjatan S) and Anna Siemer (FRH Butts Avondale), are also on the European Eventing Championships German team.

Michael Jung is the only German rider to get the call-up for Avenches as well as for Tokyo – he will ride the nine-year-old rising star FischerWild Wave, who was fifth in the five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in June.

The final spot in the squad goes to the experienced Dirk Schrade and championship first-timer Casino 80, who was recently second in the CCIO4*-S at Arville.

Andreas Ostholt and Corvette are the first reserves, while Emma Brüssau (Dark Desire GS) and Sophie Leube (Jadore Moi) are also named as reserves.

European Eventing Championships: German team mixes youth and experience

Covid-19 – which led to the cancellation of the European Championships last year and their rearrangement to 2021 – has thrown up the unique situation of nations selecting both an Olympic and a European Championships team within the same year.

Some nations are taking the opportunity to give younger riders and horses experience at the European Championships, while others will field the same riders (and in some cases, the same horses) as at Tokyo. The German selectors have opted for a mix of experience and youth in their squad in terms of both horses and riders.

German Olympic eventing team named: the defending champion and a mare who’s made an impression this year

Pippa Roome — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 20:51:12 +0000

The German Olympic eventing team for the Tokyo Olympics was named this evening after a final trial at Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

The team consists of:

Sandra Auffarth with Viamant Du Matz (reserve horse: Let’s Dance 73)
Michael Jung with FischerChipmunk FRH (reserve horse: FischerWild Wave)
Julia Krajewski with Amande De B’Neville

Andreas Dibowski is the alternate rider, with FRH Corrida.

Christoph Wahler is the second reserve, with Carjatan S, and Anna Siemer (FRH Butts Avondale) is the third reserve.

The three riders named for the Olympic eventing team were the top five in the CCI4*-S Meẞmer Trophy at Luhmühlen; Michael won (and was fifth in the CCI5* on FischerWild Wave), Sandra second and Julia fifth. Andreas finished seventh and Anna 12th, while Christoph was second in the CCI5*.

Michael, who will defend his individual title in Tokyo after golds at London and Rio, said: “I am overjoyed, FischerChipmunk jumped so well today. When you compete here, of course you want stay clear. Nevertheless, it’s important to relax so that the horse can stay relaxed, too. The title means a lot to me.”

Michael added the extra time due to the Olympic postponement may have worked in his favour as he and Chipmunk only became a partnership in 2019. The horse was previously ridden by Michael’s team-mate Julia.

“For my horse and me, it was probably even a bit lucky that the Olympics were postponed,” he said. “It gave us an extra year to grow together as a team.”

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It was a particularly emotional moment for Julia, who was almost certain of an Olympic place with Samourai Du Thot until she had to retire him earlier this year when he lost an eye. “Mandy” was very much an outside chance for the team until the pair won the CCI4*-L at Saumur. They dropped from second after cross-country to fifth with a rail down today.

“For the first 10 minutes after the jumping I was still a little upset about our mistake, especially because my horse jumped so well and it was an unnecessary rail,” she said. “But then during the prize giving I realised what Mandy and I have achieved together. That’s when it really hit me.”

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Pippa Funnell completes dressage at Eventing European Championships: ‘You can’t turn horses into Valegros if they’re not built to be Valegros’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 10:44:05 +0000

First British team member Pippa Funnell scored 35.4 for her dressage test at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships this morning (Thursday, 29 August).

Pippa’s ride, her own and Marek Sebastak’s Majas Hope, is not the easiest on the flat — this was the reason she was originally a reserve for the British squad and only received the call-up to come to Luhmühlen on Sunday when Tom McEwen had to withdraw Toledo De Kerser.

“We know Majas Hope is Majas Hope and he’s very difficult in this phase — he struggles with going into the arena and shrinking a bit,” said Pippa after her test.

“We know it’s his weakest phase and hopefully he’ll do his bit on Saturday and Sunday. You can’t turn horses into Valegros if they’re not built to be Valegros.”

Majas Hope scored his best marks in the early trot work, but tension in the walk section proved expensive, as did the flying changes.

Pippa is currently in 11th place after the first morning of action and the Brits will hope this will be their team’s discard score after this phase.

Irish pathfinder Ciaran Glynn and November Night sit just behind Pippa on 35.5.

“It’s probably the best piece of work she’s put down at this level in the ring,” he said. “I’d have liked a few more marks, but it’s a solid start for the team.”

Belgian riders dominate the top of the leaderboard at this early stage, with the experienced Karin Donckers (Fletcha Van’t Verahof) sharing first place with her compatriot Laura Loge (Absolut Allegro), who is a senior championship debutante. Both scored 28.8.

Karin Donckers and Fletcha Van’t Verahof at the European Eventing Championships. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I’m pleased — the walk could have been better and I was a bit conservative in the last flying change, but I can’t blame the horse — if there were things to improve it was me! He was really focused, relaxed and rideable,” said Karin.

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The first German team member, Andreas Dibowski on FRH Corrida, was pleased with his test, but disappointed with his mark of 34.6.

“She was with me, calm, I could ride her and I didn’t feel any mistakes,” he said.

Check back for more updates from the Eventing European Championships in Luhmühlen all week, plus full report in next week’s Horse & Houndmagazine (dated 5 September).

Germany reveals on-form eventing squad for World Equestrian Games

Lucy Elder — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 18:15:10 +0000

Michael Jung heads the on-form German eventing squad for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

The world number six is named aboard his three-time Kentucky CCI4* winner FischerRocana FST.

He is joined by Ingrid Klimke riding the multiple three-star winner SAP Hale Bob. The pair won four internationals in a row between July 2017 and June 2018.

Julia Krajewski brings forward her consistent partner Chipmunk FRH, fresh from a hat-trick of three-star victories. The pair won Marbach CIC3* in May, before storming to victory in Bramham’s CCI3* on their dressage score of 19.4 and also took the CICO3* at Aachen.

Andreas Dibowski is named on two horses; he will ride either the 15-year-old FRH Butts Avedon or rising star, nine-year-old FRH Corrida.

Kai Rüder and his sixth-placed 2017 European Championship ride Colani Sunrise complete the squad.

Sandra Auffarth’s strong performance in Aachen and her CIC3* victory in Strzegom yesterday (12 August) have led to her being named as first reserve with the nine-year-old Viamant Du Matz.

“The horse has been in an absolutely ascending form since Aachen,” said national coach Hans Melzer.

“He has a lot of potential and, if used, would certainly be a worthy championship horse. But he is still quite young and has a great future ahead of him.”

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For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Germany names likely squad for eventing European Championships in Poland

Pippa Roome — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 09:19:43 +0000

The German selectors have given an indication of the riders likely to make the six-man squad for the eventing European Championships in Strzegom, Poland (17-20 August).

A long-list has been drawn up, with riders named in three groups. The riders in group one (so most likely to go to the championship) are:

Andreas Dibowski (FRH Butts Avedon and It’s Me xx)
Bettina Hoy (Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott)
Michael Jung (FischerRocana FST and Lennox 364)
Ingrid Klimke (Horseware Hale Bob OLD)
Julia Krajewski (Chipmunk FRH and Samourai Du Thot, pictured)

The riders in group two are:

Leonie Kuhlmann (Cascora)
Andreas Ostholt (Corvette 31)
Kai Rüder (Colani Sunrise)
Josefa Sommer (Hamilton 24)

The riders in group three are:

Jörg Kurbel (Entertain You)
Claas Hermann Romeike (Cato 60)
Falk-Filip-Finn Westerich (FBW Gina K)

The final selection will be made after Aachen (21-22 July), where Sandra Auffarth, Bettina Hoy, Leonie Kuhlmann, Ingrid Klimke, Jörg Kurbel, Andreas Ostholt, Kai Rüder and Josefa Sommer will start on one horse and Michael Jung on two.

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There are no real surprises in the five riders named on the top list.

Andreas Dibowski’s It’s Me won Luhmühlen CCI4* last year while FRH Butts Avedon has a long-term record of consistent top-level performances, although he was retired in the showjumping at Luhmühlen last weekend when he came down on his knees in the combination.

Bettina Hoy finished third at Luhmühlen CCI4* last weekend on Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott has won four three-stars in a row (Blenheim CCI3* last year and three CIC3*s this spring including Luhmühlen).

Michael Jung and FischerRocana FST have won Kentucky CCI4* for the past three years, while Lennox 364 took fifth at Saumur CCI3* in May.

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob OLD were members of the gold medal-winning team at the Blair Europeans in 2015 and the silver medal-winning team at the Rio Olympics last year, as well as finishing ninth at Badminton this spring.

Julia Krajewski won Luhmühlen CCI4* last weekend with Samourai Du Thot and has had three top-10 placings in CIC3*s this spring with Chipmunk FRH, including second in the Event Rider Masters at Wiesbaden.

Full report of Luhmühlen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 22 June.

Andreas Dibowski wins Luhmühlen CCI4*; Louise Harwood best Brit in eighth

Pippa Roome — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:32:56 +0000

Andreas Dibowski claimed the DHL CCI4* at Luhmühlen for the home side today, confirming his cross-country lead with a clear showjumping on Susanne Heigel’s It’s Me xx.

The final phase track proved influential, particularly as the time was very tight, but the top two both held their nerve for faultless rounds.

“This year he’s jumped well every time, but never clear and this was the biggest track he’s every jumped, but he was perfect,” said Andreas. “We were under pressure to ride forward and that helped me — if the time isn’t tight I can be too careful and that’s not good for this horse.”

France’s Maxime Livio took second on Qalao Des Mers.

“This horse is careful, powerful, concentrating — all the things a rider wants, so if the riders helps him he’ll do his best,” said Maxime.

“This is my second runner-up place at four-star, last time I was behind William Fox-Pitt, this time Andreas. I will keep working to try to beat them, but I’m very happy for my horse and my team at home.”

New Zealand’s Tim Price cleared all the fences with Ringwood Sky Boy, but four time-faults dropped him a place from third to fourth.

Young German Julia Krajewski, the dressage leader, put in a foot-perfect performance to rise from fourth before this phase to third with Samourai Du Thot.

“He was jumping really high so I could ride forward, which was nice as I didn’t want any time-faults,” said Julia. “I’m very proud of him — he’s my little baby and we’ve been through every stage together — and I’m really going to enjoy the moment.”

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson’s two clear rounds gave him fifth (Qwanza) and seventh (Perfect Stranger). Australia’s Bill Levett was sandwiched between Andrew’s rides, his two time-faults with Alexander NJ letting him rise from ninth overnight to sixth.

Fellow Aussie Andrew Hoy had the most unfortunate time in today’s showjumping. Rutherglen had the first part of the double at six down, plus fence seven and the last element of the treble at 11. His 12 faults dropped him from sixth to 11th.

Oliver Townend, fourth overnight, did not present Black Tie at the final horse inspection and Louise Harwood finished best of the Brits in eighth on Whitson.

Louise Harwood and Whitson at Luhmühlen 2016. Picture by Jon Stroud Media (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Her clear today moved her up from 14th overnight.

Louise said she learnt from her four time-faults with first ride Mr Potts.

“I thought I was going quite fast on Potts, so it helped me to have that round first,” she said. “But I’d always have ridden him quite fast as that suits him — he loves to be ridden as if it’s a jump-off, it makes him sharper off the ground.”

Full report in H&H this week, out 23 June.

Oliver Townend fourth after cross-country at Luhmühlen CCI4*; Andreas Dibowski leads

Pippa Roome — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 15:33:13 +0000

Oliver Townend lies fourth after cross-country in the DHL CCI4* at Luhmühlen.

The Brit was 11th after dressage on a score of 47.6 with Karyn Shuter’s Black Tie, but one of only four clears inside the 11-minute 10-second optimum time today lifted him up the order.

“He’s gone as well as he can — he’s at his max out there and it’s just fantastic as he’s a very good friend,” said Oliver. “He’s not very big and the fences can feel very big coming to them. You need a bit of pace and a few times I changed the plan, but we got there in the end.”

The pair finished fourth in this competition back in 2014.

The top of the leaderboard has changed significantly after the riders tackled Mark Phillips’ track today.

Young German dressage leader Julia Krajewski has slipped to fifth after 10 time-faults in her first four-star cross-country with Samourai Du Thot. Time-penalties also dropped Australia’s Emma Dougall (Belcam Bear) from third to seventh and Belgium’s Julien Despontin (Waldano 36) from second to 18th. Julien was chased by a dog at one point during his round.

The home side’s Andreas Dibowski now holds first place with Susanne Heigel’s It’s Me xx after finishing one second over the time, which elevated him from fourth.

“He did a really good job today,” said Andreas. “We’ve had good preparation and been focused on this event this year. The owners, trainers and I know what we can expect of him and we got that today.”

Andreas had one awkward moment in the influential Meßmer Teich water (fences 18abc and 19ab), where horses jumped in over a big skinny log, then up a step to an angled hedge on a bounce distance, then back into the water and up another step to another angled bounce hedge.

“He was still fighting over the hedge and he immediately looked to the next jump too, so it wasn’t unsafe,” said Andreas.

Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me xx at Luhmühlen 2016. Picture by Jon Stroud Media (Image credit: creditUnknown)

France’s Maxime Livio has moved up from sixth to second with a clear in the time on Qalao Des Mers.

“My horse is incredible,” said Maxime. “We were on time up to the arena, then he asked for a little rest, then up near the last water he wanted to go again.”

The 28-year-old is making a late bid for the French team for the Rio Olympics after being out of action last year following a six-month suspension after Qalao Des Mers tested positive for the sedative acepromazine (ACP) on the dressage day at the World Equestrian Games in 2014.

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy had 1.6 time-faults and rose two places to claim third overnight.

Six other British horses completed besides Black Tie, with Oliver’s first ride Dromgurrihy Blue the only one who didn’t finish.

Louise Harwood lies 14th on Whitson after eight time-faults and 23rd on Mr Potts, who had a run-out at the Meßmer water when the horse only got one leg up the first step so couldn’t make it over the angled brush.

Coral Keen is 16th after a good jumping clear but 17.6 time-faults with Wellshead Fare Opposition.

Sarah Bullimore, who was best of the Brits after dressage in 10th, dropped down the order to 22nd after 20 jumping penalties at the second part of the bounce of barrels at 15b, after the talented but tricky Reve Du Rouet shied away from a camera clicking. Kirsty Short (25th on Cossan Lad) had a run-out at the tricky wall corner at fence 11 and Lydia Hannon (26th on My Royal Touch) had a couple of problems but completed her first four-star cross-country.

In this morning’s CIC3* Meßmer Trophy, Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Ingrid Klimke were the only two to make the optimum time. They lie first and second with their top horses, Opgun Louvo and Horseware Hale Bob OLD.

Results and times

Full report of Luhmühlen in H&H next week, out 23 June.

William Fox-Pitt down to one ride at Rolex Kentucky three-day event

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:25:55 +0000

British rider William Fox-Pitt will now head to US four-star event Rolex Kentucky next week (23-26 April) with just one horse, following the withdrawal of Freddie Mac (pictured).

William originally had three horses entered for the competition, but his only remaining contender for the event, and an attempt at his fourth Kentucky title, will be Bay My Hero.

Parklane Hawk was withdrawn earlier this month and he will instead head to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Freddie Mac will no longer make the trip to the States due to what William described to H&H as “an untimely set back”. Connections hope that the 11-year-old gelding will be ready for Luhmuhlen CCI4* in June instead.

Another high-profile withdrawal is Andreas Dibowski’s mount FRH Butts Avedon. The German rider made the decision after being unhappy with the period of time his horse would have to remain in US quarantine combined with the fact he would not be able to see him for three-and-a-half days. Andreas had hoped to reroute to Badminton, but was unable to gain a late entry.

Twelve horses have now been pulled from the event, taking the start list from the record entry of 91 down to 80 at present.

US rider Phillip Dutton has decided to save Mr Medicott for an autumn three-day event while Florida-based rider Jon Holling has broken his leg so has withdrawn Zatopek B. Buck Davidson is taking Copper Beech to Tattersalls CCI3* instead and HHS Cooley has suffered a small injury which rules him out of the competition for Californian Liz Halliday-Sharp. Four-star campaigner Manoir de Carneville, ridden by US rider Sinead Halpin is being saved for another event with Rio 2016 in mind. Other withdrawals include Zach Brandt (Cavallino Cocktail), Jennifer McFall (High Times) Emilee Libby (Nonsensical) and Maddy Mazzola (Mojito).

There is a strong British contingent making the trip to Kentucky this year. Zara Phillips will make her Kentucky debut with her World Equestrian Games and 2012 Olympic ride High Kingdom, while fellow first-timer Francis Whittington takes Easy Target. Nicola Wilson is also taking two horses — Watermill Vision and Annie Clover — and US-based Brit James Alliston rides Parker and Tivoli.

H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome will be reporting live from Kentucky, don’t miss her updates on www.horseandhound.co.uk

Olympic team gold medal-winning event horse to retire at Luhmühlen

Pippa Roome — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:55:40 +0000

German Olympic eventing team gold medallist FRH Butts Leon will be retired in a ceremony at Luhmühlen CCI4* this year (18-21 June).

“Leon is 18-years-old and deserves to be retired while he’s fit and healthy,” said rider Andreas Dibowski. “He has been going strong for 12 years and was the most successful horse I’ve had to date. He looks great and really seems to be enjoying retirement in the fields of his owners, Susanne and Holger Heigel.”

Andreas Dibowski riding FRH Butts Leon during the dressage at Burghley Horse Trials 2013 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Leon was bred by Friedrich Butt, by the prolific thoroughbred eventing sire Heraldik, out of a mare called Lillian, by another thoroughbred, Star Regent.

Owned by the Butts and Andreas for the early part of his career, he became one of the most successful four-star horses in the world. He finished eighth individually and helped the Germans to team gold at he 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, and also represented Germany at the 2009 European Championships in Fontainebleau and the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

He finished second in three four-stars (Luhmühlen 2009, Pau 2009 and Badminton 2010) before finally taking top spot at Luhmühlen in 2011. He also won three times at three-star level with Andreas.

After his Luhmühlen victory, FRH Butts Leon was bought as part of US-based Thai rider Nina Ligon’s campaign to ride at the London Olympics. The pair won Poplar CIC3* in Georgia in 2012 and finished 41st in London.

Nina Ligon and Butts Leon competing at the London Olympics (Image credit: creditUnknown)

After the Games, Susanne and Holger Heigel bought FRH Butts Leon so that he could be reunited with Andreas. In 2013, the pair lay 15th after cross-country at Badminton but the horse was spun at the final trot-up. Later in the year, they finished fourth in the crack CIC3* at Aachen and won Schenefeld CIC3*.

FRH Butts Leon last competed internationally at Pau 2013. In total, he completed nine four-stars in his career and was placed in the top 10 at international events 35 times.

Andreas explained why Luhmühlen is a fitting place for Leon to make his final public appearance: “We won the four-star-competition in Luhmühlen in 2011. It was such a great and moving experience and also our biggest success together. I couldn’t think of a better stage for his last lap of honour.”

Leading German riders set their sights on Badminton Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:55:19 +0000

Ingrid Klimke will head up the German challenge at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (6-10 May) this year.

Ingrid — who has competed at Badminton several times before, including finishing second in 2006 on the lovely grey Sleep Late — will bring her Pau CCI4* winner Horseware Hale Bob (pictured) to the Gloucestershire four-star.

She will be joined on the starting list by Bettina Hoy and Designer 10, who makes his four-star debut, and young British-based German Niklas Bschorer. Badminton first-timer Niklas brings forward his Bramham under-25 runner-up Tom Tom Go 3, as well as Lord Shostakovich, who jumped a double clear at Blenheim last year.

Also heading to Badminton for a first tilt at “The Great Event” is Claas Hermann Romeike, 22, whose father Hinrich Romeike was sixth at Badminton in 2007 on Marius Voigt-Logistik who went on to be Olympic champion in 2008. He rides Cato 60, with whom he had good CIC3* form in 2014.

German superstar Michael Jung’s plans remain up in the air, although he definitely intends to run both La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and FischerRocana FST at a four-star this spring. The decision on whether he heads to Badminton or Kentucky (23-26 April) rests on finance, as the German riders do not receive central funding for competition trips to America.

Badminton final scores

Andreas Dibowski has secured the support to make the journey this year and will be off to Kentucky with his European team gold medallist FRH Butts Avedon.

More Germans head to four-stars this spring than in other years because the later placement of the European Championships in the calendar, as well as the fact it is sometimes considered a less important championship than an Olympics or World Championships, means it is more feasible to also fit in a big four-star run in the spring.

However, world champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo will stick to CIC3*s in their preparation for the European Championships at Blair (10-13 September).

“That’s what the riders are planning at the moment, but of course with horses everything can change in five minutes,” said team trainer Christopher Bartle.

Butts Leon bought back for former rider, Andreas Dibowski

Flora Watkins — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:13:14 +0000

German eventer Andreas Dibowski’s 2011 Luhm ¼hlen winner, Butts Leon – who was bought by Thailand’s Nina Ligon to ride at London 2012 – is back with his former rider.

The 15-year-old Hanoverian, who is by Heraldik, finished 41st at Greenwich with Nina. She was the youngest event rider – at 20 – in the competition and the first Asian woman to compete in Olympic eventing.

But Nina, who is based in Virginia, USA, is going to university for four years, and is selling her string.

Butts Leon was bought back for Andreas by Susanne and Holger Heigel. He is likely to compete at the top level and then be a schoolmaster for Andreas’ daughter Alina.

After buying Butts Leon last summer, Nina – who won the FEI’s HSBC Rising Star Award 2011 – said: “Even though it seems like [he] would be the horse to ride in the Olympics because of all that he’s done, well, just because Andreas gets those results, doesn’t mean I will!”

With Andreas, Butts Leon was part of the gold medal-winning German team in Hong Kong in 2008.

In Greenwich, “Buttsie” posted a 53.9 dressage score with Nina, went clear cross-country with 16 time-faults, but had a stop at the gate in the showjumping.

Nina’s mother, Pan Ligon, said at the time: “Was it a dirty stop by Butts? I would say no.

“Butts has been ridden all his life with such precision and skill. When Nina gets in on a half stride and not perfectly right, he does not tolerate any mistakes.”

Andreas Dibowski wins Luhmuhlen Horse Trials; Piggy French fourth

Horse & Hound — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:01:49 +0000

Piggy French’s dreams of a Luhmuhlen win were dashed with two fences down in an afternoon where German strength in depth came to the fore.

Andreas Dibowski rose up to win with Euroridings Butts Leon – his second four-star victory in seven months – with rising star Sandra Auffarth holding on to runner-up spot with Opgun Louvo and Frank Ostholt filling third on Little Paint, ahead of French and Flying Machine.

Oliver Townend (ODT Master Rose) had a fence down which was good enough to rise to seventh, with Mary King (Apache Sauce) and William Fox-Pitt (Macchiato) lowering two fences apiece, for eighth and ninth place.

For Mary, this was still good enough to retain an eight-point lead in the FEI HSBC Classics, though Dibowski has moved into joint third with Mark Todd in the HSBC standings and will now consider whether to prioritise Burghley and Pau in the next day or so.

Dibowski has been competing at Luhmuhlen for 22 years.

“The pressure has been mounting for me to win, and so today is very special,” he said.

Luhmuhlen’s new all-weather surface came into its own as it rained relentlessly all day.

“Some people do not like the new face of Luhmuhlen but these improvements were necessary,” said Dibowski. “In the modern sport it is important that the last competitor gets the same footing as the first.”

Dark horse Sandra Auffarth has a showjumping background which stood her in good stead, even though she had an early fence down.

Opgun Louvo is one of five horses she campaigned in Britain two seasons ago when based in Yorkshire with German team trainer Chris Bartle. Among others, she produced Zara Phillips ride Lord Lauries.

Bartle said: “She has always been a star in waiting. I think people had probably underestimated her, but not now.”

Final placings

1, A Dibowski (Euroridings Butts Leon, GER), 39.8; 2, S Auffarth (Opgun Louvo, GER), 43; 3, F Osholt (Little Paint, GER), 46.1.

William Fox-Pitt wins $150,000 HSBC FEI Classics series

Horse & Hound — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 15:18:50 +0000

Andreas Dibowski won his first CCI**** at Pau in France when Britain’s William Fox-Pitt hit three showjumps after leading overnight on Navigator.

William dropped to second, but still wins the $150,000 HSBC FEI Classics series for collecting the most points at Kentucky, Badminton, Luhmuhlen, Burghley and Pau.

“We both win something so we’re both happy,” he said.

Andreas, 46, has been runner-up at Badminton, Luhmuhlen and here at Pau last year, but this is the first time he has taken a four-star title.

Riding FRH Fantasia, Andreas jumped one of only two faultless showjumping rounds to finish on a score of 61.

“After the dressage I didn’t expect to win,” he said. “But we had a really good round yesterday and enough luck today.”

Karin Donckers pulled off her best four-star placing in third on the 10-year-old Lamicell Charizard despite two fences down. German rider Kai Ruder was fourth on Leprince Des Bois with one fence down and four time-faults.

Peter Flarup was another to get his best result at this level on the 16-year-old Silver Ray with four faults and fifth place, while the best French rider for the second year running was Gwendolen Fer. She jumped the only other clear inside the time on Leria Du Ter, and announced her desire to compete at Badminton next season.

American Boyd Martin hit four fences and dropped from third to seventh on the warmblood Remington XXV at his first competition in Europe.

Ruth Edge, who started her round as the heavens opened, had just one down on Two Thyme for eighth position, while Andrew Nicholson (Mr Cruise Control) finished ninth. France’s Karim Florent Laghouag was 10th on Havenir D’Azac.

The only other rider to showjump clear was Britain’s Nick Gauntlett, but he unfortunately picked up five time-faults aboard the grey Elektron for eventual 17th place.

Read H&H’s full report on all the action from Pau in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 11 November, 2010

Andreas Dibowski leads Luhmühlen Horse Trials after cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:06:53 +0000

Andreas Dibowski (pictured) has taken the lead in the four-star after a dramatic cross-country day at Luhmühlen, Germany.

The German was 12th after dressage, but one of only two clear rounds inside the time over Mark Phillips’s cross-country course catapulted him and his Olympic team gold medallist Euroridings Butts Leon to the head of affairs.

Andreas survived a dodgy moment at the double of corners at fence 21 (Manzke M) — he was thrown forward over the first corner, but managed to recover and jumped over the edge of the second.

Andreas thought he was clear and carried on, but there were rumours later he might be eliminated for not really jumping the second corner, although in the end the ground jury accepted he was penalty-free.

“I was in a little bit of doubt, but then I heard later from the loudspeaker that I’d got through, so I was relieved about that,” said Andreas.

The only other clear round inside the 10min 23sec optimum time came from 26-year-old German Michael Jung. The 2003 young rider European champion moved up from 14th to second with La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

“It’s a first four-star for me and my horse, but this horse has never had a problem cross-country,” said Michael. “I got a really good feeling from my horse over the first jumps, so I just took it jump by jump.”

Two British riders have also shot up the leader board. Mary King now lies third on nine-year-old Kings Temptress, with Tina Cook just behind her on Miners Frolic.

Mary, who incurred just 3.2 time-penalties, said: “I bred her so I feel like a proud mother — I’ve looked after her since she first popped out. She went very smoothly today and was very obedient.”

The competition looked like a disaster in the early part of the day — only one of the first 11 horses finished — but there was a rush of better rounds in the middle of the competition. In the final analysis there were 17 finishers and 11 clear jumping rounds from 35 starters.

Problems were well spread with 11 different fences causing penalties. Among the most influential were the HSBC Hexagon Corner at fence 11, consisting of a hedge, ditch, turn to skinny hedge combination and the third of three angled skinnies in the arena (fence 20, Lottos Kleeblätter), which almost no one jumped on the straight route after Ireland’s George Russell had a nasty horse fall there with Young Man.

Despite all the problems, the only serious injury came in the CIC***, in which Italian rider Gabriele Savoini broke his left arm.

In that class Ingrid Klimke (FRH Butts Abraxxas) has taken the top spot, with Britain’s Ruth Edge now lying second on dressage leader PC Wilson, who had 8.4 time-penalties.

CCI**** RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1. Andreas Dibowski on Euroridings Butts Leon (GER) 45.3

2. Michael Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (GER) 47

3. Mary King on Kings Temptress (GB) 49.7

4. Tina Cook on Miners Frolic (GB) 49.8

5. Dirk Schrade on Gadget De La Cere AA (GER) 50.9

6. William J Coleman on Twizzel (USA) 54.6

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (18 June) for a full report from Luhmühlen and Tina Cook’s comment.

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Youngest rider follows in Olympian father’s footsteps at World Championships: ‘Dad’s here as my groom!’

“He’s my groom this week, on paper!” said Alina.

Asked what advice Andreas gave her before her test, Alina replied: “That I should ride as always, and do my best as always.”

Alina has been riding the 13-year-old Polish sport horse Barbados 26 for eight years.

She said: “We know each other very well, which is what makes our partnership unique, and he’s very loyal. He knows when it’s important and he showed it today again.”

Alina and Barbados scored 30.6 for their test, sitting just inside the top 25 at the lunch break.

“I feel it was very good,” she said. “I think we need to analyse the points for each single section and look at where I lost the points. But all in all, the horse did a very good job and I’m pleased with my riding so there’s nothing to complain about.”

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The individual rider is Alina Dibowski with Barbados 26.

Christoph has ridden at two championships as an individual, finishing seventh at the European Championships in Avenches last September, but this World Championships will mark his senior team debut.

Nicolai Aldinger has been named first reserve for the German World Eventing Championships team with Timmo and Sophie Leube first reserve for the individual spot with Jadore Moi.

The other reserves are Dirk Schrade (Casino 80), Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K) and Ingrid Klimke (Equistros Siena Just Do It).

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Germany were lying a close second to Britain overnight. Their first team rider, Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida, lying 11th after dressage, jumped clear but for 15.2 time-faults to drop them down the order.

“I’m happy with the horse that she wants to jump everything, but if she could come back to me earlier and listen, it would be better for the time. So I’m happy about the clear round, but not the time – but I cannot change that.”

France’s Gwendolen Fer was the first rider not to complete, which has delivered a blow to France’s medal chances as she was in 14th overnight on her 2017 Pau CCI5* winner Romantic Love. She was tipped out of the plate at double of brushes into water at fence 23 when the gelding left a leg.

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Austria’s Robert Mandl produced a lovely test with his 12-year-old gelding Sacré-Cœur for a mark of 26.3.

“I’m very happy that the result is a good start for the event,” Robert said afterwards. “I know that the horse can do a very low score, but in the last three- and four-star events, every time I had a mistake in the test, and so this was very good.”

France’s Gwendolen Fer and Romantic Love scored 26.5, and sit in sixth at this stage of the European Eventing Championships dressage.

“Maybe he was not so brilliant in trot – it could be a little better – but he went very well in canter,” explained Gwendolen after her test with the 16-year-old.

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Andreas Dibowski leads Luhmühlen Horse Trials after cross-country