Latest from Horse & Hound in Luhmuhlen-horse-trials

‘The most genuine horse’: Olympic gelding retains his Luhmühlen title, plus Andrew Hoy among those to impress

Becky Murray — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:05:22 +0000

Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel are back-to-back German national champions after topping the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy results.

Julia and Bernd Heicke’s 12-year-old gelding added .8 of a time-penalty to their 26.9 two-phase score, to complete on 27.7.

“He jumped mega, and I couldn’t have done anything better this week,” said Julia, who has put herself in a brilliant position for selection for the World Championships in Aachen later this summer.

“He is the most genuine horse I’ve ever had. He just never thinks of doing something other than what’s in front of him. He loves Luhmühlen and he loves the crowd.

“I think it’s exactly what we needed to get him hyped up, and hopefully prepped for bigger things this summer.”

The showjumping track tested combinations right to the end, producing only seven clear rounds inside the time from 40 starters. One of those was from Julia and her other ride, Michael Sperl’s 12-year-old Tullabeg Platinum, who finished second on a score of 34.4.

“I knew I could have a pole or two and had some time [spare] with Nickel, but obviously you want your horse to jump clear,” said Julia.

“I had a very good round with Tullabeg and that gave me quite a lot of confidence.”

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s 14-year-old Carlitos Quidditch K rounded off an all-German podium after jumping clear with .8 of a time-penalty, finishing just behind Julia and Tullabeg on 34.6. They too will be vying for a spot in Aachen this summer.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy results: the top six

Switzerland’s Nadja Minder and Top Job’s Jalisco, owned by Peter Attinger and Martin Zak, enjoyed an incredible climb from 32nd after the dressage to finish fourth. They were the quickest cross-country round yesterday, where no one made the optimum time, to add .4 of a time-penalty to their 35.1 dressage. Today that same speed and precision earned them a clear showjumping round.

Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and her home-bred Kiarado d’Arville had a frustrating pole and 1.6 time-faults to drop them from overnight third to fifth.

Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy and 17-year-old Vassily De Lassos were another big climber, rising from 16th after dressage to finish sixth. The reliable pair showjumped clear inside the time to finish on 37.5, having added just 4.8 cross-country time-faults to their dressage score.

Ahead of the weekend Andrew confirmed to H&H that he came to Luhmühlen Horse Trials with his eyes on a team spot at the World Championships. If selected, it will be their fourth championships together

“With him being healthy and me being healthy, if he’s feeling well and got the performances, then that’s something we want to do. Vassily is a horse that just absolutely loves competition,” said Andrew.

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‘A privilege to have this horse as a friend’: British five-star first-timer achieves top-10 finish at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:03:18 +0000

Britain’s Harry Horton has discussed his journey to five-star with “friend” Cooley With Ambition after their 10th place completion at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials today (21 June).

Harry and Cooley With Ambition completed their five-star debut on a final score of 71.1 score. They added just time-faults to their 33.5 dressage mark; 35.6 across country and two showjumping time-penalties.

Harry has guided 11-year-old “Dash” up the levels, having bought him as a four-year-old from Richard Sheen at Cooley Farm.

Harry said Dash has been “a joy to produce”. The pair did their first international at Osberton in 2021 and have worked their way up the levels.

“We’ve done everything together. Every level I’ve got to, I’ve been delighted that he’s made it to the next one. He’s a very special horse,” said 30-year-old Harry.

“You always want to do the next level and I said to my wife if I haven’t done a four-star by the time I’m 30, I won’t do it anymore. But now I’ve done a five-star. That’s it, the bug is even stronger than it was before.”

Harry Horton has had a great support team around him leading up to Luhmühlen Horse Trials with groom Lee Honeysett and Dash’s owners Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate.

“My owners have all been supporters from day dot,” said Harry.

“The Ambition Syndicate is made up of some family members and owners of previous horses, and Susanna at Ballinger Equine has been my vet for the last 10 years and looked after Dash since we bought him. They’ve been great supporters all the way through.”

Harry receives help from trainers Eric Smiley, John Adams and Helene Brackman.

“Eric has helped me a lot recently, and John helps with the jumping. Helene has been an incredible influence on my career,” said Harry, who has also been taken under the wing of top five-star rider Jonelle Price.

“Jonelle helps me with the cross-country and she keeps me on the straight and narrow. She’s incredibly generous with her expertise and time. I can’t thank her enough for the time she gives me at the big ones.”

Harry not only has enjoyed a top-10 finish at his first five-star, but has kept Dash’s international jumping record blemish-free.

“He’s made it all the way through to five-star without ever having a jumping fault on his FEI record. It was slightly on my conscience that the record existed – I want to keep it up,” laughs Harry.

“It’s a nice record to have, but it’s horrible to have on your mind in the morning before showjumping.”

Harry is in no doubt of the achievement in getting a horse to the top level.

“It’s a total privilege to have a horse at five-star, especially when I’ve had him since he was four,” he said.

“The first good feeling is making it to the event with a fit horse, then it’s just ticking off each phase as we go.”

Harry believes there’s more to come from this talented horse.

“I truly believe that I’ve got a horse far more capable than than top 10, and he showed that this week,” said Harry.

“It’s an absolute privilege to ride him – and to have him as a friend.”

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‘The horse bred to happy hack has gone and won two five-stars’: delight as British rider tops Luhmühlen podium

Becky Murray — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:25:04 +0000

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D. Day are double five-star winners after they topped the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials results today (21 June).

“My god, that horse is just something else. He gives me 1,000% every time, and I can’t ask for anything more of him,” said an emotional Caroline.

Caroline and the 12-year-old, who she owns with Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, had just 2.7 penalties in hand going into the showjumping, and the clock was proving tight for some, but the Billy Mexico gelding produced a faultless round.

“I just trust him implicitly,” said Caroline. “I know he’s going to try and never want to touch a fence. He will give me everything. I just try to focus on getting a good canter, keeping the rhythm and not thinking about winning.

“Like in cross-country, you can ride him very quick and he likes it. The tighter the time, the better for me, because I know that he’s good with that.

“He loves the crowd so when everyone starts clapping, it’s great for him because he thinks: ‘Oh everyone’s here to watch me’, so it was great to come in after Emily [King] had jumped so well.”

Caroline and D. Day are now double five-star champions having topped Pau in 2024.

“The little horse that was bred to be a happy hack has gone and won two five-stars. I never thought this horse was a five-star horse, so I take that back,” said Caroline.

“He’s just all heart. He’s not the most talented, but he gives you absolutely everything. And that’s more than you could ever want.”

Caroline said despite her success she still doubts herself – and she would tell her younger self to “keep going and be determined”.

“I still doubt myself every day. It’s quite nice to prove that Pau wasn’t a fluke,” she said.

“I’ve worked very, very hard – and taken a lot to keep believing, but we got there eventually.”

Five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: podium places

Emily King and 17-year-old Valmy Biats, owned by Emily and her father David, kept the pressure on Caroline and D. Day when they showjumped clear to finish second.

“He’s incredible. On paper he’s a little bit older but my goodness, he feels like he’s seven,” said Emily.

“The whole team; our vet Liz, physio Vicky, the trainers, every year they’re saying: ‘He feels better and better and younger and younger’. He’s like a Benjamin Button story; he’s getting younger and feeling better.”

Emily King and Valmy Biats finish second in the five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Emily said it’s Valmy’s “grit” that makes him so special.

“He fights for you every day, and his heart’s incredible,” she said.

“He loves his job. He’s obviously a super athlete in his physique, but he gets up every morning and he wants to work. In those tough moments in each phase, he grits his teeth and gives you more.

“You never feel ‘This is getting a bit hard’, he just keeps fighting, it’s an honour to work with horses like that. Today he kept the rideability and had so much energy, he was on springs.”

Boyd Martin finishes third

Completing the podium was US rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, owned by Dallas LLC. They completed on 38.1 at the 11-year-old’s first-five star, having posted a superb double clear with just 2.4 cross-country time-penalties yesterday.

“I’m very pleased,” said Boyd, who took on Shanroe from Liz Halliday following her accident.

“Obviously it’s huge effort to come all the way from America to Luhmühlen, I’m grateful to the owners and supporters and the coaches of Shanroe for giving it a whirl because it’s a massive project coming across the ocean.”

Boyd said he did not know what to expect of Shanroe at his first five-star.

“I’ve done one four-star long on him last year and he was pretty good, but then this year, he’s just been brilliant in all the lead-up events,” he said.

“Every time we’ve competed together we’ve started to click a little bit more, then to come to Luhmühlen and finish in the top three next to Caroline and Emily, he exceeded my expectations. I really didn’t know what to expect, whether he’d get through it or not, then to be on the podium, I’m very proud of the horse and thankful to the team around him.”

Boyd said competing in a five-star is “a bit like running a marathon”.

“There’s sort of part of you that just wants to finish, and then the other part is: ‘I want to try to win this thing’. There’s a huge difference in how you ride or how hard you push if you’re trying to be competitive,” he explained.

“I was sort of in two minds whether we should just try and get across the finish line, but then once he started off yesterday, I thought, ‘Oh, screw it. Let’s have a crack at it’.

“He really showed me that championship heart that he has. To dig deep all the way around, and then to come out today and jump a clear round, I’m just absolutely thrilled with him.”

Five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: top five

Jonelle Price and David and Karie Thomson’s 14-year-old gelding Capitaine De Hus Z finished fourth, and two poles dropped Jonelle and the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera down to eighth.

Hallie Coon and Kapriccio jumped clear for fifth. Britain’s Harry Horton posted a brilliant clear round, with two time-faults, to finish 10th with Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate’s Cooley With Ambition at their first five-star.

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Two horses sent to the holding box and three withdraw before Luhmühlen final trot-up

Becky Murray — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:02:33 +0000

All 15 horses have passed the CCI5* Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials final horse inspection this morning and proceed to the final showjumping phase – but the CCI4*-S loses three competitors.

The small five-star field presented before the ground jury of Britain’s Nick Burton, Austria’s Christian Steiner and Edith Scless-Stortenbecker of Germany, all looked fresh and well after yesterday’s cross-country. No one was sent to the holding box.

Seven nations remain represented in the five-star competition; Britain, France, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand and the USA.

Caroline Harris and D. Day pictured in the CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials final horse inspection. Credit Peter Nixon. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Britain holds the top two places going into the final phase. The pressure is on overnight leaders Caroline Harris and D. Day (owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle) – they come forward on a score of 31.1.

Only 2.7 penalties separate Caroline and D. Day and Emily King with Valmy Biats, owned by Emily and her father David, who are on a two-phase score of 33.8. US rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, owned by Dallac LLC, are in third on 38.1.

Brits Harry Horton and Cooley With Ambition, owned by Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate, are on their way to their first five-star completion. The pair are 10th going into the showjumping.

CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy Luhmühlen Horse Trials final horse inspection

Forty horses were presented before the ground jury of Joachim Dimmek and Joanne Jarden in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy.

Two horses were sent to the holding box; Germany’s Anna Haag and her own Little Caterpillar and New Zealand’s Daniel Jocelyn with his own and Panda Christie’s Blackthorn Cruise. Both were accepted on re-inspection.

Finnish rider Axel Lindberg was asked to trot up Maria Lucander-Aminoff’s 11-year-old mare Quelle Bonne a second time, but was then passed.

Three horses did not come forward to the Luhmühlen Horse Trials final horse inspection. Hannah Klep and her own Tulara Chicouve and home side rider Felix Etzel withdrew Ulrike Malter’s TSF Polartanz. Hannah was 39th after the cross-country and Felix was in 12th. The other withdrawal is US rider Cosby Green, who was lying in ninth with her family’s Highly Suspicious.

Defending champions Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel are on the cusp of back-to-back wins, they go into the final phase on a score of 26.9. Julia and Nickel have a 4.2 penalty buffer ahead of Belgium’s Lara de Liederkerke-Meier and home-bred Kiarado D’Arville, owned by Five Star Eventers and Larga Sprl, who are in second on 31.1. Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s 14-year-old Carlitos Quidditch K jumped proceed to the showjumping in provisional third, 33.8.

The CCI5* showjumping takes place at 10.25 UK time (11.25am local). The CCI4*-S showjumping begins at 1.10pm UK time (2.10pm local).

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World Championship selection plays on riders’ minds in influential Luhmühlen CCI4*-S cross-country

Becky Murray — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:19:06 +0000

Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel have maintained their lead following the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy cross-country at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

The defending champions are on track to retain their crown having jumped clear around course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s track, adding just four time-penalties to their superb 22.9 dressage. Not only does this class decide the German national eventing champion, but team selectors have their eyes peeled ahead of the World Championships in August.

Julia described Bernd Heicke’s 12-year-old gelding’s round as “faultless”.

“He’s really pro at this level,” said Julia. “I was very happy that I didn’t take too many pulls and could really just ride him very fluent, which is how he can be quick.

“He doesn’t have the highest speed, but he’s really always on the lines. He’s just a very genuine horse.”

The withdrawal of Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas before the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4-S cross-country left 50 starters. Of these, 37 jumped clear but no one made the 6min 40sec optimum time, on what was a hot and humid day in Germany. Switzerland’s Nadja Minder and Top Job’s Jalisco were the closest, coming home a second over to incur .4 of a time-penalty – putting them into overnight fifth on 35.5.

Julia’s other ride Tullabeg Platinum, owned by Michael Sperl, had 7.2 time-penalties, which dropped them from third to overnight fourth.

“The time was very tight, it always is at Luhmühlen, so it didn’t surprise me that no one made it inside,” said Julia.

“Tullabeg is a bit less experienced at this level, and has a massive jump and stride, so needed a bit more adjustment and preparation here and there. He answered everything perfectly and felt very comfortable in the atmosphere. Both horses were phenomenal.”

“I’m aiming for Aachen”

Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier stopped the clocked at 6min 50sec for four time-penalties on her home-bred Kiarado d’Arville. This boosted them from fourth after the dressage to second ahead of tomorrow’s final phase.

“I’m really happy. He’s a 10-year-old and although he’s done a lot already, he’s never come to an event like here at Luhmühlen,” said Lara.

“I’m aiming him for Aachen, if everything stays the way I hope. That’s why we came here, I think it’s a little bit similar. It’s a twisty track and it’s a bit like we’re going to have I think, so everything is in preparation for the next couple of weeks.”

Cross-country pathfinders Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s 14-year-old Carlitos Quidditch K jumped clear with 6.8 time-faults. This dropped them from second after the dressage to provisional third ahead of the showjumping.

New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington had mixed fortunes across country. She opted to retire her first ride Delarado (owned by Rachel Bessell, Kate Maitland, the McGrigor family and Samantha), who had been lying in overnight sixth, after a miscommunication at fence 14a.

“I was just missing a little bit of match practice with Delarado and came a little too keen out of the start box so unfortunately she wasn’t quite with me,” Samantha told H&H.

“She’s been a little bit light on work the last month or so and probably missed a little bit of training, and I guess it showed today. We’ve got a little bit of homework to do before she comes out again.”

Later in the afternoon Samantha jumped a super clear with Lucas Stone, owned by Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, David Taylor, the Dubowskis and Samantha. The pair incurred 8.8 time-faults to move down the leaderboard from sixth after the dressage to 11th.

“Luca was great, there’s a fair amount of pressure in these last couple of events before the selection for the World Championships, so I think I probably just had that in the back of my mind,” said Samantha.

“It was a lot of pressure to cope with, but I’m really pleased to get the job done and come home safe, and hopefully post a good score on the board tomorrow.”

Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy on the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country

Australia’s Andrew Hoy is another rider bidding for World Championship selection, with the experienced double Olympic medallist Vassily De Lassos, owned by Dreams Come True V LLC-owned. They stopped the clock on 6min 52sec for 4.8 time-faults, having jumped all the obstacles clear.

Andrew told H&H it was “a very good course”.

“Mike Etherington-Smith’s courses always walk beautifully, and then when you come to ride them, they always ride a fraction stronger than they walk,” he said.

“It was a proper four-star course, no one got the time but if you rode well, the fences jumped well, so that was really good.”

Andrew gave full credit to 17-year-old Vassily De Lassos.

“He’s just an exceptional horse in all areas,” said Andrew. “I’m very privileged to ride a horse like that, who I’ve got a 10-year relationship with.”

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‘I wanted to put everything right – I think we did today’: British rider finds redemption with phenomenal Luhmühlen five-star cross-country

Becky Murray — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:08:08 +0000

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D. Day are on the brink of a second five-star title after posting the fastest Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country round of the day.

Caroline and the 12-year-old Billy Mexico gelding rode the only clear inside the 11-minute optimum time – stopping the clock with 18 seconds to spare – to move from fourth after the dressage into the overnight lead.

Caroline told H&H she was “over the moon” with D. Day, owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, following the Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country.

“He was incredible,” she said. “He’s pretty small, and I think it really helps on a course like this because he’s so nippy and easy to turn.

“He’s never strong and he comes back to me, he’s very polite to ride. His mum was full Thoroughbred, so he has got a lot of blood and really does gallop. He’s the easiest horse to go quick on.”

Cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s technical track gave the riders plenty to think about. Of the 20 cross-country starters, 15 completed and nine jumped clear with time-faults.

The second fastest round came from Frenchman Benjamin Massie with the 10-year-old Upsilon daughter Guess Star, who was a second over the optimum time, for overnight sixth.

“It definitely rode very, very intense – but to be fair, everything rode exactly how I walked it,” said Caroline.

“I think it’s probably one of the only rounds I’ve ever had where everything really did come up exactly how I wanted it to.”

On the whole, the course did not cause too many problems, but the Mesmer Pond – which included fences 11, 12ab, and 13ab – proved tricky for some. Five combinations had faults at the arrowhead at 12b, including world number one Tim Price, who parted ways from Happy Boy, when he ran out the side.

Caroline said this was one of the trickiest combinations on course.

“It walked a very long six or a short seven. It was really big, up to height and wide. I think if the horse wasn’t confident and committed, then it was just very easy to slip out and not jump it,” she said.

“From there all the way home, every single combination, there was lot. You had to really think your way around and I came into each combination thinking about what Dickie Waygood and Chris Bartle had told me to do.

“I think if you rode it exactly how you walked it, it rode really well. You just had to be on it the whole way.”

Caroline Harris: “I wanted to put everything right”

Caroline and D. Day already have a five-star title to their name, having won Pau in 2024 – but Caroline has not forgotten about her frustrating fall at the home Europeans last September.

“I did feel there was quite a lot of pressure on us [at Luhmühlen], everyone was talking about how we were the quickest in the field – and I messed up at Blenheim, so I really wanted to put everything right,” she said.

“I feel I truly did that today. He was just phenomenal from start to finish.

“He is the ultimate trier. There is nothing exceptional about him, he’s not the most big-moving horse, he wouldn’t be the scopiest, but he’s all heart and gives me 110% every single time. I couldn’t ask for more than that.”

Dressage leaders Emily King and Valmy Biats jumped clear in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country with 6.8 time-faults, which saw them slip into provisional second. Emily was initially given nine penalties for a missed flag at the Sternpartner Water fence 20b, an arrowhead, but following review, these were removed.

“I’m super pleased with Valmy,” said Emily, who owns the 17-year-old with her father David.

“He’s an amazingly brave horse, which can sometimes make him a little bit hard to ride. I’ve fallen into that trap a few times around some bigger events, so I just wanted to think a little bit extra for him around the course.”

Emily had to give Valmy a bit more encouragement than usual as they navigated the 27 fences.

“I don’t know if it was the heat, but he was a little bit quieter today. This crazy lion that I’m usually trying to navigate around the course was not so ‘liony’,” said Emily.

“I suddenly had to start kicking and flapping, and basically had to adapt a bit. When you have your plan and the horses are exactly how they normally are and it just happens seamlessly, it’s the most amazing feeling – but it’s not always the case. It was a bit like that with Valmy today.”

Emily said overall Valmy was “super”.

“Maybe the strides and the approach wasn’t quite as I imagined with some of them, but he was so good on the fences,” she said.

“He was quick with his legs, really straight, jumped everything, and came through the finish super quick. I’m really pleased.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country: Boyd Martin holds third

US rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, owned by Dallas LLC, climbed from 11th after the dressage to provisional third.

The four-time Olympian expertly piloted the 11-year-old gelding – a former ride of Liz Halliday – round his first-five star to come home just six seconds over the optimum time. They added 2.4 time-penalties to their scorecard to carry 38.1 into the showjumping.

“I’m thrilled with him,” said Boyd, who took on the ride following Liz’s accident.

“I was sort of on the fence about whether to take the horse on. He’s a bigger, heavier horse than what I usually go for, but Liz has done a magnificent job producing him. There’s not that many out there that have the grit and determination that Shanroe has.

“I really didn’t know what to expect here, we came wondering if he’s a five-star horse. We kept going through the track, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Hey, he’s feeling pretty good’. Then I was looking at my watch thinking, ‘We’re in this’.

“The last couple of minutes he started to tire a bit, but he just grit his teeth and pricked his ears. I’ve got so much admiration for these horses. They really are true competitors. He really fought hard for me.”

Boyd said he was “thrilled” for Shanroe and his owners.

“Most importantly I’m thrilled for Liz. This has been a horse with a crazy story and to have a successful round at five-star is a great accomplishment,” he said.

“I’ve got half of America texting my phone at the moment. He’s got a massive following, all of Liz’s students and fans and all of her owners are cheering this horse on. I think I’ve got to reply to about 400 text messages.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country: the rest of the top 10

Pathfinders Jonelle Price and the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera lie in fourth, having collected 4.4 time-penalties across country. Jonelle is fifth with David and Karie Thomson’s Capitaine de Hus de Z, who stopped the clock on 11min 18 sec, for 7.2 time-penalties.

The Thomson’s have another horse in the top 10, Dallas 13, who was given a super run round his first five-star by James Avery. The pair were third after the dressage and lie ninth overnight on 46.6, having accrued 11-penalties for activating the MIM clip at the second part of the Luhmühlen Kombination (fence 22ab) plus six time-faults.

British-based US rider Hallie Coon and her own Kapriccio were another to activate the safety device at this fence, and along with 4.4 time-penalties, they go into the showjumping phase in seventh.

Home side rider Katharina Meyer and Aspen T were among the jumping clears. They stopped the clock on 11min 11sec to add 4.4 time-faults to their 41.4 dressage, for overnight eighth.

“Every inch the five-star horse”

Britain’s Harry Horton and Cooley With Ambition round out the top 10 having jumped a brilliant clear at their first five-star. Harry guided Ballinger Equine and the Ambition Syndicate’s 11-year-old home with 35.6 time-penalties.

“He was class. He was absolutely phenomenal,” Harry told H&H.

“The plan was to go all the direct routes, but he got a little tired so I improvised a little bit at the end and took the longer route at the last combination. He felt every inch the five-star horse.”

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‘The best he’s felt’: British rider on top at Luhmühlen five-star after dressage

Becky Murray — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:12:11 +0000

Emily King and Valmy Biats are bidding for their first five-star victory as they sit at the top of the leaderboard following the conclusion of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage.

Emily and the 17-year-old Selle Francais gelding, who she owns with her father David, scored 27 to put them ahead of yesterday’s leaders Hallie Coon and Kapriccio, by 0.8 of a penalty.

“I feel very lucky. He’s such a sweetheart of a horse, I’ve had him for years now. I know him so well and he knows me so well,” said Emily.

“It’s a bit of a hindrance at times because he’s so finely tuned to me, he’s so rideable that he sometimes guesses what’s going to happen.”

Emily said Valmy Biats “felt super” in the arena.

“I’m so pleased we didn’t drop any marks. He’s a very hot, sensitive horse, and sometimes when I really go for it we have a few little mistakes,” she said.

“I maybe went a notch down with really showing off as I really wanted to have a clean test. I’m so glad that he stayed with me and I didn’t mess it up. When I went in the crowd gave an awesome cheer to welcome you, but with ones like Val who is a bit sensitive, I had to say ‘Good boy’, and gave him a bit longer before he went in.”

Emily King said she approached her Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage warm-up differently owing to the warm weather in Germany.

“At about 7am this morning I gave him a good stretch, and I only gave him about 20 minutes [in the warm-up before the test] just to try and not do too much with him,” she said.

“It felt like the perfect balance. He felt the best he’s felt, so it was nice to be rewarded.”

New Zealand’s James Avery is third overnight on five-star first-timer Dallas 13. James has produced David and Karie Thomson’s 12-year-old Dimaggio gelding up the levels from a six-year-old. The pair come to Luhmühlen following a good run at Royal Jump, where they were 11th in the CCI4*-S.

“It’s his first five-star; he’s done three four-star longs now so he’s ready,” James told H&H.

“We had a fairly quiet last year due to me, not him, so we didn’t get much mileage in. He was pretty green off the back of last season, and as much as Badminton would have been awesome, we were a bit behind, so we chose to come here.”

James and Dallas scored 29.6 in the dressage.

“He’s dressage-bred so it’s about time I learn how to do dressage on him. What we’ve practised is now starting to come through to the ring, which is really rewarding,” said James.

“I’m really pleased and looking forward to tomorrow. It’s a good course and he should settle in well to it. There’s loads of questions; it’s combination after combination after combination – which is the difference between five- and four-star, so we’ll see how he gets on.”

Brit Caroline Harris “thrilled” after dressage

There are 20 combinations in this CCI5*, seven of which are British. Pau 2024 winners Caroline Harris and D. Day, owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, are fourth after the dressage on 31.1. World number one Tim Price makes up the top five with Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and his own Happy Boy, on 31.7.

Caroline told H&H she was “thrilled” with D.Day.

“Dressage wouldn’t be his forte, he’s not a big moving horse but he was a really good boy and tried super hard,” she said.

“I made a couple of little mistakes but there were bits that were some of his best work. He loves being at a big party, it’s his favourite thing.”

Caroline said cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s track looks “very technical”.

“It’s intense. From about fence 10 all the way home you don’t really get a breather,” she said. “It’s very twisty and turny, so there’s a lot to do and I think the time is going to be very tight as well.”

Caroline said her Luhmühlen preparations have gone to plan.

“He’s felt brilliant this spring, probably the best he’s ever felt,” said Caroline.

“He had a super run at Belsay where he came second in the four-star to London 52, so we were really thrilled with that. He had a good run at Kronenberg four-star, he’s just felt really confident and happy, and just a lot stronger than he was last year.

“It’s great to be back at a big three-day with him. We’ll go out tomorrow and try to do our best.”

British five-star first-timer Harry Horton

British five-star first-timers Harry Horton and Cooley With Ambition, owned by Harry and the Ambition Syndicate, were first down the centre line in this afternoon’s CCI5* session. They scored a respectable 33.5, for eighth place ahead of the second phase.

Harry told H&H he was “delighted”.

“It went better than I expected, he’s been a little bit on edge since the start of the week. He’s very capable of doing a good test, but we’ve never really been able to put everything together on the same day, but I feel like we managed today,” he said.

“I got to go in there and enjoy it, which isn’t a feeling that I often get in the dressage. I enjoyed it, there was a good atmosphere and it felt very special.”

Harry joked that the good test has left him “feeling more nervous about tomorrow”.

“There’s plenty to jump, but he’s a good cross-country horse. We’ve just got to be able to cope with the heat and intensity,” he said.

Harry bought Cooley With Ambition as a four-year-old from Richard Sheen at Cooley Farm.

“It’s a total privilege to have a horse at this level. We’ve done everything together; my first four-star, now my first five-star,” said Harry.

“He’s a very special horse. He’s been a joy to produce, and he’s definitely my favourite.”

The other Brit in the top 10 is Stephen Heal and Hagonda, who are ninth with 33.6. Sam Ecroyd and Mister Big Ears is =11th with Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, Emma Thomas and The Buzz Factor are 16th on 38; all three of these horses are making their five-star debut. Sam Gillespie and But Not Till Now are 17th overnight on 38.4.

Cross-country day

Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera will set off as cross-country pathfinders tomorrow at 9am UK time (10am local). Emma and The Buzz Factor will be first out for the Brits at 9.10am UK time (9.10am local) and Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage leaders Emily King and Valmy Biats are third last to go at 10.30am (11.30am local).

The CCI4*-S cross-country begins at 1.26pm UK time (2.26pm local) with Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp due out first with Callfield. 2025 Luhmühlen CCI4*-S winners Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel hold the overnight lead.

Check out the cross-country times.

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‘He feels amazing’: eight-time Olympian confirms he is aiming for World Championships with Tokyo medallist – as they hope to impress at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:15:39 +0000

Andrew Hoy has confirmed that he has the World Championships in his sights as he hopes to impress Australian selectors with his Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials performance.

The eight-time Olympian is contesting the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S with his double Tokyo medallist 17-year-old Vassily De Lassos, who he owns with Dreams Come True V LLC.

The pair – who have a combined age of 84 – look on super form. They had small blip in the right counter canter transition in their dressage and finished on a score of 32.7, which puts them 16th going into the cross-country phase.

Andrew told H&H he was “really happy” with the test.

“I’ve had a 10-year relationship with Vassily, and with all the dressage training that I’ve done in that 10 years, the score is somewhere between a 27 on an absolutely fantastic day to a 33 or 34 – so I’m very happy,” he said.

Andrew Hoy confirmed that he has brought Vassily to Luhmühlen Horse Trials with the aim of selection for the World Championships in Aachen, having had discussions with the Australian team management. If selected, it will be their fourth championships together. They were last on the world stage at the 2022 World Championships, having won individual bronze and team silver at the Tokyo Olympics a year earlier.

“There have been many horses that have run at championship level at 17 years of age, and many horses at the top level at that age,” he said.

“With him being healthy and me being healthy, if he’s feeling well and got the performances, then that’s something we want to do. Vassily is a horse that just absolutely loves competition.”

Andrew Hoy: “He feels absolutely amazing”

Discussing how he’s preparing Vassily for Aachen, Andrew said a key part of that is “not running him at every show possible”.

“This is his third run this year. He’ll have another run before Aachen, should I be selected,” he said.

“He feels absolutely amazing; walking out of the main arena today all he wanted to do was buck and gallop out. He’s ready for the next phase.”

Andrew is another rider who believes time will be a big factor in tomorrow’s cross-country (20 June).

“I think the time is going to be a real challenge. Mike Etherington-Smith designs a very good course with the distance in combinations just a little bit wide, which means you need to slow down for them,” he said.

“There are many sectors in the course where you’re only going to be doing 400-450 metres a minute – and the areas that don’t have fences you can’t go really, really fast in all cases. Just in the last 40 seconds you’ve got six jumping efforts, so that’s not a quick part of the course.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S leaderboard

It’s a German top three in the CCI4*-S Meßser Trophy; Julia Krajewski and Bernd Heicke’s Uelzener’s Nickel are on top after posting a superb 22.9 dressage. Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s Carlitos Quidditch K are second on 27, and Julia is third with Tullabeg Platinum, with 27.2 on the scoreboard.

Cross-country day begins with the CCI5* in the morning at 9am UK time (10am local) with pathfinder Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera. The CCI4*-S gets under way at 1.26pm (2.26pm) and Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp will be first out on her other ride, Callfield. Andrew and Vassily are on at 1.56pm UK time (2.56pm local).

Check out the cross-country times.

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‘Today was perfect’: Olympic horse brings his A-game at Luhmühlen Horse Trials

Becky Murray — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:17:20 +0000

Olympic rider Julia Krajewski heads a German top three in the CCI4*-S Memser Trophy following the conclusion of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage.

Julia and Bernd Heicke’s Uelzener’s Nickel were clapped out of the arena by an enthusiastic crowd after delivering a dazzling 22.9. This gets the pair off to a flying start as they defend their German national champion crown.

Julia and Nickel started as they meant to go on, receiving eights from judges Joachim Dimmek at C and Joanne Jarden at E for the first three movements. The test showed ease and confidence from the 12-year-old Paris Olympic gelding and the judges rewarded the wonderful partnership on display with an 8.5 and nine for harmony of horse and rider.

Julia Krajewski said “today was perfect” following her Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage.

“Nickel really loves this stadium. He can be a bit tense sometimes, depending where we go, but he knows this place,” she said.

“There’s always things that I know I want to improve on. I’d say canter work is his strength. The trot is not the most forward naturally, but I think the judges have got used to it. I was very happy with the halts and just his general attitude, he was very workman-like and I could really ride him.”

Julia added that Nickel is a “crowd favourite”.

“Once he’s done, it was the same in Paris, he walks out of the arena like: ‘Ok, this is what I deserved, come and cheer for me’,” she said.

“It’s really nice that he feels comfortable in this atmosphere.”

A German top three

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Bodil Ipsen’s 14-year-old Carlitos Quidditch K hold provisional second on a score of 27 – just 0.2 of a penalty separating them and Julia on her second ride, Michael Spurl’s 12-year-old gelding Tullabeg Platinum. This class is a key selection trial for the German team ahead of the World Championships; five horses from the A squad are among the entries including Malin and Carlitos Quidditch K and Julia with both her rides.

Last to go in the dressage was Belgium’s Lara De Liederkerke-Meier and home-bred Kiarado d’Arville, son of her former championship ride Nooney Blue. They are fourth overnight on 27.3.

There are no Brits on the CCI4*-S card this year, but British-based riders to make the journey include New Zealander Samantha Lissington who held her own in this first phase. She is currently fifth with Lucas Stone – owned by Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, David Taylor, the Dubowskis and Samantha – and sixth with mare Delarado, owned by Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, David Taylor, the Dubowskis and Samantha.

Samantha told H&H “Luca” is still fairly new to the level, having stepped up at Blenheim last autumn, and still gaining confidence in the arena – but “nailed it” today.

“He was really with me, so it was very exciting. He’s got a lot of presence and a lovely frame,” she said.

Samantha bought the 10-year-old from Finland having found him using the EquiRatings Horse Search Complete, a data-driven equine sourcing service.

“He was someone’s only horse and he’s forever in your space. He’s a real people person, so he’s a fun member of the team with a lot of character,” she said.

“When I saw him I thought he had an athleticism about him that I really liked and a natural respect for the fences, and quite a lot of presence that I spotted fairly early on in his videos.”

Samantha posted the second best score of the day yesterday on Delarado, slotting her behind Julia and Tullabeg Platinum overnight.

“Delardo is Miss Consistent. She’s so rideable and easy and straightforward. The atmosphere never bothers her,” said Samanatha.

Aiming for Aachen

Samantha originally had Delarado entered in the CCI5* class, but switched to the CCI4*-S with her eye on the World Championships.

“I changed my mind just to get these two fit, on the road ready for Aachen. They’re both ready to do the five-star, but we’ve decided to prioritise selection for Aachen this year,” said Samantha, who has an exciting string with Defender Bramham CCI4*-S runner-up Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ also in team contention.

“I don’t think I could have done much better the last couple of days. It’s quite satisfying to deliver at an important event and have these first two days ticked, and I hope we can tick the next couple.”

Looking ahead to the cross-country tomorrow (20 June), Samantha thinks the clock will be a prominent factor.

“The main area is a lot kinder than last year, but the last minute and a half is very busy so I think the time is going to be fairly challenging to get,” she said.

A late entry

Belgium’s Senne Vervaecke and Google Van Alsingen got proceedings under way in the CCI4*-S today. The pair were a late entry having been hampered by paperwork issues, taking the starters in this class to 51. They scored 37.4 for overnight 40th.

At the halfway break this morning no one had broken the sub-30 barrier; Danish Olympic rider Peter Flarup was the closest with a 30.5 on his own 10-year-old gelding H.Carald Z, after receiving consistent scores from the judges. They will start the cross-country in seventh place.

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Pony Club champion to Luhmühlen five-star debut – and why his rider performed her dressage test holding her reins upside down

Becky Murray — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:58:07 +0000

Britain’s Emma Thomas spoke about the emotional journey to five-star for her former Pony Club champion The Buzz Factor after her Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage today (18 June).

Emma and 15-year-old “Buzz”, who is owned by Emma’s mother Rebecca Velarde, her brother Arthur Thomas, and Zoe Bardey, were second down the centre line and scored 38 to sit in seventh overnight. Although Emma has a number of five-star completions under her belt already, stepping Buzz up to five-star means the world to her.

“He’s a really special horse to me,” she told H&H. “I’ve had him for 10 years and won the Pony Club open championships with him eight years ago.

“He’s really made my entire career, so it’s so special to have him at a five-star. He is my best pal; he’s the friendliest, cuddliest creature, and he loves a big proper stage to show off.”

Emma, who studied biology at the Royal Veterinary College, said she didn’t originally plan to become a professional rider but it was Buzz that changed her mind.

“I got him with the hopes of maybe doing an intermediate at some point. We’ve come up the levels together, sort of the blind leading the blind, and it’s been the most incredible journey,” she said.

“He’s the most generous creature that I think has ever lived and he’s put up with a lot of learning mistakes. I graduated university a few years ago and he was suddenly at four-star, life was getting really exciting and I just decided to give it a go professionally. I really wouldn’t be here as a professional event rider without him.

“I’ve got another horse as well, Icarus. I am really lucky that the first two horses I’ve produced have both gone up to top level. The pair of them have made my career, but especially Buzz. He was the first and had to put up with me as a teenager making lots of mistakes.”

Horse and rider returning from injury

Emma and Buzz were U25 national champions at Defender Bramham in 2024, but he sustained a field injury and needed some time off to recover.

“He had a bit of time coming back from that, and then he picked up another little injury at the beginning of last year, so he’s had almost a year and a half away from the sport,” said Emma.

“He’s come back in the best form of his life. It’s been really special.”

Emma Thomas has also been nursing an injury, having had an accident cross-country schooling a horse a few weeks ago – but she came up with an unusual way to ride her Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage test to accommodate that.

“I injured my finger; it wasn’t serious but more annoying and it meant I didn’t have the prep for coming to Luhmühlen that I was hoping to have,” she said.

“In the test I was holding my reins upside down like a beginner. It worked out really well because I think I’m much softer holding the reins that way and it’s been really helpful riding like that the past few weeks. You’ve got to take silver linings from these things.”

Emma was “thrilled” with her test.

“He’s not a very conventional shape, so we have to work really hard to condition him and muscle him up over his top line correctly. I just thought he tried so hard, he really stayed with me,” she said.

“Two of his changes, or certainly one of them, was really fluffed which was annoying because they’re usually really good, but overall I was so thrilled with him. He can get a little bit excited in an atmosphere, but I thought he was fantastic.”

Emma is looking forward to tackling the cross-country on Saturday (20 June).

“I haven’t been here before and haven’t been over to Europe much, it’s very different. I got lost on my first course walk twice because I just didn’t have my bearings, it crosses over itself a few times,” she said.

“I think it’s a great track. The intensity actually happens after halfway, but there are questions in the beginning and there’s a section two thirds of the way around that’s really intense.

“It’s quite a small field, although it’s a real quality field. I think the course will cause silly run-outs, maybe more than people think, because of where on the track the questions are – some are quite near the end. But it’s great and I think if you go out there and get stuck in you’ll be rewarded, which is how you want to feel about cross-country.”

Emma Thomas: “I gave myself a little moment”

Buzz making his five-star debut carries an emotional tie for Emma and his owners.

“I gave myself a little moment before I went in today, just to make sure I was really appreciating how special it was that he was here,” said Emma.

“His owner Pippa Williams died at the beginning of March last year and I’d been based with her for near enough 10 years. He was her favourite horse too, so it’s just really special. Her daughter Zoe now owns him and there’s a very big emotional connection.

“I also used to train with Caroline Moore and she had a soft spot for him. I always think when I’m on him they’re both up there somewhere watching him.”

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‘I wouldn’t want to be on any other horse’: British-based US rider tops Luhmühlen five-star leaderboard – Brit in third

Becky Murray — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:21:25 +0000

US rider Hallie Coon and Kapriccio hold the lead after the first day of CCI5* Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage, with the only sub-30 score.

Hallie and her 11-year-old five-debutant Kapriccio, whom she owns with Helen Coon, were second-last to go this afternoon and scored 27.8 to take the lead.

“I’m feeling very confident at the moment. He’s just the best horse I could possibly have underneath me,” said Hallie.

KWPN gelding Kapriccio was produced by Julia Norman from BE100 to CCI4*. Julia last competed him in March 2025, before Hallie took over the reins. Hallie and Kapriccio recorded top-20 places at Ballindenisk CCI4*-S and Boekelo CCI4*-L last autumn and enjoyed their first CCI4*-S victory at Oudkarspel in the Netherlands in April.

“He’s the type of horse if you hold his hand and make sure he’s comfortable, he’ll give you his heart on a plate, it’s just a lovely feeling. I wouldn’t want to be on any other horse,” said Hallie.

The Luhmühlen five-star field is considerably smaller this year, just 21 combinations were presented at the first trot-up yesterday (17 June). This has since reduced to 20 following the withdrawal of Bill Levett and RNH Tom Tom R ahead of the dressage.

World number one Tim Price was last to go of the nine combinations in the five-star dressage this afternoon with his own, Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s Happy Boy. The pair made a super entrance, scoring a nine from Nick Burton at C and eights from Christian Steiner and Edith Schless-Stortenbecker at M and E respectively, but they had an expensive mistake in the medium trot, when Happy Boy broke into canter, and had another slip-up in the extended trot across the diagonal. But their test got better, earning 31.7, for overnight second.

“I thought he tried really hard. We had two mistakes in the trot which was a real surprise as he normally has a good trot,” said Tim.

“I think he was just over-concentrating almost, he’s just a little trier and wants to do the right thing. But I was really pleased with everything else.”

Great Britain’s Stephen Heal in provisional third

Britain’s Stephen Heal makes up the overnight top three, with his own and Heather Chapman’s lovely grey mare Hagonda. The pair rode a relaxed looking test, scoring 33.6.

Stephen Heal and Hagonda. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“I’m really pleased with her. This is only her second five-star and she wouldn’t have been in many big arenas like that. She can sometimes not be so easy in a test, so it was nice that she stayed rideable. I was able to really ask her for all the movements and get stuck in and everything came up quite nicely,” said Stephen.

“I was probably a bit slack after the stretch circle to get the second-last change, but otherwise I was really happy with how everything went. She felt really relaxed, she can get a little excited and I can lose her a little bit, but she just felt really at ease in there today.”

Cross-country thoughts

Looking ahead to Saturday (20 June) there are mixed views among the top three about tackling cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington’s track. Hallie Coon was feeling confident following her Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage test, but Tim had some reservations, as it is a tough track and Happy Boy can be challenging.

“I don’t know if I’m looking forward to it, but I’m going to hopefully have a good plan to do a good job,” said Tim.

Hallie said she is still to walk the whole course.

“I was so focused on this first phase but from what I can see it looks like a big bold galloping track. The conditions are perfect it seems, the ground is lovely. Luhmühlen has done a very good job of preparing and I’m excited to see the rest of it,” she said.

“The general consensus I’ve heard [among riders] is that there’s plenty to do out there and it’s not going to be a dressage show.”

Stephen believes his long-standing partnership with Hagonda, having produced her up the levels, will put him in a good place.

“I’m looking forward to the cross-country. I think it will suit her because she doesn’t get strong, so I’m not too worried that it’s quite twisty,” he said.

“There’s plenty of questions out there, lots of tricky lines to corners and things like that which I think could catch out. But I think as we know each other so well now and she’s been round some tough courses in the past, she was really good at Pau and then this year she was fab round Belsay, so it’s given me confidence coming here.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage day two

The second day of dressage for both the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy and the remaining 11 combinations in the CCI5* is tomorrow (19 June).

Australia’s Grace Kay and Bluefields For Cello will start at 8am UK time (9am local) in the CCI4*-S. Britain’s Harry Horton and Cooley With Ambition will kick off the CCI5* proceedings at 1pm UK time (2pm local).

This morning German Olympic rider Julia Krajewski took an early lead in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy with Tullabeg Platinum on 27.2. New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Delarado are in overnight second on 29.2 and US rider Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious are provisional third on 31.0.

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‘It’s been quite a journey’: Olympic rider aims for back-to-back titles as she lands personal best at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:42:11 +0000

Germany’s Julia Krajewski holds the lead in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy after the first day of Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage, as she aims for back-to-back titles.

Julia and Tullabeg Platinum, owned by Michael Sperl, scored a personal best at this level of 27.2, to take an early lead this morning. The 50-strong class incorporates Germany’s national championship, won by Julia and her Paris Olympic ride Uelzener’s Nickel last year.

Julia said she was “very happy” with her test.

“He basically showed everything he can do today. It’s very much about the little things with him like good halts and good changes. They’ve been a bit tricky because he’s not the biggest mover and doesn’t score super high in individual points – he really has to earn the marks through being consistent,” she said.

“I think that’s what’s really positive about him, and about the test, that he really showed what he’s capable of and he didn’t have any blips or mistakes. I think that made it a very good test and I’m delighted the judges had the same opinion.”

Julia has had the ride on the 12-year-old gelding for around a year and half and she stepped him up to four-star last year. The pair were runners-up at their two spring CCI4*-S events, Strzegom in April and Marbach in May.

Julia said the pair have been working hard to improve their dressage marks.

“He doesn’t have the most easy physique with dressage in mind, so it’s really a matter of getting him supple and then into self-carriage and collection, but still keeping him forward,” she said.

“It’s very much step by step with him; developing good flying changes and what the judges want to see. We’ve been working a lot on that and every couple of weeks he gets a little bit better.

“I’m very happy for him and his owners, it’s been quite a journey with him in dressage and it was a very good day today.”

Julia Krajewski will ride Uelzener’s Nickel in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage tomorrow (19 June). This class is a key selection trial for the German team ahead of the World Championships and both of Julia’s rides feature in the A squad.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage CCI4*-S standings

New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Delarado – owned by Rachel Bessell, Kate Maitland, the McGrigor family and Samantha – were the second combination down the centre line this morning and posted a pleasing 29.2, to hold provisional second. Samantha will ride her second horse, Lucas Stone, owned by Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, David Taylor, the Dubowskis and Samantha, tomorrow.

The overnight top three is completed by US rider Cosby Green and her family’s Highly Suspicious, who were last to go. The pair scored 31.0.

The five-star dressage begins at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm); Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera will be first down the centre line. Emma Thomas and the Buzz Factor (1.38pm UK time/2.38pm local) and Stephen Heal and Hagonda (1.54pm UK time/2.54pm local) will be in action for the Brits.

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One late withdrawal before Luhmühlen trot-up as Brits prepare to contest five-star title

Becky Murray — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:25:03 +0000

All 21 horses were accepted at the CCI5* Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials first trot-up this afternoon (17 June).

The German five-star has a notably reduced field this year; 31 appeared on the entries list when it was first published but by yesterday this had reduced to 22. Among the withdrawals were Ros Canter and defending champion Izilot DHI and MHS Seventeen, Laura Collett with Hester, and US pair Grace Taylor and Game Changer.

There was a further withdrawal today, from US rider Hallie Coon who has pulled out Lucky Fortuna – leaving a start list of 21. Hallie remains on the list with her other ride, Kapriccio.

Eight nations are represented in the competition; Australia, Britain, France, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand and the USA.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price got the Luhmühlen Horse Trials first-trot up under way, presenting The Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera to the ground jury of Britain’s Nick Burton, Austria’s Christian Steiner and Edith Scless-Stortenbecker of Germany. This was followed by Jonelle’s second ride, the Thomson’s Capitaine De Hus Z.

Next to go was Emma Thomas, one of six British entries, with the 15-year-old five-star first-timer The Buzz Factor, owned by Zoe Bardey, Arthur Thomas and Emma’s mother Rebecca Velarde.

The first home side rider, Katharina Meyer and the Tietz family’s 16-year-old gelding Aspen T, drew the biggest cheer of the afternoon. The pair are making their five-star debut.

While all combinations were accepted, the ground jury had a brief discussion ahead of waving through Irishman Dominic Furnell’s ride Ivanhoe (owned by Thomas Jones) but the Wounderwall 11-year-old was passed first time.

Pictured Dominic Furnell and Ivanhoe during the trot-up. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Britain’s Caroline Harris and her Pau 2024 winner D. Day brought the style factor with a tailored waistcoat and matching trousers. The pair finished 12th here last year. Fellow Brit Sam Gillepsie looked smart in a suit as he presented his own But Not Till Now; Sam is competing alongside his partner Stephen Heal, who rides his own and Heather Chapman’s Hagonda. The 14-year-old mare her five-star debut with Stephen at Pau last year.

Other names in the field include Emily King and Valmy Biats, who come to the German event after dropping down the leaderboard at Badminton, where they finished 39th. World number one Tim Price is riding his own, Susan Lamb and Therese Miller’s Happy Boy, and Boyd Martin presented Shanroe Cooley (owned by Anthony Smyth and the Dallas LLC’s 11-year-old Shanroe Cooley).

The last Brit to present at the Luhmühlen Horse Trials first trot-up was Sam Ecroyd and Mister Big Ears. The Irish gelding, owned by Michael Byrne, Sam’s mother Penelope, and Julie and Michael Hall, is making his five-star debut. The pair were third in the Scone Palace CCI4*-L in August, and finished 40th at Belsay CCI4*-S having jumped clear across country, with time-faults.

Mister Big Ears is making his five-star debut with Sam Ecroyd. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The first day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage gets under way tomorrow (18 June), beginning with the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy (incorporating the German national championship) at 8.30am UK time (9.30am local). Malin Hansen-Hotopp will be first out with her own Callfield, for Germany.

The five-star dressage begins at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm); Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera will be first down the centre line. Nine of the 21 will go tomorrow, and the remainder on Friday. Emma Thomas and the Buzz Factor (1.38pm UK time/2.38pm local) and Stephen Heal and Hagonda (1.54pm UK time/2.54 local) will be in action for the Brits.

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How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2026 live from anywhere in the world

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:43:13 +0000

Watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials live this week and enjoy the action from Germany’s only five-star eventing competition, plus the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, which incorporates the German national championship.

Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials is the final major fixture before team selections are made for the FEI World Championships in Aachen this year, and although there have been some last-minute withdrawals, the event will host plenty of elite combinations.

At a glance

Luhmühlen Horse Trials date: 18–21 June 2026
Watch Luhmühlen on TV: H&C TV
Watch Luhmühlen from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials live on TV

Horse & Country TV is the only place you can live stream all the action from Luhmühlen, with commentary options of English or German.

You can stream H&C TV via the website or watch on the app via Fire TV, Android TV, Roku or Chromecast.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials H&C TV schedule

Session	Date	Time (BST)
First horse inspection	Wednesday 17 June	3.20pm
Dressage day one	Thursday 18 June	7.20am
Dressage day two	Friday 19 June	7.50am
Cross-country	Saturday 20 June	8.35am
Final horse inspection	Sunday 21 June	7.50am
Showjumping	Sunday 21 June	10.05am

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

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Ros Canter and other Brits among Luhmühlen withdrawals, leaving five-star field depleted

Becky Murray — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:19:56 +0000

Defending champions Ros Canter and Izilot DHI are among the withdrawals from Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials (17-21 June), leaving a depleted CCI5* field.

Ros and Alex Moody’s horse had been the favourite to win again, but it was not to be – and Ros’s other ride MHS Seventeen, owned by Lady Milnes Coates and Deidre Johnston, has also been pulled out.

Entries for the CCI5* were already on the lean side; there were only 31 combinations on the original list, but as of today (16 June) only 22 remain.

The other British withdrawals are Laura Collett and Hester, Andrew Downes with Cooley Foxtrot, Elspeth Bryce on Lacoste and Alexander Tordoff with Cool Jack. Harry Meade has withdrawn Jet Fighter; the pair were at Defender Bramham Horse Trials last week, but withdrew before the cross-country.

US combinations Grace Taylor with Game Changer and Lucienne Bellissimo with Kitsch Couture HPK have also withdrawn, as has Australia’s Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane. Bill still has RNH Tom Tom R entered.

There are still six Brits in the five-star, including Pau five-star 2024 winners Caroline Harris and D Day, Stephen Heal with Hagonda and Sam Ecroyd riding five-star debutant Mister Big Ears. Ireland has two entries; Sian Coleman with Carrowgar Je Taime Max and Dominic Furnell on Ivanhoe. The home side has two combinations in the CCI5*; Heike Jahncke with Mighty Spring FRH and Katharina Meyer with Aspen T.

The CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, which incorporates the German national championship, has reduced from 63 entries to 50. The only Brits in this class, John Tilley with Licence to Cooley and Gordon Murphy riding Highmoon, have both withdrawn.

Germany’s Calvin Bockmann and Altair De La Cense, who finished fifth in the CCI4*-S last year, are out – as is Sweden’s Amanda Staam with her 2025 Europeans ride Corpoubet AT, and Desiree Schmidt on Fairy Tale B, who have made Nations Cup team appearances for Switzerland.

Emily King and Valmy Biats originally showed as entered in the CCI4*-S, but now appear in the CCI5* entries – and New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Delarado, who appeared on the five-star list, now show in the CCI4*-S. Samantha was double-entered at Bramham and Luhmühlen with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, but opted to run at Bramham, where they finished runners-up in the CCI4*-S.

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials trot-up gets under way tomorrow afternoon (17 June). The first day of dressage is on Thursday, beginning with the CCI4*-S at 8am UK time (9am local) followed by the five-star dressage at 1pm UK time (2pm local). Find more information about how to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

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Can history repeat itself? Ros Canter and Izilot DHI set to defend Luhmühlen CCI5* title

Becky Murray — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:01:09 +0000

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI are among the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials entries (18-21 June), as the pair look to defend their CCI5* title.

Ros could be on track for history to repeat itself; last year she won Badminton with Lordships Graffalo in May then Luhmühlen five-star with Izilot DHI in June. She showed she is in phenomenal form at this year’s Badminton when Lordships Graffalo won his history-making third title. She is also entered with Lady Milnes Coates and Deirdre Johnston’s MHS Seventeen, who finished 19th in the German five-star last year.

This year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials takes place just eight weeks before the World Eventing Championships in Aachen (13-16 August) and only 30 are entered in the five-star class, of which 13 are British combinations. Fiona Kashel and Monbeg Cazador are on the list and would make 31 entries, but the pair are already shown as withdrawn.

Pau five-star 2024 winners Caroline Harris and D Day (owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier and Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle) will make the trip to Luhmühlen; Laura Collett will bring forward Lucy Nelson’s Hester, who finished seventh here last year, and Harry Meade is entered with 11-year-old five-star first-timer Jet Fighter, owned by Abigail Bernard. Sam Ecroyd will ride Mister Big Ears (owned by Julie and Michael Hall and Penelope Ecroyd), who is also making his top-level debut.

There are two home-side riders in the CCI5*; Heike Jahncke and Mighty Spring FRH (owned by Carsten Küst and rider) and Katharina Meyer and Aspen T (owned by Monika Tietz and rider). Jonelle Price will ride her own and the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera and Tim Price is entered with Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and his own Happy Boy. Last year’s Luhmühlen five-star runner-up Samantha Lissington will ride Delarado, a five-star first-timer owned by Rachel Bessell, Ella and Magnus McGrigor, Kate Maitland, Braydon Lissington and Samantha.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials entries for the CCI4*-S

The CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, which incorporates the German national championship, has 63 entered, including Emily King and Valmy Biats, who finished 39th at Badminton following some miscommunications across country. The other Brits are Gordon Murphy with Kevin McNab’s Highmoon and John Tilley and his own Licence to Cooley.

Among the 18 German entries are last year’s champions Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel (owned by Bernd Heicke), Christoph Wahler and Stefan Haupt and Hendrik von Paepcke’s D’Accord FRH and Calvin Bockmann with his family-owned Altair de la Cense.

Course designer Mike Etherington-Smith has introduced “several tweaks” to this year’s tracks.

“It’s a privilege to design at events like this. Luhmühlen is a top-class event and that’s exactly why riders enjoy competing here. All the fences are now in place and we are working on the final details,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to work alongside Kai-Steffen Meier, who brings a great deal of experience and is an excellent sounding board for ideas.

“The course is just that little bit more demanding this year to ensure riders stay focused and continue making decisions all the way round depending on how their horses are feeling. We are also using more frangible fences throughout the course to further enhance safety.”

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Early-bird tickets for 2026 Luhmühlen Horse Trials are now on sale

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:58:27 +0000

Luhmühlen Horse Trials tickets are now on sale – so if you fancy a trip to Germany’s only five star to witness some top-class pairings, here’s everything you need to know about the tickets.

The 2026 Luhmühlen Horse Trials will run 18–21 June and tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials tickets: General admission

We’re currently in the window for early-bird tickets, which means booking now guarantees you the best possible price. The early-bird window closes on 28 February 2026 and prices will then increase. I’ve included the box office prices with each session for comparison.

Prices listed include entry and parking fees.

Family tickets admit two adults and two children, but do not include seating. Child tickets are valid for ages 7–16, children aged six and under can enter free.

Watch dressage on the Thursday and Friday (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Thursday 18 June (Dressage)

Free entry for all – on Ticketmaster it will show as unavailable/limited tickets, but you do not need to reserve a ticket in advance. You can turn up on the day.

Friday 19 June (Dressage)

Adult: Early bird €15 (box office €23)
Child: Early bird €8 (box office €15)
Family: Early bird €35 (box office €65)

Cross-country is on the Saturday (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Saturday 20 June – Cross-country

Adult: Early bird €40 (box office €50)
Child: Early bird €20 (box office €30)
Family: Early bird €100 (box office €140)

Catch showjumping on the final day of competition, Sunday 21 June (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Sunday 21 June – Showjumping

For the showjumping, you can choose between general admission tickets, which give you access to unreserved standing room, or grandstand tickets, which includes covered unreserved seating.

Unreserved

Adult: Early bird €25 (box office €35)
Child: Early bird €15 (box office €25)
Family: Early bird €65 (box office €105)

Grandstand

Standard (all ages): Early bird €60 (box office €65)
Disabled: €30

Season tickets for all days

Unreserved

Adult: Early bird €75 (box office €90)
Child: Early bird €45 (box office €60)
Disabled: €37.50

Grandstand

Standard (all ages): Early bird €105 (box office €115)
Disabled: €52.50

Members Club tickets

These tickets are only available for the whole event and must be purchased in advance. The ticket includes entry, parking, food and drinks, start and results service and a programme.

With grandstand seating: €350
Without grandstand seating: €300

Luhmühlen Horse Trials discounts

Children aged six and under can enter for free, while children aged 16 and under qualify for reduced standing tickets.

Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount.

Entry on Thursday 18 June is free for all visitors.

‘I’m so glad I’ve been able to show the world what a good horse he is’: career-best result for New Zealand rider at Luhmühlen while Laura Collett finishes third

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 15:27:55 +0000

UK-based New Zealander Samantha (Sam) Lissington recorded the best result of her career so far when finishing runner-up in the 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials results today (15 June).

Thirty-three-year-old Sam, who moved from New Zealand to the UK in 2019, was riding 14-year-old gelding Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, who she owns alongside her husband Brayden and Pip McCarroll.

They were fourth after the dressage on 28.9 before jumping clear across country, finishing just one second over the optimum time, picking up .4 of a penalty. They followed this up with a clear showjumping round, inside the optimum time – one of only six pairs from 25 final day starters to do so.

“He’s so obedient and rideable, like he’s a teacher’s pet, and he always has been,” said Sam of “Sooty”. “He’s a very much a ‘yes’ man, but almost to the point where if you make a mistake, it’s because he just does what he’s told to do.

“He’s never going to take over. He’s got incredible footwork, and he’ll pat the ground and fix a mistake from that point of view, but basically, if a mistake happens, it’s my fault.”

Sam thought today’s showjumping track was “really big”.

“And the time was exceptionally tight too, so I think it was the perfect test because it shook up the leaderboard,” she added. “It was exciting to watch and exciting to ride, as well as nerve-wracking!”

Sam said this result was “a reflection of the accumulative effect of years and years of work”.

“We found Sooty as a five-year-old with the owner, Pip McCarroll, in New Zealand, and now nine years later, on the other side of the world, we’ve achieved this result.

“I knew he was going to be a good horse and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to show the world what a horse he is. But not only that because in order just for him to be here, we’ve had to shift our lives from New Zealand, survive Covid while trying to start a business and build a team of horses to the point that you build the confidence that you can ride like today – it’s just huge, isn’t it?”

Speaking of future plans, Sam, who most recently took the top three places in the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump with some of her other rides, is feeling positive.

“We’ve got quite a lot of horsepower, which is amazing. I imagine Sooty will go to Pau at the end of this year, but to be honest, this result means he’s now qualified for the World Championships, so we can afford to stick to short format events with him if we felt like that was the best prep.

“It feels like we’re riding a wave and I’m hoping that the wave is going to continue, and we take the learnings and build on them.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: Laura Collett finishes third

Cross-country leaders Laura Collett and London 52 suffered heartbreak when incurring four faults at the first part of the treble at fence 10a on the final day, meaning they dropped to third on a score of 29.4.

London 52 was previously unbeaten at five-star level, with at this event in 2023, Badminton in 2022 and Pau in 2020.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” admitted Laura. “I think anyone in that position would be disappointed, more for the horse than anything else.

“He jumped amazing and didn’t really deserve to have a rail, but it’s the sport, and I’ve said all along that he doesn’t owe me anything. So for me, the main thing is he’s coming home in one piece, and he’s yet again performed and showed everyone what a spectacular horse he is and I’m so lucky to ride him.”

Laura also finished seventh aboard the grey mare Hester, who seems to be continuously improving with each run.

“The way she’s come on from here last year [where they finished 21st], she’s grown in confidence,” said Laura. “I felt she grew in confidence here last year and she’s just built on that, which is a credit to the course designer to be able to bring a green horse here and then have such a good experience that they come back a year later feeling like a true five-star horse.

“I feel very lucky to have more than one amazing five-star horse in my string.”

Read the full report about the winner and the top 10 Luhmühlen Horse Trials results

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘I locked myself in the loo and re-watched videos I’m proud of’: Ros Canter credits new preparation strategy for Luhmühlen victory

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Drama at Luhmühlen five-star final horse inspection as top four partnership is spun

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘Being sat on a horse like that is something I have to treasure’: Laura Collett leads the way at Luhmühlen following action-packed cross-country

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2026 live from anywhere in the world

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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‘I locked myself in the loo and re-watched videos I’m proud of’: Ros Canter credits new preparation strategy for Luhmühlen victory

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 11:53:54 +0000

Ros Canter added a fifth five-star victory to her CV when topping the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials results, following a dramatic final showjumping phase today (15 June).

Izilot DHI jumped a clear round, inside the time allowed, and when overnight leaders Laura Collett and London 52 lowered the first part of the treble at fence 10a, it catapulted Ros from second into the top spot, finishing on a score of 28.8.

“I’m a bit surprised, really – I’d have been absolutely delighted with second – we’re just so thrilled that ‘Isaac’ has come out again with confidence,” said Ros of the 12-year-old she co-owns with Alex Moody. “He hasn’t been an easy character, but he is a really, really genuine horse. Sometimes I think some people think he’s a bit naughty, but actually, he’s just really genuine, but also genuinely spooky.”

Isaac already has a five-star win to his name in the form of his 2023 Pau victory and, although he has the reputation of being tricky, thanks to Ros’ expertise, he has finished in the top six 13 times from his past 16 international runs.

This win is redemption for this combination, who dropped from first to fourth with two fences down and two time-faults in the final phase here last year.

“I blamed myself for losing the win and worked quite hard on how I presented myself today and the mental side behind it,” explained Ros. “Last year, I felt because the showjumping was early in the morning, I wasn’t quite prepared for the rush of it all. So I changed a few things and I was more relaxed today, and I gave him a much better ride.”

The five-star showjumping was completed shortly after 11am local time this morning, which is much earlier than other five-star events.

“Last year, I didn’t travel in my own lorry – I was with other people – and that gave it a different vibe. I mean, it was absolutely fine, but I just got caught out last year with the showjumping happening so early, and I’m definitely the type of person that needs to put work into the mental side of things. I need to prepare myself for a round.”

Ros was third into the ring today on her other ride MSH Seventeen (Vinnie) and duly jumped the first clear round of the day.

“I knew after Vinnie’s round that Isaac was going to be coming down ready for me to get on, so I went and locked myself in a loo and re-watched a video of me riding that I was proud of, and really got the plan in my head, so I felt more relaxed in the warm-up,” said Ros. “Whereas last year, it just all felt a bit rushed.

“I’ve also changed his bit to a nathe pelham, which has made a huge difference. Because he’s got such a long stride, when I used to try and shorten it, it went slower and I didn’t feel I could compress him very easily. That’s why last year I got the time-faults in the showjumping, which cost me the win. Whereas now I’m able to get that little bit more spring into the canter and he just loves it and he’s very happy in it.”

When asked about what it feels like to add another five-star victory to those already secured at Badminton in 2023 and 2025, Burghley in 2024 and Pau in 2023, Ros said that she “can’t believe it”.

“I didn’t think when I was growing up that I was ever going to do anything like this. It’s hard to believe that I keep doing it, but I’m just lucky that I’ve got horses like him [Isaac], aren’t I?”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials results: triumph and heartbreak

Of the 47 starters in this year’s five-star at Luhmühlen, not one combination finished on their dressage score. The USA’s Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious were the closest to achieving this feat – they just added .4 of a time-fault in the showjumping and ultimately finished fourth on 35. New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington also added just .4 of a penalty – this time across country – to finish second on 29.3.

Of the 25 showjumping starters, six jumped clear inside the time allowed of 82 seconds. Faults were well-spread around the course, with most fences coming down during the final phase.

Laura Collett and London 52 dropped from first place to third when picking up four faults, while New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ capitalising on a clear round inside the time to move from third to second.

Austria’s Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line also jumped clear inside the time to finish fifth – this 18-year-old has now been retired from competition after a successful eventing career that includes competing at two Olympic Games.

Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K also jumped clear inside the time to rise from 12th to sixth, while 8.8 penalties in the final phase dropped Laura Collett and her second ride, Hester, one place into seventh.

Cosby Green finished eighth on her second ride, Jos UFO De Quidam, Australia’s Isabel English was ninth with Cil Dara Dallas and Ireland’s Robbie Kearns and Chance Encounter were 10th in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials results.

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Drama at Luhmühlen five-star final horse inspection as top four partnership is spun

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 08:11:05 +0000

There was drama at the final Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials trot-up this morning (15 June) when four horses were sent to the holding box and three were not accepted upon re-presenting to the ground jury. There were also four horses withdrawn following the cross-country.

The highest placed of those spun was Kitty King and Vendredi Biats. They were in fourth overnight and looked set for yet another top-10 placing at five-star level, but it wasn’t meant to be and they will take no further part in the competition.

The Netherlands’ Janneke Boonzaaijer and I’m Special NOP were also not accepted by the ground jury of Katrin Eichinger-Kniely from Austria, Merel Schurink from the Netherlands and Ernst Topp from Germany after re-presenting. They were in 19th following their clear cross-country jumping round.

The third combination not to be passed fit to continue at the final Luhmühlen Horse Trials trot-up was Morocco’s Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand, who were in search of a five-star completion on their debut at this level. They were in 29th after the cross-country.

Ireland’s Declan Cullen and Seavaghan Ash were sent to the holding box, but were accepted upon re-presentation.

Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Origi were the highest placed of the horses withdrawn prior to the final horse inspection – they were in seventh after the cross-country. This 11-year-old gelding pulled up lame after jumping clear inside the time across country, but Lara reported that he was “happy in his stable”.

Aaron Millar opted to withdraw KEC Deakon after the cross-country. They were in 17th after the cross-country having jumped clear across-country, picking up 16.8 time-faults.

Britain’s Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl, who were in 21st, were another pair to withdraw, as was fellow Brit, five-star first-timer Phoebe Locke and Bellagio Declyange, who was 25th after a steady clear across country.

The five-star showjumping gets underway at 10am (9am UK time).

There was a sad postscript to yesterday’s CCI4*-S cross-country action when Chiquita, ridden by Germany’s Maj-Jonna Ziebell, was injured in a fall at fence 14c.

A statement released by the event read: “The mare received veterinary treatment directly on-site and was driven to a nearby veterinary clinic. It is with great sadness, that we announce that Chiquita had to be put down as a result of a broken shoulder.”

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‘Being sat on a horse like that is something I have to treasure’: Laura Collett leads the way at Luhmühlen following action-packed cross-country

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 16:14:01 +0000

Fast clear rounds were few and far between during the five-star Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country today (14 June).

Just four of the 46 cross-country starters completed clear inside the time around the 11 minute 2 second track, which was designed by Mike Etherington-Smith.

The fastest of those was dressage leader Laura Collett on the second of her two rides, London 52, who stopped the clock with five seconds to spare and remain on their 25.4 dressage score.

“He’s sensational – I’m not very good with words and I genuinely don’t have enough to do him justice, but he’s insane,” said Laura, who is looking to maintain this horse’s unbeaten record at five-star having won this event in 2023, Badminton in 2022 and Pau in 2020.

“The feeling he gives is like no other, so to be in my position and sat on a horse like that is something that I just have to treasure.

“Everything he does, the way he gallops, the way he listens – he’s a big horse, but he’s so adjustable and nippy around these tracks, and at the end of the day, he just loves it.

“He’s so honest, and he looks for the flags, and he makes my job very easy.”

Of the 46 combinations that started the cross-country, there were 20 clears, while 32 completed. This means that 10.8% of the field jumped clear, inside the time, 43.5% of the field jumped clear and 69.6% of the field completed.

“There was nowhere you felt like you could just sit and breathe and gather your thoughts,” explained Laura of the track. “It was, bang, bang, bang, whether it was turning and twisting through the trees or setting up for a combination.”

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI maintain their second place after the dressage. Ros and the 12-year-old she owns alongside Alex Moody, picked up 2.8 time-faults, a contributing factor of which is this horse’s inherently spooky nature.

“I rode him earlier this morning and he wouldn’t go near one of the showjumps, which was slightly concerning,” laughed Ros. “But when he got out there, he really settled. I think having the woods to gallop through at the beginning really channelled and helped him focus. He ducked and dived all over going into the main arena and coming out of it again.

“He doesn’t find it so easy to gallop for so long, but that’s why he can dance so easily in the dressage, so we know his strengths and weaknesses, but I couldn’t fault his attitude today.”

“It felt fast!”: other top riders reflect on performances

British-based New Zealander Samantha Lissington continues her superb run of form, having recently filled the top three spots in the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump in France, where she also finished third in the CCI4*-S on her ride this weekend, Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ.

Sam and this striking black 14-year-old gelding, who she owns alongside her husband Brayden and Pip McCarroll, had the pedal to the metal around today’s track and finished with just .4 of a time penalty, one second over the optimum time.

“I’m really proud of him, and it felt fast!” said Sam, who said she was still wracking her brains this morning about today’s track. “I like to watch some go and then make decisions for myself, but this course was one of the ones where I was a little undecided going out the start box, and I didn’t know quite what I was going to do in the main arena, so I felt like I just had to ride it off feel, and thankfully, it came off.”

The most influential fence on Mark Etherington-Smith’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country track was the much talked about fence 8abc, the Longines Kombination. This consisted of a maximum width oxer at the first part, followed by a right-handed turn to two acutely angled brush fences with blue water trays below on a forward one stride distance.

Some riders opted to put in a small curve in-between the b and c elements and clever horses made this look comfortable, however, with the nature of the main arena, with plenty of crowds and marquees to distract horses, some quite simply didn’t lock on to the c element and ran out. Ultimately, this fence caught 15 combinations out – almost a third of the field (32.6%).

Kitty King fourth after Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

Kitty King and the now incredibly consistent Vendredi Biats – who both really deserve a five-star win having knocked on the door so many times with three top-five five-star placings, including finishing second here last year – finished bang on the optimum time and go into tomorrow’s showjumping in fourth on 31.2.

Kitty was emotional following her round, dreading the day this 16-year-old, owned by Diana Bown, John Eyre, Sally Lloyd Baker and Samantha Wilson, retires from top level sport.

“It wasn’t our tidiest of rounds and we were a bit scrappy in places, but I think that’s the makeup of the course.,” explained Kitty. “It’s very twisty and fast with lots of lines, and the horses don’t really know where they’re going, but he kept helping me out, and I helped him occasionally. He’s just such a dream and I’m going to miss him so much when he has to retire.”

This marked “Froggy’s” fifth run of the season and Kitty has been experimenting with bitting after this horse’s original Myler combination bit was banned for 2025.

“We’ve been trying to find new bits for him – he’s very sensitive and tricky, so this year we’ve run in a different bit at every event,” said Kitty. “Therefore we haven’t really got that continuity yet, because on his first few runs, the bits didn’t work, so we had to keep swapping, so for an older horse, he’s been quite confused.”

Kitty and Froggy finished fourth in the CCI4*-S at Bicton on their most recent run and she decided to stick with the new combination bit she used there for Luhmühlen.

“Although we had a good run at Bicton, we’re probably still a little bit at sea,” said Kitty. “I was really nervous going out the start box here, because I sometimes when you put the bit on the second time, they don’t work at all and he was a bit stiff and wooden in the warm up – I was thinking, ‘oh gosh, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to turn’.

“But he just did his job and was fast as we could be – I was smacking my head into branches everywhere in an effort to save time!”

Young US rider impresses on Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country day

US rider Cosby Green, 24, who is based with Tim and Jonelle Price in Dorset, impressed with polished performances aboard both of her rides today.

She clocked the second fastest round of the day with the second of her rides, Highly Suspicious, finishing four seconds inside the optimum time to move from 16th after the dressage into fifth.

Cosby also finished just one second over the optimum time on her other ride, Jos UFO De Quidam to rocket from 36th after the first phase into ninth.

Laura Collett is another rider to have two horses inside the top 10, with the grey mare Hester seeming to have grown in confidence over the past 12 months – she retired across country at Badminton last year and then picked up 20 penalties in the five-star here last year, but today she finished just three seconds over the optimum time and has moved from 13th into sixth.

“She was phenomenal. The improvement in her in 12 months from where she was here last year was amazing,” said Laura. “And for me, that’s what it’s all about, is building that partnership.

“I’ve had her all the way through her career, like Dan [London 52], so it’s taken years but she feels amazing. She’s like my little unicorn that I get to fly around.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country: the rest of the top 10

Origi, the mount of last year’s winner, Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier, finished one second inside the optimum time to currently sit in seventh, but the gelding pulled up lame at the finish. Lara has since posted on social media to say that “he is being taken care of by the vet team and is happy in his stable”.

Rounding off the top 10 is Austria’s Lea Siegl, who at the age of 26 is another young rider to have two horses inside the top 10 following the Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country. She has DSP Fighting Line in eighth having picked up 3.2 time-faults and Van Helsing P in 10th. Van Helsing P dropped from sixth after the dressage having picked up 11.2 time-faults. Lea has been given a yellow card by the ground jury for “abuse of horse for excessive use of the whip” aboard DSP Fighting Line.

Some of those who dropped out of the top 10 today included Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno, who were in fifth after the dressage. Gemma pulled this 17-year-old mare up quickly after jumping through all elements of Manske’s Irish Bank at fence 20. Jalapeno was loaded onto a horse ambulance and Gemma posted on Instagram to say the mare was “comfortable in her stable”.

Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp dropped from third to 12th with Carlitos Quidditch K after activating a frangible device jumping into the second water at fence 11, while Piggy March and Halo dropped from seventh to 24th due to a run out at the final part of this same water fence at 12b. Finally, Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat, who held ninth after the first phase, opted to retire after a run out at 8c was followed by a run out at the middle part of the second water at 12a.

The final showjumping phase will get under way tomorrow morning after the final trot-up, which is at 7.45am (6.45am UK time), with less than one fence down separating the top three.

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‘A dream come true’: meet this five-star first-timer, who grew up riding mules

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 06:52:12 +0000

“It’s a dream come true,” says 30-year-old Noor Slaoui, who is making her five-star debut at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials this week. “I’ve always wanted to do a five-star and to do it on this horse is very special for me.”

The horse in question is the 12-year-old grey gelding Cash In Hand, who Noor owns alongside Moulay Hafid El Alamy. Noor, who hails from Morocco, purchased Cash as a six-year-old from Jodie Amos, with the Olympics in mind. Indeed, they accomplished this Olympic dream when finishing 44th individually at the Paris Games last summer.

“Cash and I have grown up together and to compete at five-star is another big tick off the bucket list,” says Noor, who is based in Wiltshire and rides full-time. “I’m trying to let it all sink in – it’s a great opportunity to be here and I just want to make the most of it, to learn and progress and to hopefully compete at more five-stars in the future.”

Noor grew up in Morocco and lived there until she was 18 and caught the riding bug from going hiking into the mountains with mules.

“I fell in love with animals and the countryside,” she says.

Noor Slaoui: a breakthrough with Cash

A fairly recent discovery for Noor has been that applying plastic shoes to Cash has transformed his performance.

“My farrier, Phillip Martin, swapped Cash into plastic shoes about six weeks before the Olympics and it has made him so much more comfortable,” explains Noor. “He struggled with nailed shoes and I had to keep him on a surface as much as possible, but the plastic shoes have been a game changer.”

Noor says that Cash’s genuine nature is what drew her to him originally.

“He has a very good brain and is really straight,” she says. “He has been perfect for me to learn on and has been so forgiving of any mistakes I’ve made.

“I’m not going to lie though, we did try to sell him about three years ago, but the client and her coach didn’t think he was good enough – but that’s turned out to be lucky for us!”

Noor says that Cash is “very relaxed”.

“His character never changes – he doesn’t need to do any arena familiarisation because he’s almost a bit too cool,” explains Noor, who sits in 35th after the first phase at Luhmühlen. “I want to have a safe round across country and learn a lot experience-wise. Cash still struggles with the showjumping on the final day, but I don’t have any goals of winning – hopefully that’s for the future.”

No matter what, Noor is hoping to put a stressful journey en-route to this event behind her and to enjoy the event to its fullest.

“We broke down two-and-a-half hours away from here on the motorway,” she says. “We managed to get Cash here on a transporter and the lorry is still at the garage – hopefully it’s fixed by Sunday when we have to go home!”

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‘Just being here is an achievement in itself’: five-star first-timer battles the odds to compete at Luhmühlen

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:25:03 +0000

This week’s Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials marks a first five-star attempt for 25-year-old British rider Phoebe Locke. She rides her own 14-year-old chestnut gelding Bellagio Declyange.

“Getting to five-star has kind of been a long time coming,” says Phoebe, who is based near Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds. “I’ve been trying to get to this level for three years with this horse.”

Phoebe bought “Zozo” as a seven-year-old from the south of France, where he had competed up to CCI2*-S level.

“He’s since exceeded all expectations,” says Phoebe. “We’ve done Bramham [where they finished fourth in the under-25 CCI4*-L in 2022], Bicton [where they were fifth in the under-25 CCI4*-L in 2021], and he jumped clear across country in the young horse CCI4*-S at Blenheim as an eight-year-old.

“He just picked up an injury three years ago and so it’s been a long road to get him back, so even just being here is an achievement in itself.”

Phoebe Locke: “A huge team effort”

Talking further about Zozo’s road to recovery, Phoebe says: “It’s been a huge team effort from my vets and everyone who supports me. It’s taken a lot of management to get him back competing, but he’s feeling better than ever and he’s still only 14.

“To even just get here and pull up in the lorry is pretty special – we have no expectations this week and I just want us to enjoy it and do the best I can.”

Phoebe, who has enjoyed success on British junior and young rider European teams, says Zozo is “an amazing horse”, although he can be tricky on the ground.

“You sort of take your life into your own hands with him in the stable – he’s taken chinks out of me before!” laughs Phoebe. “He’s quite a character, but as soon as he’s got his bridle on, he absolutely loves his work.”

Phoebe and Zozo scored a respectable 34.8 in the Luhmühlen dressage to sit 21st of 46 starters.

“It was probably some of the best trot work he has ever produced,” she says.

“There’s no other horse I’d want to be sat on – he gives such a special, cool feeling over big cross-country fences – but I just need to steer in the right direction and not mess up, really. I’m really excited, and I hope tomorrow we just give it our best shot.”

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Find out when your favourites and top names go cross-country at Luhmühlen five-star

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:04:03 +0000

The 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times have been released – and the five-star is not to be missed with British riders holding seven of the top 10 places after the dressage phase.

The five-star cross-country gets under way on Saturday morning (14 June) at 8.45am (7.45am UK time), and is due to complete at 12.08pm (11.08am UK time).

Britain’s Aimee Penny and the first of her two rides, PSH Encore, will be the pathfinders across cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s five-star track, which features 28 numbered fences with an optimum time of 11 minutes and eight seconds. The final rider on course will be Ros Canter riding Izilot DHI.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times: five-star top 10

Laura Collett and London 52: 10.49am UK time (11.49am local time)
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 10.57am UK time (11.57am local time)
Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K: 9.21am UK time (10.21am local time)
Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ: 10.05am UK time (11.05am local time)
Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno: 9.25am UK time (10.25am local time)
Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P: 10.53am UK time (11.53am local time)
Piggy March and Halo: 9.53am UK time (10.53am local time)
Kitty King and Vendredi Biats: 10.21am UK time (11.21am local time)
Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat: 8.57am UK time (9.57am local time)
Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon: 8.29am UK time (9.29am local time)

The CCI4*-S class is then due to get under way at 1.20pm (12.20pm UK time). This class hosts the German Championship – known as the Deutsche Meisterschaft – but, as opposed to 2024, there are no British entries this year.

View the Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times in full.

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‘He deserves to win every event he goes to’: Laura Collett and London 52 throw down the gauntlet in contentiously marked Luhmühlen five-star dressage

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:09:38 +0000

Laura Collett and the indomitable London 52 lead the way after the CCI5* dressage at the 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

The duo have an enviable record at five-star having won all their starts at this level – this event in 2023, Badminton in 2022 and Pau in 2020. They scored 25.4, which puts them 0.6 of a penalty ahead of second-placed Ros Canter and Izilot DHI.

Their test was virtually fault-free, scoring two nines from the judges – which have been a rare commodity in this class this year – one for their mid-test halt and one for their final halt.

“He’s an absolute dream to ride. He knows what he’s doing now, so it’s just about trusting the process and not getting caught up working in too much,” said Laura. “I rode him this morning and he was very, very fresh, but I just trusted that he’s old enough to know what he’s doing now. He was on the edge in there – it’s quite an atmosphere, but he loves an atmosphere.”

On whether she felt more or less pressure riding such an accomplished horse as London 52, Laura said: “I came into this year saying that after last year with the pressure of the Olympics and everything, I just wanted to enjoy him and enjoy having him around and not having the pressure. But the closer we got to here, I was definitely feeling it, mainly because I don’t want to let him down and he deserves to win every event he goes to, so it’s my job to allow him to do that.”

Going more into her test today, Laura said: “In the trot, he was wanting to show a bit of piaffe and show off a little too much, but we could have had just a bit more rhythm and connection.”

Laura explained that she rarely rides London 52 on the flat at home.

“It’s just a case of keeping him happy, to be honest – he knows all the movements now, so I probably only school him once a month on the flat when I have a lesson.”

Ros Canter: “He was an absolute delight”

Ros was delighted with the efforts of “Isaac”, who can be spooky. But the 12-year-old, who was fourth here and second at Pau last year, who won Pau in 2023, held it together in the first phase, which was bathed in 27°C sunshine but with a brisk breeze.

“I’m absolutely over the moon – he’s a spooky chap, but time and time again he pulls it off and he’s an absolute delight,” said Ros. “We’re much more secure and with each other now he’s 12 years old. We’ve been together a long time and I think he’s trusting me a bit more, and I’m certainly trusting him a bit more and I know him inside out – it’s just about building that relationship.”

Ros said Isaac’s neck is “tricky for her to gauge”.

“I have to rely on people watching me to tell me how it feels, and sometimes he feels elastic and sometimes he doesn’t. But I knew his neck was good because my supporters told me it was – sometimes it doesn’t feel as good as it I’d love it to and I would like to have him a little bit lower and rounder, but when you have him in a place where you’d have another horse, he always looks over-bent, so we just have to have him that little bit more up and out than maybe I feel comfortable with.

“I think I could always get more elasticity in the canter, and that’s kind of his weakness. He’s very comfortable in trot, which is quite unusual for event horses, as most do their best work in canter, but he’s more elastic in the trot.”

Ros said she rode Isaac “a little bit on the safe side” today but that although he is spooky, his brain is “really easy”.

“He’s not a horse that blows up and gets tense – he’s just spooky, and he’s got a real flight instinct, so if he spooks at something, it’s a bit more dramatic than maybe some other horses, but on the whole, he’s pretty chilled so it’s always about balance of having worked enough so he doesn’t spook but not having worked him so much that he doesn’t show off his true nature.”

The home crowd was delighted when Malin Hansen-Hotopp slotted into third with her 2022 Blenheim CCI4*-L winner, Carlitos Quidditch K, who also finished fourth on his five-star debut at Kentucky last year. They were another pair who made no obvious mistakes and went on to score 28,9,

“He was just awesome,” said Malin. “He came into the arena and was a bit ‘Ooh’ at the crowd, but if I stay cool and just ride, I get him like that.”

Samantha Lissington on “finding the balance”

British-based New Zealander Samantha Lissington, who is on flying form having finished in the top three with all three of her rides in the CCI4*-L at France’s Royal Jump event at the end of May, is hoping to capitalise on that, this week. She sits in fourth on Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, who finished second in the CCI4*-S at Royal Jump, on 28.9.

“He’s just so obedient and so easy to ride – I came out here and didn’t have to do a lot because he knows his job so well. It’s more just making sure we’re both sharp enough,” said Sam. “It is tricky finding that balance – you want them rideable enough, but quick enough to be on your leg for the changes, I wanted him relaxed and easy and rideable, but not too rideable that I missed a change.”

Gemma Stevens on the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage: “I don’t know what we’re supposed to do”

As was the case on the first day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage yesterday, there were many murmurings about the marks in the first phase. One of the riders rueing the mark given was Gemma Stevens, who sits in fifth with Jalapeno on 29.4

“I’m thrilled with her – I don’t know what we’re supposed to do though. That is the best test she’s ever done and she has scored 22s in the past,” said Gemma. “The changes were on the button, she was soft, through and over her back, good in the frame and her transitions were amazing and she didn’t make a mistake. She normally scores in the low 20s and I don’t know why [the judges] have to be like that – I don’t know what they’re trying to achieve, what are they looking for?”

Austria’s Lea Siegl is sixth and 15th riding Van Helsing P and DSP Fighting Line respectively on scores of 29.8 and 34.4. Piggy March sits seventh on 29.9 riding Halo.

“I was absolutely delighted. I’m in my own bubble all week and I’ve got a cute little horse,” said Piggy. “The field is very hot, but I’m here for my own interest to find out where I’m at with my horse.

“It will be his first time galloping 11 minutes across country – he’s a lovely galloping horse, I just hope he settles at the beginning so he doesn’t run his race too early. But he’s 12 and I think he’s a real championship horse – he’s not the finished article yet and there’s lots more to come.”

On the scoring in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage, Piggy said: “I was watching Gemma’s [Stevens] work all morning and it’s been looking very, very smart, and so it’s quite demotivating. It’s nice when you do something good and judges give it a deserving mark, but they’ve stayed pretty miserable this week.

“Riders need to know what they’re training to – marks inspire them. I’ve spoken to ground juries before about it , but have never found the answer to the problem. Dressage is Marmite, isn’t it? But at this level, [this kind of marking] is actually not good enough. Riders have come back in tears and demoralised – these good sportspeople are trying to get to the very top.”

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats put in a polished performance to score 31.2 to sit in eighth. This is ‘Froggy’s’ worst dressage mark since scoring 32.8 in the CCI4*-S at Belton in March 2019.

“They’re just being fairly miserable, but I thought he did a nice test,” Kitty said.

Day one Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage leader Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat sit in ninth on 31.5; Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon, who were second at the end of yesterday, are 10th on 31.6.

The cross-country gets under way at 8.45am tomorrow (7.45am UK time, 14 June).

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‘Like being in a tumble dryer’: riders react to the challenge facing them on this year’s Luhmühlen five-star cross-country track

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:26:53 +0000

Some riders have shared their initial thoughts on the five-star 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course.

The 6,340m track, which has been designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, and has 28 numbered fences and 46 jumping efforts has got some of this year’s five-star competitors scratching their heads.

Ros Canter, who has two rides this week in the form of MHS Seventeen and Izilot DHI, describes the track as “pretty intense”.

“You get a nice gentle start and then there are lots of combinations,” she says. “Each individual combination is very jumpable, but riders have to put it all together.”

Ros’ compatriot, Laura Collett, who has two rides this week – Hester and London 52 – says that she thinks riding the track will “feel like being in a tumble dryer”.

“I think it’s very intense and it’s not going to be a smooth ride, that’s for sure, and I think the time is going to be near on impossible to achieve,” she states.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘Combination after combination’

Selina Milnes, who leads after the first day of five-star dressage aboard Cooley Snapchat, agrees with Laura’s sentiments about the course being intense.

“There is combination after combination and horses aren’t going to get much of a breather,” she says. “I’d like there to be just a few more galloping fences where you can just say to your horse, ‘well, that was good, well done’.”

In terms of a specific fence that Selina thinks will cause problems, she pinpoints fence 8abc, the Longines Kombination, in the main arena.

“I think it looks a hell of a long way in one stride between the b and c element. I think you’ve just got to jump the parallel first and then give yourself time to jump the final two elements. The skinny fences at the the Meßmer-Teich water at 11 and 12ab are very skinny too.”

Note: the screen in the bottom left-handed corner of this picture will be removed prior to the cross-country starting. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

This question at fence 8 in the main arena includes two acutely angled brush fences on a one stride distance. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Aaron Millar, who holds second place with KEC Deakon after the first day of dressage, describes the course as “twisty”.

“It’s a good test,” he says. “There’s a lot of combinations where you’re going to have to think quickly about where you’re going and where you’re turning and there’s a lot of acute angles – the course is going to keep us working and thinking.”

Swiss rider Nadja Minder is in agreement, saying that there are “ a lot of angled combinations”.

“It seems like you have to jump everything on an angle,” she says. “But I think it’s clear for the horses and there are set up fences before combinations too, so I think if you can have a good rhythm and gallop, you can use the set up fences to re-balance and I think it will be a lot of fun to ride.”

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 8 seconds and gets underway tomorrow (14 June) at 8.45am (7.45am British time).

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‘I did her first event on her and now we’re here’: young British rider makes five-star debut at Luhmühlen

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 18:27:52 +0000

The 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials marks a five-star debut for 25-year-old British rider Heidi Coy.

She makes her first appearance at this level aboard the 13-year-old chestnut mare Halenza – known as Hallie at home, who Heidi owns.

“Riding at five-star level has been a long time coming,” says Heidi, who won team and individual silver medals at the junior European Championships in Fontainebleau, France, in 2018 aboard Royal Fury. She went on to win team silver and individual bronze at the 2019 Your Rider European Eventing Championships in Maarsbergen, The Netherlands aboard the same horse.

Heidi bought this mare, who is by Dutch Design. as a four-year-old, and has produced her from scratch.

“I’ve done everything with her myself – I got her when I was 16 and we’ve gone up the levels together,” says Heidi, who is based in Harby, in the vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire and completed A-Levels at Stamford High School, on the doorstep of Burghley. “So it’s nice to finally be here and just enjoying it.”

Heidi, who rides full-time and has several top-10 placings at four-star level, was entered at Badminton on this mare a couple of years ago.

“She just picked up a minor injury beforehand and so our preparation plans disappeared and meant that we didn’t get there,” explains Heidi. “We’ve slowly brought her back from that blip and last year she had three runs, including winning the CCI3*-S at Little Downham.

“She’s come out on great form this year, jumping double clear in the CCI4*-S at Thoresby and double clear in the CCI4*-S at Belsay too, so I just thought ‘do you know what? Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it’, and so here we are.”

Heidi Coy on Halenza: “She tries so hard”

Heidi states that Hallie “isn’t built for the job at all”.

“But she tries so hard and one of the things I love about her is that when I get on, she’s so well behaved and so genuine and always tries her very best.”

This combination scored 37 at Luhmühlen to sit in 11th after the first day of dressage (Thursday 12 June).

“Even though she’s not built for dressage, she really tried today and I’m thrilled with her,” sates Heidi. “Jumping-wise she is really cool and just gets on with it. She’s very laid-back – sometimes too laid-back, but she can be a bit of a diva in the stable and she doesn’t really like other horses. But as soon as I get on her, her ears are pricked and she loves her job.”

Goal-wise this week, Heidi says that she wants to “have a nice time and finish”.

“The cross-country is decent out there, but there’s no reason why we can’t give it a good go, and then hopefully build on it in the future.

“It’s so nice to look back and think I did her first event on her and now we’re here – I know her inside out.”

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British riders hold first four spots after day one of Luhmühlen five-star dressage with some questioning ‘disappointing’ scores

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:06:23 +0000

British rider Selina Milnes and the exciting Cooley Snapchat lead the way after the first day of dressage in the five-star at the 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

There were consistent mumblings among riders that the ground jury of Katrin Eichinger-Kniely from Austria, Merel Schurink from the Netherlands and Ernst Topp from Germany were being frugal awarding marks. Indeed, not one of the 23 combinations who came forward in the first phase today broke the 30 barrier.

Selina and the 11-year-old Cooley Snapchat, who is owned by Angela and William Rucker, sit atop the leaderboard on 31.5. Their test was smooth with no obvious errors, so Selina, although delighted with the efforts of her horse, was left wondering why her mark didn’t reflect their performance.

“I’m disappointed with the mark – I actually thought he’d get into the 20s,” said Selina, who was third in the seven-year-old World Championships with this horse at Le Lion d’Angers and went on to win the CCI4*-S at Bramham in 2023.

“He didn’t really do much wrong, did he? Dickie [Waygood] said my first centre line was slightly quarters right, but other than that, I thought he was on the button.”

The judge at C, Katrin Eichinger-Kniely, placed Selina in eighth on 64.81%, while the other two judges placed them in first and second on 70.96% and 69.62%.

“I saw the judge at C’s mark first and I was surprised, but the other two judges liked it, and as long as the judge at C’s marking doesn’t change, that’s the main thing,” continued Selina. “He’s a super horse. He always stays really relaxed, so you can ride him. He needs a little bit of buzz to spark him up a bit, but he was really good today.”

Fellow Brit Aaron Millar is just 0.1 of a penalty behind Selina in second on 31.6. He was another rider to produce a virtually fault-free test and was pleased with the efforts of his horse, KEC Deakon, a 15-year-old owned by Heidi Bates.

“I slightly, slightly overworked him beforehand,” admitted Aaron. “He doesn’t need much work before he goes in, but he just dropped in the poll a little. His trot work would normally be better, we had a slight mistake in the last flying change and one of his halts wasn’t square, but he’s a performer and he always just wants to go in and do a good job.”

Further explaining his warm-up today, Aaron said: “We were down here for 25 minutes, but his best work probably came before we went in. He had last year off through injury so he hasn’t been in this sort of atmosphere for a while, so perhaps it was better to have him slightly underpowered, rather than [boiling over].”

Ros Canter on MHS Seventeen: “I’m over the moon with him”

Ros Canter and the former Nicola Wilson ride MHS Seventeen sit in third after day one of Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage. Ros and this 12-year-old, owned by Deirdre Johnston and Lady Milnes Coates, put in a solid performance to score 33.5.

“I’m over the moon with him as he’s a horse that really hates being by himself, so going into the main arena has historically been quite a difficult experience for him as he has tended to get quite tense,” explained Ros, who used the opportunity to perform one of the guinea pig tests at Bramham last week as preparation for this week.

“We’ve worked really hard to develop a system for the run-up to the event and while we’re here, and I’m just really pleased that the system worked. He came out happy and relaxed, and he went in happy and relaxed, and I think he was probably a bit harshly marked, to be honest.”

Expanding further on the system Ros has implemented to try to ensure a good first-phase performance with MHS Seventeen, she said: “He’s come out to be ridden quite a few times since he’s been here, but not for too long and never so long as to make him tired or frustrated.

“He’s been practising the trot work in the test over and over again – yesterday he probably went through the trot work 12 times. I haven’t done any other movements that weren’t in the test so as not to confuse him, because he gets better and better when he knows what he’s doing and gains confidence.

“He knows all of the movements now, but when he goes in there, sometimes he completely loses his concentration, and then me asking an aid is in the back of his mind, not in the forefront of his mind, but today he was definitely listening to me, so that was great.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage: Laura Collett and Hester sit fourth

Laura Collett and the 14-year-old grey mare Hester, who is owned and bred by Lucy Nelson, sit in fourth on 33.9. Their score was trending in the mid-20s throughout some very smart trot work, but their flying changes let them down.

“It would be good if it was just a walk/trot test!” said Laura, who rides the favourite for this event, London 52, tomorrow afternoon. “She’s got so good now – she used to be hot through the whole test. She really struggles with the changes and when there’s four of them in the test, it’s really costly.

“That was a big atmosphere for her and historically it was like riding on eggshells the whole time, so for her to be able to let me in and ride her in the trot work today was great. It’s all going in the right direction and she is really starting to trust me and relax – she just makes mistakes because she struggles to wait for instructions because she’s trying too hard.”

The five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage continues tomorrow (13 June), with 24 combinations – including 10 Brits – still to go. The action in this class kicks off at 12.15pm UK time (1.15pm local time), after the CCI4*-S dressage in the morning.

Check out all the key Luhmühlen dressage times.
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Find out when the British competitors will ride their dressage tests at Luhmühlen five-star

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:30:05 +0000

The 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times have been released – with 11 British riders in action in the five-star competition on day one.

There is also a CCI4*-S class that runs alongside the five-star competition, but there are no British entrants taking part this year.

The CCI4*-S gets underway tomorrow (12 June) with the first rider, Ireland’s Patrick Whelan, entering the arena at 9.15am (8.15am British time).

The five-star action gets underway at 1.15pm (12.15 pm British time). The first rider into the arena in the five-star class will be Britain’s Aimee Penny on the first of her two rides, PSH Encore.

Here are the times of British riders across the two days of dressage competition in the five-star class at Luhmühlen…

CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times on Thursday: British riders

Aimee Penny and PSH Encore: 12.15pm UK time (1.15pm local time)
Laura Collett and Hester: 12.30pm UK time (1.30pm local time)
Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen: 12.45pm UK time (1.45pm local time)
Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley: 1pm UK time (2pm local time)
Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon: 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm local time)
Matt Heath and Askari: 2.07pm UK time (3.07pm local time)
Tom Rowland and Quintilius: 2.15pm UK time (3.15pm local time)
Grace Cooper and Cedarmount Cavalier: 2.30pm UK time (3.30pm local time)
Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat: 2.45pm UK time (3.45pm local time)
Heidi Coy and Halenza: 3pm UK time (4pm local time)
Franky Reid-Warrilow and Guilty Pleasure: 3.15pm UK time (4.15pm local time)

CCI5* dressage times on Friday: British riders

Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno: 12.15pm UK time (1.15pm local time)
Pheobe Locke and Bellagio Declyange: 12.37pm UK time (1.37pm local time)
Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B: 12.45pm UK time (1.45pm local time)
Imo Brook and San Solo: 1pm UK time (2pm local time)
Piggy March and Halo: 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time)
Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl: 1.37pm UK time (2.37pm local time)
Kitty King and Vendredi Biats: 2.15pm UK time (1.15pm local time)
Aimee Penny and PSH Gazelle: 2.52pm UK time (3.52pm local time)
Laura Collett and Laura 52: 3.07pm UK time (4.07pm local time)
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 3.22pm UK time (4.22pm local time)

View the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times in full

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One horse sent to holding box at Luhmühlen five-star trot-up

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:40:48 +0000

One horse was sent to the holding box during the 2025 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials trot-up at the first horse inspection today (11 June), but all combinations were ultimately accepted.

There were 47 horses presented to ground jury; Katrin Eichinger-Kniely from Austria, Merel Schurink from the Netherlands and Ernst Topp from Germany.

Seavaghan Ash, the 16-year-old ride of Ireland’s Declan Cullen was sent to the holding box at the Luhmühlen Horse Trials trot-up. This skewbald son of Glenhill Gold, who is contesting his second five-star having retired across country at Burghley last year was accepted on re-inspection, and all 47 combinations will move forward to the dressage phase.

Two other horses were asked to trot for a second time but were not sent to the holding box. These were Cedarmount Cavalier, the 14-year-old mount of Britain’s Grace Cooper, and Fort Arthur Little Dolly, an 11-year-old mare ridden by Ireland’s Alice Copithorne.

This year’s five-star start list features a 21-strong British contingent. Among those are Laura Collett and her two rides, London 52, who won here in 2023, and Hester, plus Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, who finished fourth here last year, and her other ride MHS Seventeen.

Another notable Brit taking part is Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, who have been knocking on the door of a first five-star victory, having finished second here in 2023 with other multiple top 10 placings at four- and five-star level. Piggy March and Halo are another combination to look out for this week – they were seventh in the five-star at Pau last October and won the CCI4*-S at Belsay last month.

The first day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage gets under way tomorrow (12 June). The CCI4*-S starts at 8am UK time (9am local time) and the five-star dressage begins at 12.15pm UK time (1.15pm local time).

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7 standout cross-country questions at Luhmühlen five-star where riders will need to be on their A game

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:12:35 +0000

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country course has been reversed for 2025 – the last time the track ran in this direction was in 2022.

Competitors will face 28 numbered fences, with 46 jumping efforts over 6,340m, on the track designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. The Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 8 seconds.

Here, we take a look at seven key combinations on this track, which could prove influential on cross-country day (Saturday 14 June).

Key fences on Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

Fence 4, 5abc – The Longines Wasser

The Longines Wasser is the first question on this year’s track. There is a very long gallop through the woods between fences three and four, which will allow combinations to get into a rhythm but then riders will have to ensure their horses are set up and listening to them as they approach the coop on a downhill slope at fence four.

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The coop has a drop behind it and riders will need to sit up on landing to prepare for the left-hand turn to the brush into the water at fence 5a.

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Fence 5a has a near maximum drop (the permitted maximum drop height is 2m) and is followed by a curving four or five strides to an upturned boat in the water at fence 5b. The line to this middle element is very tricky to pick up and horses and riders will have to be very switched on at this early stage in the course to react quickly to what is happening.

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After the upturned boat, there are three strides to a brush at fence 5c, just out of the water.

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Run outs at the upturned boat will be most pertinent here. However, there is a possibility of run outs occurring at the final element too. There are no alternatives at this fence.

Fence 8abc – Longines Kombination

This combination in the main arena will test accuracy early on in the course.

Note: the screen in the bottom left-handed corner of this picture will be removed prior to the cross-country starting. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is a maximum width oxer at the first part, followed by a right-handed turn to two acutely angled brush fences with blue water trays below on a one stride distance.

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The arena will be surrounded by spectators and riders will have to ensure that their horses are locked onto the angles at the double of brushes. There is no alternative at this combination.

Fence 11, 12ab – The Meßmer-Teich

The Meßmer-Teich is the second water complex on this year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course. It is a busy area and will be surrounded by spectators on the day, which might take horses by surprise as they round the corner towards this combination.

The direct route consists of a set of MIM rails with a drop into the water, followed by a big, narrow triple brush on the island, followed by another skinny fence at the top of the slope coming out of the water for the second time.

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The fence into the water at 11 isn’t particularly big and horses will most likely land on dry ground before entering the water here. However, the MIM rail will probably be activated a handful of times throughout the day.

Riders will need to maintain their horses’ concentration throughout this combination to ensure they are bang on their lines to both triple brushes at 12ab.

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There is an incredibly long alternative route to this fence, which will add a considerable amount of time to combinations’ rounds, should they choose to take it.

Fence 14abcd – The Porsche Wellenbahn

This combination is one of the most technical on this year’s track. Horses and riders gallop through the woods and then up a steep slope to a narrow house on top of a mound at 14a.

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Horses won’t see the following elements of this combination until they are in the air over 14a.

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Upon jumping the first element, there is a steep downhill slope on three strides to a drop fence at 14b, which is followed by three strides to a double of angled brushes on a moving distance between the two.

The landing side view of the drop. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Horses will have to pick up the line to the two brushes quickly in order to prevent a run out here. There is no alternative at this fence.

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Fence 16abc – the LeMieux Lagune

This combination is another test of accuracy. There is a brush corner at 16a followed by a run into water to another brush corner on either five or six strides, depending on the line the riders choose to take.

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There is then a curving three strides to a wide spread fence upon exiting the water at 16c.

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There is an alternative to the c element here, but it will prove time consuming.

Alternative 16c

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Fence 23ab – The MIM-Ecken

Although horse and riders will be au fait with jumping a double of open corners by the time get they get to five-star level, there is still the possibility of this fence causing problems.

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These two corners are on a three-stride distance on a direct line, although they can opt to add in a more curving line on four strides in order to try and prevent a run out to the right. There is no alternative here.

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Fence 25abc – The Coffin

This fence at Luhmühlen always catches a few out.

The rail at 25a is on MIM Clips and will need to be set up for in order to try and prevent activating this device and incurring 11 penalties.

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This is followed by a ditch one stride later, followed by a moving one stride up to the final element.

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There is an alternative, time consuming route to 25c, should riders require it.

Alternative 25c

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The five-star cross-country is due to get underway at 8.45am (7.45am British time) on Saturday.

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Former winners head up 23-strong British entry for Luhmühlen five-star

Pippa Roome — Mon, 19 May 2025 15:11:06 +0000

Three-time five-star winners and triple Olympic medallist Laura Collett and London 52 head up the Luhmühlen Horse Trials entries for the Longines CCI5* competition (12-15 June).

Laura and her own, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott’s 16-year-old will try to recapture the title they won in 2023 when they return to Germany next month. The British rider will also pilot Lucy Nelson’s home-bred Hester, who achieved her first five-star completion here last year.

Recent Badminton Horse Trials winner Ros Canter will try to keep the five-star ball rolling with two entries in the top class – Alex Moody’s and her own Izilot DHI, who was fourth here last year in the CCI5*, and Deirdre Johnston and Lady Milnes Coates’s MHS Seventeen, who was 11th on his five-star debut at Pau Horse Trials last year.

Kitty King will also start among the favourites, with 2023 Luhmühlen five-star runner-up Vendredi Biats, owned by Diana Bown, John Eyre, Sally Lloyd Baker and Samantha Wilson.

Full entries

The 23 British Luhmühlen Horse Trials entries for the five-star also include Selina Milnes with the Ruckers’ Bramham Horse Trials 2023 CCI4*-S winner Cooley Snapchat and Wills Oakden with the Adams’ Blair Horse Trials 2023 CCI4*-L winner Keep It Cooley.

US-based British rider Lucienne Bellissimo will have another go at five-star after making her first start at the level at Kentucky Three-Day Event in April. Her ride Dyri runs in the ownership of her business, Horse Scout Eventing.

Those re-routing from Badminton to this five-star include Kirsty Chabert with her father John Johnston, Caroline Caines and Kate Monserrate’s Opposition Heraldik Girl and Gemma Stevens with the Stones’ Jalapeno.

Gemma also has the Stones’ clone Chilli Morning IV making his CCI4*-S debut in the Meßmer Trophy. Caroline Harris brings her Pau CCI5* winner D. Day – owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle – forward for that class.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, last year’s five-star winner on Hooney D’Arville, will return in the CCI5* this year with Johan Vankerschaever’s Origi, who makes his five-star debut after finishing 13th at the Olympics.

The New Zealand entry includes Jesse Campbell, re-routing after a disappointing Badminton dressage test with Jay Jaffar’s Cooley Lafitte, and Jonelle Price with five-star debutant Senor Crocodillo, owned by his rider and the Giannamores.

As usual, most of the German riders contest the CCI4*-S, where Julia Krajewski will start as favourite on four-time four-star winner Uelzener’s Nickel (formerly known as Nickel 21), owned by Bernd Heicke.

Also notable in the CCI4*-S are Andrew Hoy and double Tokyo Olympic medallist Vassily De Lassos, owned by his rider and Dreams Come True V LLC. They have had mixed recent form, but were third in this section in 2020 and 2021.

The only German in the CCI5* is Arne Bergendahl, who re-routes with Helmut Bergendahl’s Luthien NRW after falling in the Mars Lake at Badminton.

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‘I’m lucky to ride such an athlete’: British Olympic hopeful wins Luhmühlen CCI4*-S hours after five-star podium

Becky Murray — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:18:54 +0000

Yasmin Ingham has taken the honours with Banzai Du Loir in the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results today (16 June), keeping her Olympic dreams very much alive.

Luhmühlen was a particularly significant competition as the final event before the announcement of the British eventing team – or a shortened list – for the Paris Games. Of the 12 British horse and rider combinations listed as Paris potentials last month, five were in action here in Germany; Yasmin Ingham with Banzai Du Loir and Rehy DJ, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, Laura Collett and London 52, and Ros Canter and Izilot DHI.

“It was a very important weekend for me, and there was a lot of pressure involved,” said Yasmin, who earlier in the day finished third in the Luhmühlen CCI5* with Rehy DJ.

“Of course all of us have the goal of being selected for an Olympic Games for our country. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing everything I possibly could to put myself and Banzai in the best place for that.”

And that they did, when they produced a textbook clear round in the final showjumping phase this afternoon, to remain on their score after the cross-country, 29.3. This kept the pressure firmly on Germany’s Michael Jung and FisherChipmunk FRH, who had held the lead of the CCI4*-S since the second day of dressage on Friday (14 June), but had no room for error.

Laura Collett had been in second following the cross-country, but London 52 was withdrawn before the final trot-up this morning after he sustained a minor injury to his coronet band, meaning Yasmin moved up the order.

Things were going well for Michael and FischerChipmunk in the final phase until they had a rail at the third part of the treble combination at fence 10. They also added 0.8 of a time-penalty, to finish on a final score of 30.9, for third place in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results.

Yasmin said Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s 13-year-old Banzai Du Loir was “pretty perfect” in the showjumping.

“I felt like he was giving them lots of air, and he felt at its best. Overall he’s been brilliant all weekend, so I’m very proud of him,” she said.

“He is very elegant and holds a lot of presence in the dressage, in the cross-country he’s brave and fast, and in the showjumping he’s very agile. He just holds the ability to basically come out on top – or nearly – in each phase, and that’s what makes such a great event horse. I feel lucky that I’m able to ride such an athlete.”

“The decision is out of our hands”

Yasmin said “there’s so many British riders and horses that could all go and win a gold medal in Paris”.

“The decision is out of our hands, it’s down to the selectors and I’m sure they’ll make the right decision. We’ve come out this year; Banzai is a world champion, he’s an Aachen champion, he’s been on a five-star podium three times now – it’s very exciting,” she said.

“I feel very lucky to be in this position. I understand that with horses there’s lots of low days, and there’s lots of high days, and we must enjoy the good times and really appreciate that we get to do this sport – and that I get to ride horses like him.”

Another podium finish for Tom McEwen

Tom McEwen, too, enjoyed a double podium today, with a clear round on Paris hopeful JL Dublin earning him second spot on the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results. Tom was second in the CCI5* with CHF Cooliser, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers.

“Us Brits, as well as probably many other nations, are under a lot of scrutiny for our Olympic spots, and we just all try to do as well as we can,” said Tom.

“For ‘Dubs’ this weekend, he’s been fantastic, he jumped brilliantly in the cross-country, today’s showjumping was beautiful, and to be honest we could go a lot better on the flat. There’s a lot to look forward to, and whether we’re picked or not, it’s a nice step and the right progression. I’m delighted with him and he’s been a dude all week.”

Tom had said he had been “umming and ahhing” about his plan for JL Dublin prior to Luhmühlen. When asked whether that was choosing between running in Germany or on home soil at Bramham last month (where other Paris hopefuls including Kitty King and Vendredi Biats and Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo competed) – Tom said it came down to whether JL Dublin “needed to even run at all”.

“For me coming here where it’s intense, quick and sharp, was definitely the best prep if I was lucky enough to be selected for Paris,” he said.

“I wouldn’t necessarily run a horse that’s done a three-day like Kentucky (where Tom and JL Dublin were runners-up), and run well, necessarily this quickly round a proper cross-country track like this. For me Luhmühlen was always the answer because it’s got the surfaces, it’s got the proper twisty cross-country.

“Bramham is one of my favourite events, but here is definitely setting you more up towards what realistically all of us are here for, not just the Brits, but the Kiwis, the Italians, the Australians – everyone is here for the same idea.”

Michael Jung crowned German national champion

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4-S incorporated the German national championship, with the title going to Michael and FischerChipmunk. Michael also finished fourth in the CCI4-S with 11-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power.

“I’m very happy with both horses,” said Michael.

“Kilcandra Ocean Power did a fantastic round today, he jumped really well, and FischerChipmunk also. Sadly we had one down, every jump was very good, we were just a bit unlucky in the last combination.”

Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz were fifth and runners-up in the German national championship, while fellow home-side rider 23-year-old Calvin Böckmann was sixth and took the under-25 award on Altair De La Cense. Frenchman Benjamin Massie and Figaro Fonroy were seventh, Germany’s Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice and Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21 were eighth and ninth respectively, and New Zealand’s Tim Price was 10th on Falco.

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‘Today was my day’: Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* winner crowned following showjumping shake-up

Becky Murray — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 11:33:23 +0000

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and home-bred mare Hooney D’Arville topped the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* results following a dramatic final showjumping phase today (15 June).

“I never thought there would be a chance. I knew I had a good horse and I just wanted to jump the best round I could,” said Lara.

Lara and “Hooney” were third going into the showjumping, behind Ireland’s Jennifer Kuehnle and Polly Blue Eyes, and overnight leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Lara and the grey mare put in a flowing, forward clear, followed by a little lap of honour afterwards as the crowd got behind them and Lara hugged Hooney for her efforts.

Ireland’s 22-year-old Jennifer knocked two poles, dropping them down the order to seventh in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* results. Then it all came down to Ros and Izilot DHI. Ros and the 11-year-old, who she co-owns with Alex Moody, could afford to have two poles and one time-penalty, but after using up their two lifelines in the final stages of the course, they then stopped the clock with two time-penalties, to drop down to fourth.

Lara said she is usually quite a “slow rider” in the showjumping phase and that it had cost her victories in the past.

“I thought it’s going to cost me again, but let’s just jump clear. A lot of people did nine strides to the last, and my jumping trainer said ‘It’s definitely eight, just keep driving’. I almost lifted my head to look at the clock, but I didn’t and thought ‘Just jump clear’.

“Then I looked at the clock and thought ‘Oh, I’m inside the time.’”

Lara was waiting by the warm-up with Hooney when she was informed by her husband Kai-Steffen Meier (Belgian eventing team manager) that she had won – before checking the results for herself.

“Then all the Belgians came and jumped on me,” laughed Lara.

“Today was my day”

Lara said she has struggled with self-belief, and has had to come back from a number of challenges, including a fall at the first fence in the cross-country at the 2022 World Championships (with Hermione D’Arville).

“I’m always watching them [other riders] on social media, and I never think I’m part of them. Maybe I should have a bit more self confidence here and there. I think at some point if you keep working and keep believing, and having good horses, then one day it comes together and today was my day,” she said.

“I knew I wanted to do this sport. I love it, I love being with horses, I’m competitive, but the last two years have been hard. Falling at fence one at Pratoni, when you’re on the ground and you see your horse and you think ‘I’ve got to wake up, it’s not true’.”

Lara added that she has worked a lot on her mindset.

“Now I’m much stronger because I understand my mindset much better. I trust the process much more, maybe I was not ambitious enough, but it has been a system to put in place, and the team around me has been so important,” she said.

Luhmühlen is also particularly poignant for Lara as it was Hooney’s mother Nooney Blue’s final competition here in 2011, where she suffered a career-ending injury. This year’s competition is Hooney’s five-star debut, and Lara’s return to the level since 2017.

“We gave Nooney Blue time, then we tried having a foal and it didn’t work, but then we had Hooney,” explained Lara, adding that she has been a tricky mare to produce.

“I was so emotionally involved and just wanted her to become a good horse.”

“I knew everyone was right and that she was a good horse, but maybe I was just not her rider, which was hard for me to understand. And then I took off the pressure – I have four other horses qualified for Paris – and I never came here thinking I could be here now. I wouldn’t be here without her, she is a special one.”

Two Brits on the podium

Tom McEwen and 14-year-old mare CHF Cooliser, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers, moved up from fourth after the cross-country to take second in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* results, thanks to a super clear round in the showjumping.

“I’m just delighted with how Eliza went about her job today,” said Tom.

“She’s very game, then in the arena today I remembered why I can’t really go any faster because I don’t have much control! Even though I barely ask for anything, she seems to have an argument and tell me that I’m wrong, so it’s much easier going her way. I’ve been delighted with her the whole weekend.”

Yasmin Ingham and Janette Chin and the Sue Davies Fund’s 14-year-old gelding Rehy DJ finished third on the podium – a repeat of their Luhmühlen 2023 result. The pair were down in 28th after the dressage, then overnight sixth after a clear cross-country round inside the time. They finish the competition on their 36.9 dressage.

“I think this is the story of eventing, it’s why it’s a three-phase competition. It’s never over until we finish on the final day, and you just need to believe and never give up,” said Yasmin.

“I believe that I have a brilliant jumping horse, his best phases are the cross-country and showjumping, so I was very much looking forward to the weekend. Of course it was a little bit disappointing with his dressage score, he’s normally a little bit further up the leaderboard and can produce some really top scores, but he just wasn’t quite as onside with me as he can be. We’ll go away and work a little bit harder on that, and come out next time and try to be a bit more competitive in the dressage.

“But my goodness, he’s just the most incredible jumping horse and he gives me the most amazing feeling. In the showjumping he’s careful and fast, he’s an absolute pleasure to ride and I feel very lucky to be the one piloting him.”

“A lot to be proud of”

While Izilot DHI’s second five-star title was not meant to be this weekend, Ros has taken away the positives.

“I’m clearly disappointed of course, but with the recent events going on in the eventing world I think there’s much more to life than what we’ve just done today, so I’m very realistic,” she said.

“I’m delighted with my horse, I’m extremely proud of the way he has coped with the week. He’s still so young and inexperienced. Of course I’m disappointed with the performance today, I’ll go and analyse it and look into my riding and see if I could do anything different. But onwards and upwards, we’ve got a happy healthy horse to take home with us.”

Ros said that although she still has to watch her round back, she suspects Izilot DHI’s inexperience crept in.

“He’s got a lovely long stride and the five down to the planks (fence 11) was a bit short, I got the nice five but whether I lost a bit of impulsion in the process, he just went a bit tight behind,” she said.

“The double (fence 12ab) was quite close to the sides and he just spooked away from those a little bit, and again just went a bit tight behind, that would be the thing he would do slightly.

“He’s just a young horse that went a bit inexperienced. Often with him we’re in a position where we’re quite high up the leaderboard so it kind of appears more disappointing, but I’ve got a lot to be proud of him for this week.”

Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* results

Alice Casburn and Topspin were fifth, and Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl were sixth, with both Brits posting clears. Jennifer’s five-star debut concluded with two top-10 places; seventh with Polly, and eighth with Sammy Davis Junior. The fastest pair across country yesterday, David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed, dropped from overnight fifth to ninth after knocking two poles in the showjumping. Italy’s Piertro Sandei and Rubis De Prere were 10th.

Two horses held – and three withdrawn in Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S trot-up

Becky Murray — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 08:15:22 +0000

Two horses were held during the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S final trot-up this morning (16 June) – while three were withdrawn without presenting.

As reported earlier, Laura Collett withdrew London 52 owing to a minor injury sustained during yesterday’s cross-country phase. They had been in overnight second.

The other horses to be withdrawn ahead of the trot-up was Flanders, the ride of Sweden’s Aria Ramkali, who was in 34th after the cross-country, and Domasco, one of New Zealand rider Clark Johnstone’s rides. They had been 12th after cross-country.

This meant 51 horses were presented to the ground jury in the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S final trot-up, comprising Anne-Mette Binder for Denmark, and members Sandy Phillips of Great Britain, and Joachim Dimmek of Germany.

Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti was asked to trot up 12-year-old mare Swirly Temptress a second time, before they were sent to the holding box. The pair are currently in 20th place.

Germany’s Antonia Baumgart and 14-year-old Lamango, who are 53rd, were also sent to the holding box. Both horses were accepted when represented, so all 52 horses go forward to this afternoon’s final showjumping phase.

Michael Jung and FischerChipmuk FRH currently hold the lead of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S on 26.1. Following Laura and London 52’s withdrawal, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir lie in second on 29.3, and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin third on 29.6.

The CCI4-S showjumping begins at 11.15am UK time (12.15pm local time). The Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5 showjumping is currently under way, and H&H will be bringing you a full report on all the action later.

Laura Collett withdraws London 52 from Luhmühlen Horse Trials owing to ‘minor’ injury

Becky Murray — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 07:36:48 +0000

Laura Collett and London 52 will not continue into the final phase of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S today (16 June) after the gelding sustained a minor injury.

The Tokyo team gold medallists had been lying second overnight, having jumped clear across country yesterday (15 June), with 1.6 time-penalties. They were going into the final phase on a score of 26.4, just 0.3 behind current leaders Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH.

This morning Laura announced London 52 had picked up an injury during the cross-country (15 June).

“Unfortunately London 52 managed to slice into his coronet band whilst out on the cross-country… although a very minor injury I don’t feel it’s in his best interest to showjump today therefore I have made the very difficult decision to withdraw him,” said Laura.

“As always his welfare comes first and it’s my job to do what’s right by him, however devastating it is. He was scintillating round the cross-country yesterday and we will be back fighting for the win soon.”

This means Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir are now second going into today’s showjumping phase, on 29.3. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin move up to third on 29.6. The CCI4*-S showjumping begins at 11.15am UK time (12.15pm local time).

Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* trot-up

The Luhmuhlen Horse Trials CCI5* showjumping takes place first this morning, with overnight leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI safely through the second trot-up. Rubis De Prere, the ride of Italy’s Pietro Sandei, was sent to the holding but was accepted when re-presented. Christoffer Forsberg and Con Classic 2 and British rider Laura Birley and Bob Cotton Bandit, withdrew before the trot-up.

CCI4*-S trot-up news to follow…

Top partnership delivers in Luhmuhlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country – as Brits come knocking

Becky Murray — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 20:46:31 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH delivered yet another masterclass to remain at the top of the leaderboard after the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country today (15 June).

Following the morning’s dramatic thunderstorm during the five-star class, the rain made way to give the riders a more pleasant run around course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s twisty and intense track. Of the 60 cross-country starters, 53 completed – with 43 jumping clear and only two inside the 6 minute 56 second optimum time.

Overnight leader Michael was second last to go with 16-year-old FischerChipmunk FRH, and produced a clear jumping round, adding 3.2 time-penalties to their 22.9 dressage. Earlier in the session Michael jumped clear (with 5.6 time-penalties) aboard 11-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power, who sits sixth ahead of the showjumping.

Michael – who is vying for the German national champion title in the Meßmer Trophy CCI4*-S – was thrilled with both his rides.

“On two lines I did an extra stride; fence 6ab (Willke rail Kombination), I did seven strides with my first horse and it felt good so I did the same with FischerChipmunk,” said Michael.

“He was just amazing, he gave me a great feeling today. He was very easy to ride, listening, and galloping super, it was just a wonderful feeling. In my head there’s a few more weeks, then there’s hopefully somewhere we can go…”

Laura Collett and London 52 keep the pressure on

Laura Collett, who won last year’s Luhmühlen five-star class with London 52, showed off his versatility, making light work of the CCI4*-S to stay in overnight second. Laura and her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s 15-year-old gelding added 1.6 time-penalties to their dressage score, to go into the showjumping phase tomorrow (16 June) on 26.4. This keeps the pressure on Michael and FisherChipmunk who are on 26.1, and can’t afford to have a pole.

Laura described her cross-country round as “amazing”, adding: “It was quite a lot of pressure, we’re getting close now to Paris and selection, and it’s just trying not to make a silly mistake.

“But that horse is unbelievable and I have to just remind myself how lucky I am to ride him, and believe in him because he’s sensational, and he loves it here. The combination at fence 6, I thought about turning left and he went to turn, and I thought ‘Not yet’, because we’re not lined up for it. That’s where he’s got so good that when I look, he turns, so I just need to make sure I don’t do it to the wrong one! But he’s fantastic.”

Laura added that London 52 is “such a great horse because he’s so adaptable”.

“He can gallop round a five-star, but he can be nippy round a tight four-star. It rode very intense today, things came up very quickly, and you don’t have that slight breathing space like you do in the five-star where you can put yourself back together and think about the next fence. It comes up on you super quickly, but he’s so quick thinking and always looking for the next fence, so I just need to make sure I point at the right one.”

“My horse of a lifetime”

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir crept up from overnight seventh ahead of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country to slot into third going into the final phase. They stopped the clock at 6 minutes 59 seconds, for 1.2 time-penalties. The only rounds inside the time came from Germany’s Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale (6 minutes 53 seconds) who is in provisional 11th, and New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Damasco (6 minutes 56 seconds), who lie in 12th.

Yasmin said Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s 15-year-old was “super at every combination”.

“We didn’t have any hairy moments. We got a little bit close to the brush in the water (fence 19ab Longines Wasser), but it was just because he has such a huge stride. He’s an amazing horse and I’m so lucky to ride him.

“He’s fast, he’s brave, he’s careful. The most fantastic part about it is he just loves it, he’s such a cross-country horse. He is my horse of a lifetime. We’ve gone up the levels together pretty much, and winning my very first senior individual medal at the 2022 World Championships is something I will never ever forget.”

Biting at Yasmin’s heels is Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, who rose from 10th after the dressage (on a 28.4 score) to fourth ahead of the showjumping. The pair recorded the same cross-country time and time-penalties as Yasmin and Banzair Du Loir, and their dressage scores are separated going into the final phase by just 0.3 of a penalty.

Tom said Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston’s 13-year-old gelding was “bold, straight, and keen” across country.

“He was definitely very fresh after having a few easier weeks after Kentucky (where they were runners-up in April). I couldn’t be happier. I just lost a bit of time through the woods where I wasn’t quite willing to fly down the hills at the last couple,” he said.

Praise for Mike Etherington Smith’s cross-country courses

“I’m sure the results look like the track has jumped really well, but there are a lot of Olympic combinations here – or vying for spots – so you’re looking at top-class horses here this week. Yes of course the fences have jumped well, but at the same time they should if you ride them well enough and you’re on good horses,” said Tom.

Tom added that both Mike’s courses had been “fantastic”.

“They’ve ridden as they’ve walked. They’ve been clear and true, there’s been some proper lines, skinnies, hidden fences and use of the ground, there’s been everything,” he said.

“There’s nowhere else we could have had these storms today and still continued with the best footing going. It’s been fantastic.”

The top five after the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country is rounded off by Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21. The CCI4*-S trot up takes place at 7am UK tomorrow (8am local time). The showjumping gets under way at 11.15am UK time (12.45pm).

‘A privilege to sit on him’: Ros Canter and Izilot DHI step closer to second five-star title after changes to preparations pay off

Becky Murray — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 18:11:53 +0000

Ros Canter and 11-year-old Izilot DHI are aiming for their second five-star victory having maintained their lead after the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* cross-country today (15 June).

“I’m absolutely thrilled with him,” said Ros, who jumped clear round course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s track, collecting just two-time faults, to go into tomorrow’s final phase on a score of 26.9.

“I know he’s brave and honest, I never doubt the fact he’s genuine when he gets to a fence – it’s just whether he sees something as a fence, or something to run away from.”

Of the 41 combinations that started the cross-country, there were 21 clears, four of which were inside the 11 minute seven second optimum time.

Ros, who owns Izilot with Alex Moody, took all the direct routes across country and said the course “rode pretty much to plan”.

“I was hopeful today because it was a nice start that I might get Izilot going, but he was actually really spooky at fence four (Picknick Tisch), which was a table. I think he saw the fence judges and shot forwards – I thought for a minute I was going to bypass fence four which would have been highly embarrassing,” she laughed.

“But we survived it, on quite an acute angle, then he really settled down. He was just amazing all through the tricky fences. The brush corners early on (fences 5abc Heckenkombination) I had in my mind I wanted to go one less, but nobody else had done it, so I slightly wimped out when I got there and thought ‘Don’t be a fool, just get through this bit and then crack on’.

“Everything else I think was great. I was really proud of the way he jumped into the first water (fences 13 and 14 LeMieux Lagune). Sometimes he’s so good at jumping in front it almost kind of stops him mid-air, but he was super through there.”

Putting in the preparation

Ros won the Pau five-star in October 2023, but retired during the cross-country phase at Badminton last month, and she said she had done things at Luhmühlen “a little bit differently” from Badminton.

“You never quite know with Izilot how he’s going to be. I put a lot of thought into his preparation running up to the event and day by day when we were here,” she said.

“As a young horse he was so flighty and tricky even to stay on. He used to get quite a lot of work at a competition so that when I went out the start box he was quite settled in his mind. At Badminton we did a little bit less of that because he’d been so settled over the winter, and obviously there was a bit of a stamina question mark as he’d never gone that distance over a course like that before, so I was really wary of tiring him out before he went out the start box.

“But I’ve really analysed that and told myself horses are used to doing roads and tracks and steeplechase and things like that. So he did a bit of work this morning, nothing to tire him physically or make him blow, but just being out and about in this environment – and getting used to the umbrellas. Sarah (Charnley: Ros’s groom) grazed him and walked him out, I rode him earlier, and just really tried to familiarise him with everything so he went out the start box settled. If he’s settled and looking for the fences, he’s easy.”

Ros goes into tomorrow’s showjumping phase with two fences in hand.

“If anything it puts the pressure on me to try and get the job done,” she said, but added that she believes Izilot should be “quite settled” tomorrow after today’s test.

“He’s super careful at the jumps. It’s a privilege to sit on him and hopefully I can do him justice tomorrow,” she said.

A dream day for a five-star debutant

Young Irish rider Jennifer Kuehnle climbed from 22nd after the dressage to sit in second overnight following a superb round in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* cross-country, with her own Polly Blue Eyes. She is also 12th on Sammy Davis Junior, in what is becoming a memorable weekend for the 22-year-old rider.

Jennifer was fourth to go aboard “Polly”, and produced the second fastest clear of the day, to stop the clock at 11 minutes and a second. The fastest round came from David Doel and his Burghley runner-up Galileo Niuewmoed, who flew round clear in 10 minutes 50 seconds, to sit in overnight fifth.

This year’s German event marks Jennifer’s five-star debut, but she is no stranger to success, having won individual gold in Children on Horses showjumping at the 2015 Europeans, and multiple team medals at junior and young rider eventing Europeans.

Jennifer said she “set out on a good pace” today with 16-year-old full thoroughbred Polly, who was bred locally to Luhmühlen by Dagmar Hayessen. Jennifer has owned Polly for six years and has brought her up the ranks.

“She’s quite easy to set up for the fences so I can do a stride less than everyone else in some places,” said Jennifer.

“Everything rode perfectly apart from fence 7abc (Ecken CKombination) – I squeezed in a fifth stride there. The first corner I jumped a bit too much going out, so I ended up a fraction too much on the outside, but where she chipped in the stride she was so good.”

Jennifer said she never considered that she would be going into the final phase lying in second.

“She’s very good at dressage but doesn’t always get the marks, but she always fights her way back up. I couldn’t be prouder today, our first five-star and second after cross-country, what can you say?”

An emotional journey for an owner-breeder

Belgian rider Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and her home-bred mare Hooney D’Arville moved up from sixth place to third following a clear jumping round across country, with four time-faults.

Lara could be heard celebrating as she jumped the final fence – and afterwards an emotional Lara explained that it had been “a long journey” with “Hooney”. Lara formerly competed Hooney’s mother, Nooney Blue, and their final event together was at Luhmühlen in 2011.

“That meant a lot to me,” she said. “I had a lot of silly mistakes with Hooney [over the years], and everyone said to me you have to hang tight because she’s good. I wasn’t sure if she had the heart, and I was close to giving up a couple of times.

“But I didn’t, and I’m really proud of her today for proving me wrong. I think sometimes it’s important with horses that we don’t forget that we have to do them justice. Our round today was good but not the most fluid, and here and there I could have been better. But she was fantastic, and she’s a five-star horse now for real – like her mummy.”.

Laura Collett, who set off aboard Lucy Nelson’s Hester just as the heavens opened this morning, had been lying in third ahead of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* cross-country. The pair had been jumping well despite the torrential downpour, but had a miscommunication at fence 14a at the water combination (fences 13 and 14abc), for 20 penalties.

“All in all I’m absolutely delighted with her,” said Laura. “Obviously it’s a little disappointing having a 20, but I couldn’t fault her. She had a real scare at Badminton (when Hester went green across country and the pair ultimately retired) and she’s come back and got better and better.

“I think doing a circle (at fence 14a) maybe confused her slightly, to then come and represent at the fence I had just turned away from, so that was a bit unlucky and maybe I should have just gone the proper long route straight off, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. For me the most important thing is there were two more waters and she was brilliant through those. She really is honest and wants to do the job, and any mistake she makes is just a genuine misunderstanding.”

Pathfinders produce in Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* cross-country

Pathfinders Tom McEwen and 14-year-old mare CHF Cooliser jumped a confident clear, with 5.2 time-penalties, and go into the showjumping in overnight fourth.

Tom said Vicky Bates and David Myers’ “Eliza” was “excellent”.

“There were some skinny skinnies out there, and proper lines, but if you could find your way round then it rode really well,” he said.

“I had a really good plan with her, and it worked perfectly. I just had to take a little bit of time as she had some time off after Badminton after kicking the wall and not presenting at the trot-up. I’m delighted with her today, it’s another five-star box ticked.”

Tom had been in overnight second ahead of the cross-country phase with Brookfield Quality, but the pair had a less than ideal round, when the wind picked up and heavy rain turned into a brief thunderstorm.

Tom and John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s 15-year-old gelding were stopped on course at fence 19 (Reiterbar) owing to the weather, as stewards battled to secure fence dressing and flags on a number of jumps around the course. When the pair resumed around 15 minutes later, Tom retired before jumping fence 25 (Longines Wasser) – owing to “Norris” bleeding from the nose.

“It had been a fantastic round, but some insanely incredible weather. I was starting to think the trees were going to come over!” said Tom. “He had restarted really well, and we don’t know why the bleeding happened. It’s never happened to him before and hopefully it doesn’t happen again, but we’ll look into it.

“The main thing is he’s alright, he had a great round until then and I was delighted with him. It’s a shame for him and his owners and everyone involved, but he’s fine, looks brilliant, and he’s going home.”

The final showjumping phase will get under way tomorrow morning after the final trot-up.

Find out when British Olympic hopefuls and other top names go cross-country at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:26:44 +0000

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times have been released – with Brits holding podium places across both classes.

The CCI5* cross-country gets under way tomorrow morning (15 June), with an hour break before the CCI4*-S in the afternoon.

Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser will be the pathfinders across cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s five-star track, which features 30 fences. The optimum time is 11 minutes and seven seconds.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times: CCI5* top 10

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI 9.37am UK time (10.37am local time)
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality 10.29am UK time (11.29am local time)
Laura Collett and Hester 8.33am UK time (9.33am local time)
Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser 7.45am UK time (8.45am local time)
Nicolai Adlinger and Timmo 10.25am UK time (11.25am local time)
Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney D’Arville 8.09am UK time (9.09am local time)
Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 9.21am UK time (10.21am local time)
Jennifer Kuehnle and Sammy Davis Junior 10.41am UK time (11.41am local time)
Mollie Summerland and Flow 7 9.29am UK time (10.29am local time)
Julie Simonet and Sursumcord’Or 8.37am UK time (9.37am local time)

The CCI4*-S gets under way at 11.51am UK time (12.51pm local time), with Australia’s Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam first out on course. The track features 23 obstacles and has an optimum time of six minutes 56 seconds.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times: CCI4*-S top 10

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH 2.46pm UK time (3.46pm local time)
Laura Collett and London 52 1.56pm UK time (2.56pm local time)
Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39 12.48pm UK time (1.48pm local time)
Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power 12.16pm UK time (1.16pm local time)
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz 1.48pm UK time (2.48pm local time)
Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress 2.28pm UK time (3.28pm local time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir 2.11pm UK time (3.11pm local time)
Tim Price and Coup De Coeur Dudevin 12.01pm UK time (1.01pm local time)
Thomas Carlile and Darmagnac De Beliard 1.13pm UK time (2.13pm local time)
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin 2.21pm UK time (3.21pm local time)

View the Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times in full.

‘I haven’t come here to be middle of the pack’: Ros Canter leads the way as Brits dominate Luhmühlen CCI5* dressage

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:17:38 +0000

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI stormed into the lead of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* – with the dressage concluding today (14 June) with a British top four.

The judges awarded Ros and her own and Alex Moody’s 11-year-old 24.9 for their efforts, just a fraction off their personal best of 24.3 (at Pau last autumn) – despite a blip in one of their flying changes, where they were given two fours and a five.

Izilot DHI, who is named with Ros on the British potential entries list for Paris alongside Lordships Graffalo, looked relaxed in the arena and his growing confidence is evident in the dressage phase.

“He’s become a real professional,” said Ros. “Bar being a bit spooky, which he wasn’t today, he’s actually a very quiet natured horse.

“He’s always been great at walking and things like that, so I’m really delighted with him.”

Ros put the late flying change down to “rider error”.

“I really went for it in the extended canter and I probably just needed another half-halt,” she reflected, adding that Izilot was “fantastic” and “been on great form all week”.

“He gets older every year which helps. He’s much more settled in his brain than he used to be. He is now very established with the movements, so I’m able to really train the brain – rather than having to go ‘I’ve got to teach him’. I can keep him in a happier place much easier.”

Ros Canter: “Giving it a good shot”

Ros has made no secret that Izilot can sometimes be sensitive. He won his five-star debut at Pau last year, but retired during the cross-country phase at Badminton last month. They had gone into the cross-country phase in the lead after the dressage, but Izilot spooked at fence dressing and ran past the final element at fence 10, at the Lake.

But Ros has put this firmly behind them as she looks towards tomorrow’s cross-country.

“I’m certainly going to go out with the intention of being fast and clear. I haven’t come here to be middle of the pack, so hopefully I can give him a good start,” she said.

“It is quite nice here at the start in that it’s not overly dressed – it’s going round things that often he finds a little bit worrying, and there isn’t any of that in the start anyway.

“I’m going to go out and give it a good shot. He had a run at Little Downham (31 May) and he was good there. I don’t feel he’s lost any confidence from jumping at Badminton, so we’ll go and give it a good shot.”

Ros said she has prepared for tomorrow by walking the course four times.

“The benefit of having only one horse with you to ride is you can do plenty of course-walking!” she said.

“I know it relatively well, I’ve got a good plan, I know my horse well. I will watch the first few, it’s always tempting to change your plan because of watching somebody else that might be sitting on a completely different horse, so I’m pretty clear in my mind how I think ‘Isaac’ might react to certain combinations, and hopefully I can give him a good ride.”

British top four after Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage

Tom McEwen’s second CCI5* ride, 15-year-old gelding Brookfield Quality, lies in second overnight, having scored 28.3. Yesterday’s (13 June) overnight leader Laura Collett and Hester, are now in third ahead of the cross-country, and Tom’s other ride CHF Cooliser is fourth.

Tom said he was “delighted” with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Quality, who is making his five-star debut at Luhmuhlen.

“He was mega. He listened all the way through, he never lets you down. He always tries his hardest and that’s all you can ever ask for,” said Tom.

“The preparations went really well. We waited to start a little bit later in the season, which unless you went abroad, there wasn’t much to do in the UK anyway. We had a really good run at Bicton so that was a fantastic prep for coming here, and we had a few open intermediates.

“He doesn’t tend to need too much, he knows what he’s doing so we got all the work done at home and hopefully we can show it all off tomorrow.”

Tom believes cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s track should suit Brookfield Quality well.

“We came here because it’s obviously a bit flatter than the UK-based five-stars. The ground is always good, especially considering how much rain we’ve had out here,” he said.

“I’ve got three different rides; two very different in the five-star (plus JL Dublin in the CCI4*-S), so I’ve got to reevaluate between horses and assess what I need to do on each one. For Brookfield Quality, I think it suits him really well, I just need to build him up into the course and then let him flow. There’s plenty of questions all the way round, power questions, technical questions, so there’s a lot to do.”

The top five of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage results are rounded off by home-side rider Nicolai Aldinger and 14-year-old gelding Timmo.

‘It is what it is’: top Brit’s frustration over ‘disappointing’ Luhmühlen dressage score

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:58:59 +0000

Tom McEwen has shared his “disappointment” over his Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage score with Paris hopeful JL Dublin.

Tom and the 13-year-old gelding, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston, scored 28.4 to sit in overnight 10th ahead of the cross-country phase tomorrow (15 June).

“I was shocked when I came out with a 28 if I’m honest,” said Tom. “I’m super disappointed, it was poor by [the judges].

“He was balanced, soft, and set up in every corner. I think maybe they’re looking for you to go 10 to the dozen and flat out round it – I’ve got absolutely no idea. But it is what it is.”

Tom scored mostly sevens throughout, with one judge scoring him a five for one of his flying changes.

“I think they’re set within their marks and I’m not very sure what they’re looking for,” said a frustrated Tom, who added that JL Dublin “felt amazing”.

This season Tom and JL Dublin were runners-up at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, where they scored 24.6 in the dressage. They won the Kronenberg CCI4*-S in March, where they had a 20.9 dressage.

“In comparison to other tests he’s done, Kronenberg was incredible but to be honest not that far different from today. Kronenberg probably showed a little bit more power,” said Tom.

“For me today was a much better test than Kentucky. The positives, Kentucky was a little bit quick but this was really together, so I’m delighted with him.”

Tom is now looking ahead to the cross-country phase tomorrow.

“There’s plenty of questions and plenty of lines. It’s like an Olympics in Germany with the course, so for me it’s a perfect set up,” he said.

“There’s areas of intensity, areas where you can flow – the areas where you can flow you’re flying through the woods, it’s going to be quite tough.”

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH hold the lead following the conclusion of the the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage, on a score of 22.9. Laura Collett and London 52 are second on 24.8, and Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39 are currently third on 26. Yasmin Ingham, the only other British rider in the CCI4*-S, is in provisional seventh with Banzai Du Loir.

German favourite leads Luhmühlen CCI4*-S after dressage – as British medallist ‘goes big’ to hold second

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:51:06 +0000

German legend Michael Jung and his multiple medal-winning partner FischerChipmunk FRH top the leaderboard at the conclusion of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage phase today (14 June).

Michael and the 16-year-old gelding were second last to go and the reliable pair produced a polished test to score 22.9, with the French judge at C Xavier Le Sauce awarding 73.96%, and German judge Edith Schless-Stortenbecker, at E, scoring them 80.21%.

Michael, who also holds overnight fourth with second-string horse Kilcandra Ocean Power, said FischerChipmunk had given him a “very good ride”, noting the half passes and flying changes as highlights.

“He was very calm and listening, and just beautiful to ride and enjoy,” said Michael.

“He made it very easy for me today. The extended trot had very good drive, was very powerful, and super balanced. In the dressage it’s about feeling and experience, every ride gives you a bit of information.”

Go big or go home

Laura Collett holds provisional second on her Paris hopeful London 52, having posted 24.8 in the morning of the second day Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage. Germany’s Anna Lena Scaff, the overnight leader after the dressage yesterday (13 June), goes into the cross-country phase tomorrow (15 June) in third with Fairytale 39.

Laura and the 15-year-old gelding, owned by Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and Laura, are no strangers to Luhmühlen, having won the five-star class last year. The Tokyo Olympic team gold medallists are competing in the CCI4*-S this time round, with Paris selection just round the corner.

Laura said today’s test was about “trying to see where we can push the extra bits”.

“Normally his half passes are kind of his highlight and he got all in a bit of a muddle. I was probably too brave on the short side and didn’t set him up enough, and then when I did a half-halt, he thought he needed a halt,” she said, adding that she had London 52 “revved up more than normal” ahead of going into the arena.

“It’s just finding out how far you can go and what needs tweaking. I know he can go in and do a safe test, but it’s trying to get a safe test – and a wild test – all at the same time. It’s go big or go home really, we’re just ramping everything up and trying to show him off on the short sides, but finding out where you need to give him a balance before going into the movements. It’s just playing around and seeing what we can do.”

Laura said she was particularly happy with London 52’s canter work.

“He felt very secure and safe in changes, and very on the aids. There were bits that were really, really good,” she said, noting improvements in the pair’s centre lines, which “can sometimes not be great”.

“There were parts to like and parts to very much dislike. But we’ll try and get it right next time.”

Looking ahead to the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S cross-country

Looking ahead to the cross-country phase, Michael said course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s track will need “enough respect” early on – and echoed his views from yesterday where he said chasing the clock will not be his priority, with Paris looming.

“I want to go fast, but I’m still thinking of our big dream, that is the most important thing,” said Michael.

Laura said the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S track has a “very different feel” to having jumped round the five-star last year.

“Everything is very intense and comes up very quickly, so you have to be on your A-game,” she said.

“You have to think, and the horses have to react quickly. I think it’s a great track and at the moment the ground looks amazing, so I’m really looking forward to having a spin and hopefully a good ride tomorrow.”

Britain’s other named Paris hopefuls Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, sit in overnight seventh and 10th respectively, after the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage.

‘Sensitive’ gelding – and horse bred for hacking – delight British five-star first-timers at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 18:59:38 +0000

Two British riders making their five-star debuts at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials hold provisional fifth and 10th place following the first day of CCI5* dressage.

Northallerton-based Storm Straker, 25, and her mother Victoria’s Fever Pitch, danced their way to overnight fifth on a score of 33.6.

“There was quite an atmosphere in the arena, probably more than he’s ever been in,” said Storm, who has had the 10-year-old gelding since he was four.

“I made a couple of errors, the last change I messed up and got the timing wrong, and in the extended canter I decided to go really bold and didn’t quite bring him back in time, so it could have been better but I’m happy. I adore him to pieces, he’s the best in my eyes. He’s so cuddly, so sweet, and he really, really tries.

“He’s a sensitive horse and it’s taken time to get him confident in some of the movements in the dressage, but my coach Nicola Naprstek and I have taken it slowly with him to get him where he is.”

The pair make their five-star debut at Luhmühlen fresh from their first CCI4*-L victory, at Ballindenisk, Ireland, in April.

“Being here is very different to Ballindenisk but it does give me a little bit of confidence knowing that he’s capable,” said Storm.

“There’s excitement, but I want to be competitive. I’ve come here thinking ‘Yes it’s a five-star – but it’s no different to a four-star’, in that I’m treating it as a normal competition.”

Bred to be a happy hacker

Caroline Harris made her five-star debut today with the striking 10-year-old Billy Mexico son D Day, owned by Fiona Olivier, Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royale.

Caroline and D Day scored 34.9 to sit in provisional 10th in the CCI5* following the first day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage.

“He tried really hard, bless him,” said Caroline, who trains with dressage rider Dannie Morgan on the flat.

“I was really pleased with his trot work because that wouldn’t be his strongest bit, and I felt he was really good in that. I was a little bit disappointed with his walk because he normally has a very good walk, but he’s only 10 and it’s his first ever five-star so I’m just over the moon.”

Caroline and D Day have produced a number of good results together including third in the Chatsworth CCI4*-S last spring, fourth in the Blenheim nine-year-old class in September, and victory in the Thoresby CCI3*-S in March.

“He’s quite little and nippy and I heard it’s quite twisty here so I thought why not give it a go. He’s run really well this year, he’s been brilliant,” she said.

“He’s pretty laid back and he just has a heart of gold. He tries really hard and I feel very lucky to have him.”

Caroline, who was based with Sam Griffiths for 10 years before moving to H&H columnist Mark Phillips’ yard in 2021, has produced D Day since he was four.

“Fiona (Olivier) bred him for her son’s girlfriend at the time to be a happy hacker/hunter, then he came to me and he’s just gone up, and up and up,” said Caroline.

“You never look at him and think ‘Wow he’s a superstar’, but he’s super trainable and always gives me 100% all the time. You can’t really ask more than that from him.”

Luhmühlen dressage leaders overnight

Laura Collett and Hester hold the overnight lead in the Luhmühlen CCI5*, with Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser in second and Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier in third with Hooney D’Arville. Alex Bragg will be first to go in the five-star dressage on Friday (14 June) at 12.30pm UK time (1.30pm local time), after the CCI4*-S dressage in the morning.

Read what Laura and Tom had to say about their tests.

Germany’s Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39 head the CCI4*-S dressage after day one. Michael Jung is in provisional second with Kilcandra Ocean Power, and Tim Price is currently third on Coup De Coeur Dudevin.

The action begins with the CCI4*-S dressage tomorrow (14 June) with Ireland’s Stephan Dubsky and Karla in front of the judges at 7.15am UK time (8.15am local time).

Catch up on the news from the CCI4*-S dressage.

Overnight British one-two in Luhmühlen five-star dressage as mares lead the way

Becky Murray — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:55:07 +0000

Laura Collett and Hester sit at the top of the leaderboard overnight after the first day of Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage.

“The highlights were the fact she didn’t lose her marbles!” said a thrilled Laura after the test.

Laura and 13-year-old Hester, owned by Lucy Nelson, scored 30.6 to sit just a small margin ahead of Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser, who were first to go in the five-star dressage this afternoon (13 June). Tom posted a 30.8 score aboard Vicky Bates and David Myers’ 14-year-old chestnut mare. Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier is in provisional third with 11-year-old mare Hooney D’Arville, owned by the Five Star Eventers SRL and Larga SPRL.

Laura said Hester continues to get “better and better” in the dressage phase. The pair produced a pleasing test, just losing some marks with blips in the flying changes.

“I’m absolutely delighted with her,” said Laura. “She’s starting to trust me and realise it’s not going to be the end of the world when she goes into a dressage arena.

“Each time she goes in and doesn’t lose her mind it’s a step in the right direction.”

Laura has had the ride on Hester since 2021, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing in getting to this stage.

“I’ve never had a full run-through, she’s always had a little niggle here or there, and had to have time off. Blenheim last year through to now has been the first time I’ve got any consistent work into her,” said Laura.

“It’s just been figuring her brain out and getting her to take a deep breath. She can do all the moves apart from the changes, as long as she’s relaxed. Her trot work is stunning, she really feels secure in that, and the next step is to get the canter just as secure. But to be honest for her to get any flying change is a massive highlight so I’m absolutely over the moon with her.”

Laura, who doesn’t wear spurs with Hester in the dressage phase, added that she’s a “very sensitive” horse.

“I used to have to ride a test completely with neck-rein and no leg at all, so the fact I can get my leg anywhere near her is pretty marvellous!”

Aiming for Hester’s first five-star completion

Laura will be hoping for Hester’s first five-star completion at Luhmühlen this weekend. The pair retired during the cross-country phase at Badminton last month when Hester went “very green”. Following a positive subsequent run at Bicton when she “felt like Hester again”, the decision was made to take her to the German event.

“She started really well at Badminton and felt great, then with the amphitheatre of the lake she just didn’t know what on earth was going on, or what to look at. Badminton is a different level, there’s nowhere to put the wheels back on when they fall off – and they very much fell off at the lake. We jumped a few more and she just didn’t feel like her at all. So I thought ‘We’ll go home and put the wheels back on’,” explained Laura.

“At Bicton she came out of the start box grabbing the bridle, ears pricked and awesome, so while she’s fit and well, and because we have had to miss so much with her, I thought we’d bring her here. I think the track should suit her, it’s a five-star and she’s not a proven five-star horse yet, but hopefully after this weekend we can say that she is.”

Tom McEwen second in Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage

Tom McEwen believed CHF Cooliser, who has three five-star completions under her belt, produced one of her best tests to date this afternoon.

“I’m delighted with ‘Eliza’, she concentrated throughout so I’m very happy,” he said. “There were some great highlights, but for me that was as near enough of a clear round as we can do. Especially at five-star, you’ve just got to put yourself in the game and then go from there.

“She was really rhythmical throughout. She has a great walk but it doesn’t always show in the arena, and I thought she definitely showed that today. The trot work was lovely and smooth, and in the canter work we got all the changes and lovely half passes.

“This was CCI5* test A so everything comes up quite quickly. It comes short and sharp so you’ve got to be there ready and prepared for it and she definitely was, whereas sometimes she can be doing her own thing.”

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage continues tomorrow (14 June), with 21 combinations – including 11 Brits – still to go. Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier kick off the five-star action at 12.30pm UK time (1.30pm local time), after the CCI4*-S dressage in the morning.

Check out all the key Luhmühlen dressage times.

‘I think she’ll retire next year’: young rider and 17-year-old home-bred top Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage day one

Becky Murray — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:12:33 +0000

Rising German star Anna Lena Schaaf and home-bred Fairytale 39 have taken the lead on the first day of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage today (13 June).

Anna, 22, and the 17-year-old Fidertanz 2 mare posted a score of 26.0, pushing Anna’s compatriot Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power into overnight second on 27.1. New Zealand’s Tim Price and the 2022 Maryland 5 Star winner Coup De Coeur Dudevin are in provisional third on 28.1.

Anna and Fairytale 39 produced a lovely flowing test, just losing marks for their walk pirouettes when the mare appeared to be briefly distracted by something outside the arena.

“The trot part was really good, she was really in front of me and I could really ride her,” said Anna.

“In the walk I don’t know what happened in the pirouette, but she was in a bit of a hurry and I said to her ‘Ok, stay here’. The canter work was also really good, but in the flying changes I could have ridden them a bit more, so in training it was maybe worth one point more. But it was good, and I’m happy.”

Fairytale 39 was bred by Anna’s grandfather Gerd Neukäter and first competed by Anna’s mother Ilka in dressage, before Anna took over the ride in 2015 when she was 14. The pair have enjoyed continued success, including winning double gold at the junior Europeans in 2018, and taking the German young rider championship in 2021. Last month the pair were fifth in the Wiesbaden CCI4*-S.

Anna, who finished fourth with Fairytale 39 in the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S last year, said retirement could soon be looming for the much-loved “family horse”.

“Maybe this will be my last year with her, so I really want to enjoy it,” she said.

“I think she’ll retire next year – but I also said that last year, so we will see how she feels.”

Michael Jung took early CCI4*-S dressage lead at Luhmühlen

Michael held the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage lead throughout the morning on Kilcandra Ocean Power, and Michael believes there are still more marks to come from the 11-year-old.

“He’s a really, really nice horse,” said Michael, who topped the Strzegom CCI4*-L with the gelding last year.

Michael has produced the horse, having bought him as a five-year-old at the Goresbridge Go for Gold sales in 2018 for €19,000.

“He’s very nice to ride in the dressage. The canter is the best part from him, he does really nice flying changes,” said Michael.

“There’s still a lot to improve. It’s very nice when you have a good test but you still feel like there’s something to get better. He’s a super jumper and very easy in the cross-country so fingers crossed for Saturday.”

As the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S incorporates the German national championship, Michael said when it comes to cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s track, “It’s usually always a bit more than a normal four-star”.

“We have a lot of top riders here and everyone wants to win this week, but for me it’s still also a bit about preparation for Paris,” said Michael, adding that this means he will not necessarily be chasing the clock.

“We will have a few per cent more control on the cross-country, it’s not all about catching the time.”

Michael confirmed that Kilcandra Ocean Power is his first reserve horse to FischerChipmunk FRH for the Paris Olympics. Michael and FischerChipmunk are drawn for the second day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage, tomorrow (14 June) at 11.42am UK time (12.42pm local time).

Tim Price seeking Olympic qualification at Luhmühlen

Tim was happy with 12-year-old Coup De Coeur Dudevin’s performance, describing it as better than their test at Wiesbaden CCI4*-S last month, where the pair finished second.

“While the Wiesbaden test scored better (25.4), I thought this was a better test. He’s a proper authentic eventing horse; he’s not a top dressage horse, but he tries his hardest and he’s just a great cross-country horse and jumper,” said Tim.

“The walk was much better today, and I think he just relaxed a little bit more through his body and was able to swing. He didn’t peek out the sides at what was going on around him and I could just feel him concentrating really hard everywhere.”

Tim confirmed that Coup De Coeur Dudevin is on his Paris “short list”, alongside his other four-star ride Falco, whose dressage is tomorrow at 10.57am UK time (11.57am local time).

“But they have to qualify, which is great fun… trying to show off horses and not do anything stupid!” he said.

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S dressage continues tomorrow, with the three Brits still to come forward. Paris Olympic hopefuls Laura Collett and London 52 are on at 9.02am UK time (10.02am local time), Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir at 9.47am UK time (10.47am local time), and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin at 10.10am UK (11.10am local time).

The first day of the CCI5* dressage gets under way this afternoon, with eight Brits on today’s start list including Yasmin Ingham and her other Paris potential ride Rehy DJ (at 1.15pm UK time/2.15pm local time), Laura Collett and Hester (2.50pm UK time/3.15pm local time), and five-star debutant Storm Straker and Fever Pitch (3.27pm Uk time/4.27pm local time). Tom McEwen is first to go in the five-star dressage with CHF Cooliser at 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time). Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, who are also among the potential British Paris entries, are on tomorrow at 1.07pm UK time (2.07pm local time).

Check out all the key Luhmühlen dressage times.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times: find out when the Brits will ride

Becky Murray — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:08:37 +0000

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times have been released – with eight Brits in action on day one.

The first day of CCI4*-S dressage gets under way tomorrow (13 June) at 7.30am UK time (8.30am local time). Australia’s Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam are first to ride down the centre line in the CCI4*-S.

The three Brits in the four-star class, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, Laura Collett and London 52, and Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir – who are in Germany bidding for their place on the Paris 2024 Olympic eventing squad having been named among the 12 British nominated entries – are drawn for the second day of dressage, on Friday (14 June). Yasmin has also been named on the Paris nominated entries with her CCI5* ride Rehy DJ, and will take to the dressage arena on Thursday afternoon.

Top riders in action in the CCI4*-S dressage on Thursday include Tim Price and Coup De Coeur Dudevin at 7.52am UK time (8.52am local time), the home-side’s Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power at 8.37am UK time (9.37am local time), and British-based Frenchman Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza at 10.12am UK time (11.12am local time). Sweden’s Aria Ramkali and Flanders are the final combination to go in the four-star on day one at 12.10pm UK time (1.10pm local time).

The first day of the CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage action begins at 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time), with Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser first to go.

CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times on Thursday: British riders

Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time)
Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl 2.00pm UK time (3.00pm local time)
Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ 2.15pm UK time (3.15pm local time)
Laura Collett and Hester 2.50pm UK time (3.50pm local time)
Lauren Lillywhite and Hacien 3.12pm UK time (4.12pm local time)
Storm Straker and Fever Pitch 3.27pm UK time (4.27pm local time)
Caroline Harris and D Day 3.42pm UK time (4.42pm local time)
Alice Casburn and Topspin 3.50pm UK time (4.50pm local time)

On Friday (14 June) the CCI4*-S Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage gets under way at 7.15am UK time (8.15am local time), with Ireland’s Stephan Dubsky and Karla first to go.

CCI4*-S dressage times on Friday: British riders

Laura Collett and London 52 at 9.02am UK time (10.02am local time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir 9.47am UK time (10.47am local time)
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin at 10.10am UK (11.10am local time)

Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier open proceedings in the CCI5* dressage on Friday afternoon at 12.30pm UK time (1.30pm local time). Ros Canter will ride at 1.07pm UK time with Izilot DHI, whom she is on the Paris nominated entries list with alongside Lordships Graffalo.

CCI5* dressage times on Friday: British riders

Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier at 12.30pm UK time (1.30pm local time)
Melissa Joannides and Patch Ali at 12.45pm UK time (1.45pm local time)
Mollie Summerland and Flow 7 at 12.52pm UK time (1.52pm local time)
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI at 1.07pm UK time (2.07pm local time)
Laura Birley and Bob Cotton Bandit at 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time)
Will Rawlin and The Partner at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm local time)
Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver De Haar at 1.45pm UK time (2.45pm local time)
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed at 2.10pm UK time (3.10pm local time)
Isabella Innes Ker and Highway at 2.25pm UK time (3.25pm local time)
Katie Bleloch and Goldlook at 2.40pm UK time (3.40pm local time)
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality at 2.55pm UK time (3.55pm local time)

View the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage times in full

Two horses sent to holding box at Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* first trot-up

Becky Murray — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:39:00 +0000

Two horses were sent to the holding box during the 2024 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* first-trot up today (12 June), but all combinations were ultimately accepted.

Forty-two horses were presented to ground jury president Anne-Mette Binder for Denmark, and members Sandy Phillips of Great Britain, and Joachim Dimmek of Germany.

Commander Vg, the 13-year-old ride of Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas, and Rubis De Prere, the 19-year-old ride for Italy’s Pietro Sandei, were sent to the holding box. Both horses were accepted on re-inspection, and all combinations will move forward to the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* dressage phase.

This year’s five-star start list features a 19-strong British contingent. Among those are Ros Canter and her own and Alex Moody’s 2023 Pau winner Izilot DHI, David Doel and his, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas’ 2023 Burghley runner-up Galileo Nieuwmoed, and 2021 Luhmühlen winner Mollie Summerland with her own and Paula Cloke’s Flow 7.

Yasmin Ingham will contest the five-star class with Rehy DJ and the CCI4*-S with Banzai Du Loir, both owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Foundation. Tom McEwen has two horses in the CCI5*; John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Quality and Vicky Bates and David Myer’s CHF Cooliser. Tom will ride the Lamberts and Deidre Johnston’s JL Dublin in the CCI4*-S.

Other Brits taking part in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* include Laura Collett and Lucy Nelson’s 13-year-old grey mare Hester (Laura also has her own, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott’s Luhmühlen five-star winner London 52 in the CCI4*-S), Alice Casburn and her mother Caroline’s Topspin, and Kirsty Chabert with Opposition Heraldik Girl, owned by Caroline Caines, John Johnston and Kate Monserrate.

A number of British riders will be making their top level debut at the German event, including Laura Birley and her own Bob Cotton Bandit, and former young rider team medallist Katie Bleloch, who rides her own Goldlook.

New Zealand’s Tim Price will ride Viscount Viktor in the CCI5*, while Ireland has seven combinations on the start list including Susie Berry with two horses, Kilcandra Capitol and Monbeg By Design.

The first day of Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage gets under way tomorrow (13 June). The CCI4-S starts at 7.30am UK time (8.30am local time) and the CCI5 dressage begins at 1.15pm UK time (2.15pm local time).

Taking the trip to Luhmühlen? Here are some local places to stay…

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:00:20 +0000

Luhmühlen Horse Trials is one of the world’s seven five-star events. It is held each June in Salzhausen, Germany. To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve rounded up some places to stay near by including holiday lets, B&Bs and hotels near Luhmühlen, and have put together some travel information, too.

Travel to Luhmühlen

The closest airports to Luhmühlen are Hamburg (approx 40 miles/1 hour drive) and Hannover (approx 70 miles/1 hour 10 min drive).

To check and compare flight prices, visit booking.com, kayak.co.uk or tripadvisor.co.uk

Hotels near Luhmühlen

Accommodation is listed in order of driving distance from the event at Turniergelände Luhmühlen.

Rüter’s Hotel, Salzhausen
Distance: 2.6 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 4/5 |
This hotel dates back to 1540 and has a swimming pool and sauna.View Deal

Acht Linden, Egestorf
Distance: 7.7 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 4/5 |
Four-star hotel with fine cuisine.View Deal

Studtmann’s Gasthof, Egestorf
Distance: 9.6 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 4/5 |
Hotel with oak trees, a pretty garden and proximity to the motorway.View Deal

Hotel Hof Sudermühlen, Egestorf
Distance: 10.3 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 3.5/5 |
This horse-friendly hotel has stabling onsite.View Deal

Hotel Sellhorn, Hanstedt
Distance: 10.6 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 4.5/5 |
A spa and homemade fare awaits you a this four-star hotel.View Deal

Landgasthof Heidetal, Betzendorf
Distance to Luhmühlen: 10.7 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 3.5/5 |
Rustic-style place with hiking and cycling on the doorstep.View Deal

Apartments, B&Bs and guesthouses near Luhmühlen

Kleine Auszeit, Salzhausen
Distance: 2.8 miles |
Holiday home with a terrace and garden that sleeps four.View Deal

Wassermühle Heiligenthal, Lüneberg
Distance 6.6 miles | Tripadvisor rating: 4/5 |
A country guesthouse by a lake that allows pets.View Deal

Sutanto, Reppenstedt
Distance to Luhmühlen: 7.7 miles |
Private parking and entrance, and free WiFi. Sleeps three.View Deal

Schnucken-Hus, Amelinghausen
Distance to Luhmühlen: 8 miles |
A home from home that sleeps up to eight, with a garden and barbecue.View Deal

Zur Schönen Heide-Wabe, Egestorf
Distance to Luhmühlen: 8.9 miles |
Well-equipped holiday home for four – there’s even a coffee machine!View Deal

Dat Huuske, Salzhausen
Distance: 3.3 miles |
A cosy holiday home with luxurious details.View Deal

British riders flock to Luhmühlen as Olympic hopefuls aim to impress

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 22 May 2024 09:07:20 +0000

A selection of Britain’s Olympic hopefuls features on the “absolutely tremendous” entries list for the Longines CCI5* at Luhmühlen Horse Trials (13-16 June).

Reigning CCI5* champion Laura Collett, Ros Canter, Yasmin Ingham and Tom McEwen are among the Brits who will be travelling to Germany for the final top-level event before selection for this summer’s Olympics, with British entries spread across the CCI4*-S and CCI5*.

The event’s managing director Julia Otto said: “In an Olympic year, you can’t really be sure how the riders plan their season, but this year’s entry list is absolutely tremendous. I’m quite certain that the Luhmühlen venue with its great all-weather surfaces for dressage and showjumping, as well as the cross-country conditions, have worked in our favour. The entries for both competitions, the Longines CCI5* and the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy (German championship) couldn’t be better.

“The Longines CCI5* in particular boasts very strong British entries.”

Laura has entered her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s 2023 CCI5* winner London 52 in the four-star this year, and Lucy Nelson’s Hester, whom she retired across country at Badminton this month, in the CCI5*. Ros is entered in the five-star with both her Olympic longlisted rides; her own and Alex Moody’s Izilot DHI and Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo with whom she was crowned European champion last year. Yasmin will contest the CCI4*-S with her 2022 world champion Banzai Du Loir and the five-star with Rehy DJ, both owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

Tom McEwen will bring forward Brookfield Quality, owned by Chloe and John Perry and Alison Swinburn, and Vicky Bates and David Myers’ CHF Cooliser for the CCI5*. Alex Bragg is on the list with the Roe family’s Quindiva, who may well be withdrawn after her brilliant performance to finish third at Badminton, and Debbie and Neill Nuttall’s Ardeo Premier. European team gold and individual silver medallists Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, who are on the Olympic long-list, are entered in the four-star.

Laura Birley, Katie Bleloch, Georgie Campbell, Alice Casburn, Tim Cheffings, David Doel, Caroline Harris, Isabella Innes Kerr, Melissa Joannides, Fiona Kashiel, Lauren Lilywhite, Will Rawlin, Kate Rocher-Smith, Storm Straker, Alexander Whewall and 2021 Luhmühlen champion Mollie Summerland are the other British CCI5* entries.

British eventing high performance coach Chris Bartle said: “From my side, I can say how pleased I am that so many British riders would like to take part in this year’s Longines CCI5. The opportunity to take part in this prestigious event is definitely one of the major ambitions of our riders. I personally, of course have an emotional attachment to Luhmühlen, having had so many great experiences there previously with the German team. In this Olympic year, it is also an opportunity for our riders, who are hoping to represent GB in the Olympic Games, to get a good result and impress our selectors in the Meßmer CCI-4-S competing against the best of the home team on their home ground. We are looking forward to it!”

Top names from other countries include Tim Price, who has Viscount Viktor in the CCI5* and Falco and Jarillo in the four-star, and Jonelle Price, with Hirado and Senor Crocodillo in the four-star. Home riders Michael Jung (FischerChipmunk FRH and Kilcandra Ocean Power) and Ingrid Klimke (SAP Asha P and Equistros Siena Just Do It) have two rides each in the four-star; German Olympic champion Julia Krajewski has one, Nickel.

The full entries list is available online. Keep up with all the action from Luhmühlen via the H&H event hub.

“A great list of entries is obviously very rewarding,” Ms Otto said. “This year, it’s almost impossible to emphasise individual titles and accomplishments and it is often the famous mix that promises exciting sport.

“We and our sponsors, led by our title partner Longines and the other main sponsors Meßmer, Lotto Niedersachsen and the Porsche Centre Lüneburg, are very much looking forward to welcoming all these top-class international athletes, their wonderful horses, fans and eventing enthusiasts.”

British world number one becomes third rider to contest 100 five-stars

Pippa Roome — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 17:04:19 +0000

Oliver Townend has hit the milestone of 100 five-stars this week at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The world number one joins fellow Brit William Fox-Pitt and New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson as the only event riders to reach this landmark.

“We all know how hard it is to get a horse to five-star numerous times, so it’s an achievement for my team more than anything and most of them have been with me from the word go,” said Oliver after yesterday’s cross-country.

“It’s 20 years of myself and Karyn [Shuter] and all the girls that travel and everybody that holds the fort at home – I’d love to name them all but quite a few have been there for 15 years now. It’s a credit to them as I’m the lucky one that comes out of the start box every time.”

Badminton final scores

Karyn has multiple roles in Oliver’s team, acting as his manager, as well as being an owner, friend and his eyes on the ground.

Oliver Townend: 100 five-stars

Data analytics company EquiRatings have listed out Oliver’s five-star starts, which begin at Burghley Horse Trials in 2004 on Weston Justice.

He has made 30 starts at Burghley, 23 at Badminton Horse Trials, 17 at Luhmühlen Horse Trials, 11 at Kentucky, 10 at Pau Horse Trials, three at Maryland 5 Star, three at World Championships, two at the one-off five-star at Bicton Horse Trials and one at the Olympics.

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