Latest from Horse & Hound in Michael-jung

Olympic eventing champions spearhead German World Championships team

Lucy Elder — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:29:01 +0000

Reigning Olympic champions Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH spearhead the German team hunting for individual and team glory at the 2026 eventing World Championships (11 to 23 August).

Michael will start as one of the big individual gold medal hopes with the 18-year-old gelding, who has been a stalwart of German teams since the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. To win the individual world title on home soil with this remarkable horse would be a special moment for a man who has, really, won it all.

The pair, who won Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022 and 2025, scored individual glory at Paris 2024 and finished runner-up to Laura Collett and London 52 at last year’s Europeans. Although the British team is yet to be announced, it’s likely those eventing heavyweights will meet again in Aachen. Add in three-time Mars Badminton Horse Trials winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo to the likely mix and the race for gold is shaping up to be a clash of eventing giants.

The German team is very strong, and competing on home ground should be an advantage. Although the word “should” must be taken with a pinch of salt in horse sport, as we saw with the unlucky Brits at their home Europeans last year.

Three combinations from last year’s victorious team at the Blenheim Europeans feature in the line-up for the 2026 World Championships: Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH, Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K and Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia FRH.

Julia Krajewski and Uelzener's Nickel are back on the squad, after withdrawing their bid for selection for the 2025 Europeans. Julia, who was crowned Olympic champion in Tokyo with Amande De B’Neville, will be one to watch among the individual medal hopes, too, with this exciting 12-year-old.

Christoph Wahler, who helped the German team to gold at the last World Championships in Pratoni, also rejoins the squad after missing last year’s Europeans. He rides his five-star campaigner and championship debutant D’Accord FRH, with whom he has finished ninth at Kentucky and seventh at Badminton.

A notable absentee is Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2025 Europeans and who have finished in the top 10 on both their senior championship starts. The 16-year-old gelding hasn’t competed internationally this year and did not feature on the nominated entries, so is presumably on the sidelines this season.

German eventing team for the 2026 World Championships

The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

Malin Hansen-Hotopp with 14-year-old gelding Carlitos Quidditch K

Owner: Dr Bodil Ipsen

Breeder: Miriam Kühl

Breeding: Quiwi Dream, out of a mare by San Patrignano Cassini

Michael Jung with 18-year-old gelding FischerChipmunk FRH

Owner: Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Joachim Jung and the DOKR

Breeder: Sabine and Dr Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff

Breeding: by Contendro I, out of a mare by Heraldik

Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Uelzener's Nickel

Owner: Prof Dr Bernd Heicke

Breeder: Hindrick Stüvel

Breeding: by Numero Uno, out of a mare by Lorentin

Libussa Lübbeke with 16-year-old mare Caramia FRH

Owner: Annelie and Dr Martin Lübbeke

Breeder: Annelie Lübbeke

Breeding: by Comte, out of a mare by Fabriano

Christoph Wahler with 14-year-old gelding D'Accord FRH

Owner: Hendrik von Paepcke and Stefan Haupt

Breeder: Christa von Paepcke

Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Aarking

Reserves:

Arne Bergendahl with 10-year-old gelding Bronco NRW

Owner: Dr Susanne Dörner

Breeder: Helmut Bergendahl

Breeding: by Blockbuster, out of a mare by La Calido

Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Tullabeg Platinum

Owner: Michael Sperl

Breeder: Nicholas Cousins

Breeding: by Dignified Van't Zorgvliet, out of a mare by Cult Hero

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Eventing world remembers La Biosthetique-Sam FBW: ‘We were fortunate to witness greatness’

Lucy Elder — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:55:47 +0000

The eventing world has said a final farewell to double Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the horse who defined an era of eventing.

Tributes to the sporting giant have poured in since rider Michael Jung announced the horse’s death last week.

The German federation was among the many to remember this extraordinary horse, who “remains unforgettable as an exceptional eventing horse and leaves a lasting impression on the history of equestrian sport”.

Statisticians EquiRatings crunched the data to show the magnitude of Sam’s achievements in the modern sport (since 2008). He is, by a long way, the highest-rated horse on their leaderboard, which measures the strength of a horse’s results over time.

“La Biosthetique-Sam FBW is not just considered the best event horse of all time. By the numbers, he is,” said EquiRatings.

Commentator John Kyle called a number of Sam’s major wins, including when he was crowned world champion in 2010, his double gold at the 2011 Europeans, both his Olympic titles (London 2012 and Rio 2016), and his securing the Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton 2016.

“In my job, you don’t always know when you’re calling a winner, let alone a great. With Sam, we always knew. He wasn’t just winning. He was something very special. We were fortunate to witness greatness,” said John.

Many of the events at which Sam had success have paid tribute.

Luhmühlen, where Sam won his first CCI5* in 2009 and led the German team to glory at the 2011 European Championships, said he “shaped an entire era of our sport”.

“We say thank you for all that this extraordinary horse has given to our sport and are in our thoughts with all those who were close to him,” said a statement from the event.

Chris Bartle was German team coach from 2001 to 2016, overlapping with the height of Sam’s success.

“Sam and Michi were the essence of what partnership means,” Chris told H&H.

“Sam was not pure thoroughbred, but he was a lot of blood, and he had a tremendous personality, always wanting to go, always positive. Michi had a cool temperament to manage him. The development of him, from the young horse to the champion that he was, was through tremendous skill and the partnership they built up.”

He added that “every medal is special to me, having been on the journey with them both”, and the individual bronze at the 2009 Europeans where it all started is a moment he “always thinks back to”.

“That was the start of many, many more medals,” he said, speaking of memories of Michi heading out as pathfinder at those Europeans, as well as special memories of London 2012 and other major championships.

“A memory from Rio that sticks in my mind is Michi going in last to jump [of the German team] and it all hung on him for team Germany to win a medal, and for his own personal result. Again, that partnership came into play – Michi was as cool as; Sam did his job. They were like hand in glove and I’m just privileged to have been part of that journey in a small way.”

One particularly special personal memory came following Sam’s 2015 Burghley victory, when Michael travelled via Chris’s yard on his way up to Blair for the Europeans.

“I have a photo of La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and Word Perfect in our little paddock together – two Badminton winners, side by side,” he said.

“He was a blood horse, he wasn’t blessed with ‘wow’ paces. Michi trained him in his dressage to develop that presence. The correctness of the training underpinned their partnership.”

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam, who would go on to win Badminton in 2016, alongside 1998 Badminton winners Chris Bartle and Word Perfect. (Image credit: Chris Bartle)

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‘I lost my best friend’: supreme event horse who rewrote history books dies aged 26

Pippa Roome — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:04:31 +0000

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the double Olympic eventing champion and six-time five-star winner, has died at the age of 26.

With his German rider Michael Jung, Sam defined a decade in the sport, rewrote the record books and arguably became the greatest event horse of all time. His death marks the end of an era.

“This evening I lost my best friend, Sam,” said Michael yesterday (16 February). “We reached every milestone side by side, and for years I found daily happiness in seeing you grazing in the field. Thank you for 20 years together. You will be deeply missed by all of us. Rest in peace my friend.”

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW was by the thoroughbred Stan The Man xx, out of a mare by Heraldik xx. Michael told H&H in an interview in 2016 that as a youngster Sam was “a bit normal”.

“Dressage was always difficult and he was spooky, but we learnt together,” said Michael.

In the same interview, Michael reported that Sam was a loner in his personality.

“He really doesn’t like other horses. He likes to be private and alone,” said Michael, adding that the farrier once tried to put on a halter and Sam ran straight out of the stable door.

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW: an extraordinary record

The pair first hit the headlines when they won the four-star (now five-star) at Luhmühlen in 2009 and went on to take European individual bronze that year. It was the last time Sam was ever beaten in a championship.

The following year they took world individual gold in Kentucky and a year later, double European gold in Luhmühlen. In 2012, Michael and Sam won their first individual Olympic title in London, leading the Germans to team gold. Sam’s win made him the first event horse to hold the European, world and Olympic titles simultaneously.

After that, Michael used other horses for his championship campaigns and prioritised five-stars for Sam. The pair won Burghley Horse Trials in 2015 and Badminton Horse Trials in 2016, securing Michael the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing – he is only the second person ever to win this, after Pippa Funnell.

In addition during his five-star career, Sam was second at Badminton twice (2013 and 2017). and third at Luhmühlen (2015) and Kentucky Three-Day Event (2015).

“We salute him on bended knee”

In 2016, Sam was called up from being Michael’s reserve horse to go to the Olympics in Rio, where he became only the third horse in the history of eventing to win two back-to-back Olympic individual titles. The Germans also took team silver.

H&H reported: “Although he was riding his reserve horse after FischerTakinou suffered an infection, 33-year-old Michael started as favourite and there were similarities with his London victory. On both occasions he did not lead the dressage (he was 11th after the first phase in London, fifth here with a test which scored just 0.3 of a penalty different), but won by working his way doggedly through the rankings.

LAP OF HONOURMichael Jung GER riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW winner of the individual gold medal of the Eventing Competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 9th August 2016 (Image credit: PETER NIXON)

“Both times, he was the only competitor to finish on his dressage score and that says it all – once the dressage is over, Sam very rarely makes a mistake, while others frequently do… He won laughably easily with 7.1 penalties in hand.

“None of the superlatives are good enough for Sam. He has now won four individual eventing gold medals, been the only horse to hold the world, European and Olympic titles simultaneously, won six of the nine four-stars he has contested and helped Michael become a Rolex Grand Slam winner. We salute him on bended knee.”

Until he died, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW spent his retirement at Michael’s yard and was often pictured on Michael’s social media in the field with his three-time Kentucky winner and 2014 world individual silver medallist FischerRocana FST.

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German eventers reign supreme to win team gold by incredible nine-fence margin at Blenheim Europeans as Ireland take silver

Martha Terry — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:57:17 +0000

The German eventing team produced a masterclass to land their seventh team gold at the Agria Blenheim European Championships with a nine-fence margin.

Germany appeared to have an unassailable lead after four solid cross-country performances gave them nine fences in hand over Ireland, which extended to 12 by the time the German riders – at the top of the order – came to jump.

There was a brief moment of drama – despite their enormous cushion – when Malin Hansen-Hotopp nearly went the wrong way after knocking down a fence in the double, but the crowd’s gasp set her straight and she managed to redirect without crossing her tracks.

“I had the pole down before the turn, which was my first in I don’t know how many competitions and I lost my line and my brain!” said Malin, who dropped from seventh to 11th. “Everyone was screaming, so I thought I have to turn! It was good Germany had a lot of poles in hand. But I was as bit sad because he’s such a good showjumper but the jockey was not as good today.”

Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice also lowered a pole (remaining on eighth place), but when Michael Jung jumped clear on FischerChipmunk FRH to secure individual silver, the team gold was safely in the bag.

“A great week!” said Michael. “To win the gold medal in England is a very special thing, it’s such a big country in the sport of eventing. Luck was on our side.”

Historic team silver for Ireland

Ireland were bidding for their first team medal since the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and had a two-fence buffer to hold on to silver. They had added pressure as all scores had to count following the cross-country elimination of Aoife Clark on Saturday.

They used up one of their fences in Robbie Kearns’ round on Chance Encounter, but Padraig McCarthy conjured a superb round from Pomp N Circumstance for a clear inside the time. Their third and final pair of Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis marred an otherwise lovely round when the horse kicked out the plank. They added 6.8 faults to the team score, but maintained silver, 5.6 penalties clear of France.

“My horse has 10 or 11 consecutive clear rounds at four-star level, and it’s an amazing feeling coming into showjumping with that bank of clear rounds behind you,” said Padraig, who moved up from 16th to 12th individually. “It’s a historical day for Ireland to clinch silver.”

French take home team bronze

It was very tight for the bronze, with Switzerland only once fence ahead of France, after the highly experienced Swiss anchorman Felix Vogg being their discard score from cross-country.

France laid down the first marker with Sebastien Cavaillon and Elipso De La Vigne jumping the first clear inside the time. Their number two Astier Nicolas (Alertamalib D’Or) was also clear, with just 0.4 of a time-fault.

“My horse was a bit tired, but gave his utmost to please me and the team,” said Astier, who moved up three places to 16th.

Alex Goury, the final French rider, took a few heart-stopping strides out on Je’Vall but nonetheless escaped penalty-free to secure his country a place on the podium and a climb to individual sixth.

Switzerland slipped to fourth, having been up against it with France’s three clears. Despite Felix Vogg and Robin Godel’s clear rounds, Switzerland’s grasp on the podium faded when their pathfinder Nadja Minder’s Toblerone knocked down an early plank, the first in the treble and the first in the double. Mélody Johner and Erin had two down which ensured Switzerland dropped no further.

“Of course I wanted to be clear for myself and our team, but this is still an unexpected result, I was just here to gain some experience with my young horse,” said Mélody. “To come here in England, I was afraid, but in the end it’s been unbelievable. And we have a great partnership for the future.”

Blenheim European Championships team results

Gold: GermanySilver: IrelandBronze: France4th: Switzerland5th: Austria

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Four British falls, shades of 2005 and a leaderboard in turmoil: everything you need to know about Blenheim Europeans cross-country day

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Michael Jung leads Germany to team gold at close of Blenheim Europeans cross-country as rest of team leaderboard juggled

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘The bubble had to burst – but they’ll come back even stronger’: eventing performance manager reflects on Britain’s elimination at Blenheim European Championships

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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Michael Jung leads Germany to team gold at close of Blenheim Europeans cross-country as rest of team leaderboard juggled

Pippa Roome — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:25:32 +0000

Germany holds team gold in the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country results, with a fast clear round for Michael Jung confirming their team place and giving him individual silver overnight.

Michael piloted FischerChipmunk FRH round with 10 time-penalties, the sixth fastest round of the day, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his individual lead and he has dropped behind Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, who hold the gold. Britain’s Tom McEwen sits in bronze with JL Dublin.

“I tried not to override him in the beginning and to keep a good feeling,” said Michael. “I tried to ride as fast as possible in a few places, but also to let him breathe and have the last few jumps still under control. The feeling was amazing – he was full of running to the last fence.”

There was plenty of action in the final rotation of team riders, before the Blenheim European Championships cross-country results were confirmed.

Germany has a commanding 37 penalties over the rest, with Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K, seventh) and Jérôme Robiné (eighth) joining Michael as the counting scores.

Behind Germany, the following three teams are grouped within 16.4 penalties, setting the stage for an exciting showjumping showdown tomorrow.

Ian Cassells was the very last rider of the day on course and added 13.6 time-faults with the 11-year-old grey Millridge Atlantis to secure silver overnight for Ireland (and 10th for himself), with Padraig McCarthy (Pomp N Circumstance) and championship debutant Robbie Kearns (Chance Encounter) providing the other counting scores.

“It’s my second championships, so to be part of the team, with a little bit more experience than last time, is amazing,” said Ian. “There was a bit of pressure on for the team, but thankfully the orders came across and we delivered. We’re in silver now, and top 10 individually.

“It didn’t completely go to plan –I lost a stirrup at The Raging Bull Roller Coaster and he kind of drifted left and caught me by surprise, and then in the pond [fence 20abc] I’d planned to go on five strides, but he jumped in so big I thought I’d better commit and ride the distance – but that’s cross-country riding and you have to make it happen.”

Felix Vogg had a stop at the triple brush into The Suregrow Dew Pond (fence 6abc) with Frieda. This took the possibility of silver overnight away from Switzerland, but they could afford for him to become the discard score and still finish the day in bronze, moving up from fourth after dressage. Their counting scores come from Mélody Johner (Erin, sixth individually), Nadja Minder (Toblerone) and Robin Godel (Global DHI).

France’s final rider, Astier Nicolas, broke a frangible at the middle rail of the triple bar arrowhead out of the The Suregrow Dew Pond (fence 6abc) with Alertamalib’Or, which was damaging to France’s hopes of staying in the podium positions. They drop to fourth overnight.

Lea Siegl’s 9.6 time-penalties with Van Helsing P confirmed a good day for the three-man Austrian team, which moves up to fifth, having been sixth after dressage. Individually, Lea ends the day in equal fourth, sharing the place with German individual rider Calvin Böckmann (The Phantom Of The Opera).

Lea was stopped after fence 14 because the rider before her, Vittoria Panizzon (DHI Jackpot), had broken a frangible device at fence 22.

“The people standing there were quite nice, and they had sponges and cooled him down. He stayed calm and relaxed a bit, as far as it’s possible. I tried to keep the rhythm afterwards, because it’s a bit of a rhythm breaker if you have a stop in the middle of the course, keep going forward and I came into the rhythm again. I was super happy with how brave he was,” said Lea.

Italy is the other nation still in the team contest in the Blenheim European Championships cross-country results, sitting sixth, their effort spearheaded by Vittoria in 27th.

Falls for Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ) and Piggy March (Halo) mean the British team, which runs in partnership with Agria, is out of the team competition.

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Olympic champions deliver only sub-20 score to hold individual gold after Blenheim Europeans dressage

Pippa Roome — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:02:22 +0000

Michael Jung leads overnight at the conclusion of the Agria Blenheim European Championships dressage, with his test also putting Germany into the team gold position after the first phase.

The final session today (19 September) featured a likely repeat of the Paris head to head between Michael and Britain’s Laura Collett, and after Laura scored 20.6, three-time European champion Michael needed a mark of 19.6 or better to give Germany the edge in the team standings. He delivered that and some with 18.3 on the now 17-year-old Olympic champion FischerChipmunk FRH.

Chipmunk showed a superb uphill outline, with lovely cadence and suspension in his paces, and made no mistakes in a virtually flawless performance. He earned nines across the board for his mid-test halt and nine other nines through his test sheet.

“I’m excited and very proud of FisherChipmunk, he’s just an amazing horse,” said Michael Jung after his Blenheim European Championships dressage.

“It’s just lovely to ride this horse and also today in the dressage. He was really good and listening well. I was always able to ride him with my legs and yes, there were just a few things to do [differently] – but I think there’s always something. So far so good and I’m very happy also to get the marks from the judges.”

Michael said he had “a little mistake after the first medium trot – this was a wake up”, perhaps referring to a tiny wobble at the start of the first shoulder-in, but it was certainly barely perceptible to watchers and his marks never dropped below 7.5 in this part of the test.

Asked about the pressure of riding such a horse, Michael said: “I’m very thankful to have such a horse and I’m very thankful to the Fischer Group for helping me with him. He’s a fantastic horse and I enjoy every day riding him. I enjoy riding him in every phase, so I enjoy it more than I feel the pressure.”

Michael said he is looking forward to tomorrow’s cross-country.

“We are in England, and it’s a big history country with the sport and horse people. I really love to compete in England. It’s a beautiful course and the ground is perfect,” he said.

This is the fifth time Michael and Chipmunk have led the dressage in their championship career together – but the only time they didn’t hold pole position after this phase, in Paris last year when they were bested between the white boards by Laura Collett and London 52, is the only time they’ve claimed the individual gold.

Britain, with a squad running in partnership with Agria, holds the other podium positions after the first phase, with Laura Collett (London 52) in silver and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) in bronze.

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Who are the favourites for individual eventing European Championship medals this week at Blenheim?

Pippa Roome — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:30:03 +0000

Who are the favourites for the individual medals among the Agria Blenheim European Championships riders? Will a Brit take the title? Or will gold go elsewhere?

The best in Europe go head to head in Oxfordshire this week (17-21 September) and we have the lowdown on who to keep an eye on…

Blenheim European Championships riders: individual favourites

(in alphabetical order)

Sebastien Cavaillon (FRA)

Wild cards, as championship debutants, but Sebastien and Elipso De La Vigne have won twice at four-star and been third at Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-S – probably would have won if the rider’s stopwatch hadn’t stopped across country.

Laura Collett (GBR)

Laura and London 52 are the stars of the British squad, who should be set to battle with Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH again for the individual title, as they did at the Paris Olympics last year. They have no weak phase and recently added a 14th international victory to their tally, at the first CCI4*-S at Scone Palace, proving they are on song.

Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER)

Strong Blenheim form as Carlitos Quidditch K and Malin won the CCI4*-L here in 2022. They were team silver medallists at the 2023 Europeans and can go better than the individual 19th they recorded then, with two top-six finishes at five-star since.

Michael Jung (GER)

The reigning Olympic champions, Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH will start as favourites, with a superb record and the almost certain prospect of being top-two after dressage. Michael is a three-time European champion.

Lara De Leidekerke-Meier (BEL)

Lara stepped into the elite ranks when she won at five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials last year on her ride here, the home-bred Hooney D’Arville, and followed up with 14th at Badminton. Could she get a medal at her seventh senior Europeans?

Piggy March (GBR)

Halo is a rare five-star stallion, who Piggy has been touting as “put on this planet for championships”, and he’s got Blenheim form, having won the eight- and nine-year-olds here in 2022 and been sixth in the CCI4*-L in 2023. This is Piggy’s first championship since individual silver and team gold in 2021.

Tom McEwen (GBR)

JL Dublin was a double European gold medallist with Nicola Wilson in 2021. He’s had a raft of great results since Tom took over the ride, spearheaded by Olympic success last year, as well as the odd blip, including a rider fall at the 2023 Europeans. Should be very useful team contributors and could be individual medallists on their day.

Astier Nicolas (FRA)

Astier, an individual silver medallist at the Rio Olympics, knows how to be competitive at championships. Alertamalib’Or’s only previous appearance at one was unimpressive, but on form with recent second at Bramham CCI4*-S.

Jerôme Robiné (GER)

Black Ice and Jérôme have a super jumping record (one frangible breakage being their only cross-country fault together and no more than one down since mid-2023). Seventh at the 2023 Europeans and 20th at Badminton this spring, when dressage let them down.

Bubby Upton (GBR)

A thrilling senior championship debut for Bubby. A fiercely determined and intelligent rider, who’s returned from a serious spinal injury, she has plenty of championship experience in under-21s and a smart partner in 10-year-old Its Cooley Time. This is a different league, but she could be a wild card for an individual medal.

Felix Vogg (SUI)

Another experienced championship rider, who pilots a horse debuting at the level in Frieda. She’s had good results, along with the odd blip. But Felix could surprise us on an under-the-radar mount, as at last year’s Olympics, where he was eighth on Dao De L’Ocean.

Blenheim European Championships individual medal predictions

Gold: Laura Collett and London 52 (GBR)Silver: Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH (GER)Bronze: Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (GBR)

For a full assessment of all the Blenheim European Championships riders and horses, buy this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (issue dated 18 September) for our complete form guide, plus an exclusive look back at the 2005 Europeans at Blenheim with Zara Tindall.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim Europeans, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Greatest event rider ever’ takes his fifth Kentucky title

Pippa Roome — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 21:22:57 +0000

Michael Jung topped the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event results this afternoon, winning his second title here with FischerChipmunk FRH and his fifth in all.

The Olympic champions clipped fence three in today’s showjumping, but they had entered the arena with two rails in hand and nothing else fell, so they won with a comfortable 7.8-penalty margin.

“So many things can go wrong – it’s happened a few times to me, but I believe in my horse and I’ve always had luck here – without luck you win nothing,” said Michael.

“I’m very thankful for everything, for such a good horse, for my owners, for my family, all the people who work in the background. I’m sitting here, but it’s a big win for everybody in my team, all the other horses I ride and train and all my friends and family who help me get here.”

FischerChipmunk – who belongs to Michael’s father Joachim, the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport and Klaus and Sabine Fischer – is 17 years old now. He also won here in 2022, while Michael won the Kentucky title with FischerRocana FST in 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as taking individual gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games here on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

US rider Boyd Martin jumped clear to finish second in the Kentucky Three-Day Event results and land the national championship title on Commando 3.

He said: “Michael is an inspiration to me – I often watch videos and try to copy him. I’ve never seen a rider so good in all three phases and he’ll be remembered as one of greatest event riders ever.

“I was thinking this morning I had two chances of winning – maybe Michael went to the strip club last night and had too much bourbon or maybe he goes off course, otherwise I’m grateful for second place.”

Harry Meade added that Michael is “hands down, without a doubt, the greatest event rider there has ever been”.

“I don’t think there will be anyone better ever – when you are living in the moment of an extraordinary thing happening, you don’t appreciate it, but I think he’ll be remembered in 50 years time as the best there ever was,” he said.

Of the 12-year-old Commando 3 – who is known as “Connor” and owned by Yanke Creek Ranch, LLC – Boyd said: “Last year I had him as a back-up for the Olympics. I didn’t even do a long format with him so he’s very untested coming into this. So I didn’t know what I was in for and he pulled it off.

“I think he could be a career changing horse for me.”

Kentucky Three-Day Event results: top five overnight unchanged

The showjumping did not change the order of the top five overnight in the Kentucky Three-Day Event results, with Harry Meade holding third and fourth and Tom McEwen fifth.

Boyd also kept the sixth place he occupied at the start of the phase when he finished one second over the time on Fedarman B.

The US rider and his third mount Luke 140 swapped places with New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, Luke’s jumping clear earning him seventh and Monica finishing eighth with two fences down and three seconds over the time on Artist.

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Kentucky cross-country juggles scoreboard – but Michael Jung increases his leading margin

Pippa Roome — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 22:11:47 +0000

Michael Jung holds a commanding lead after the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country, sitting 11.8 penalties ahead of his nearest challenger.

The German rider put in the third fastest round of the day, with 2.4 time-faults, on FischerChipmunk FRH. Home side rider Boyd Martin (Commando 3) retains second place, with Britain’s Harry Meade in third and fourth after the only two clears inside the time over Derek di Grazia’s track.

“It was a great feeling. It’s a long time since I rode such a tough course, but I really believe in and trust my horse,” said Michael, who hasn’t competed at five-star since he and Chipmunk – who belongs to Michael’s father Joachim, the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport and Klaus and Sabine Fischer – won here in 2022.

“I know he’s a good runner, and he has so much scope. He’s 17 now, he’s very experienced, so I’m very, very lucky to have him.

“The ground was a bit softer that I expected, but still good at the jumps, it wasn’t bad. A few distances were longer than I thought, which might be partly to do with the ground.”

Michael Jung took one planned long route on the Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course, opting for the slightly slower first element into Pete’s Hollow at fence 14abc, which was less upright and gave a straighter route through the combination.

“I thought there maybe the horses needed a breather after the big hill – that’s the highest point of the cross- country and I want to give him a more simple jump there,” he said.

Boyd Martin: ‘He’s a gutsy horse’

Boyd Martin added 6.8 time-faults on Yankee Creek Ranch, LLC’s Commando 3, which allowed him to keep his second place, but means Michael has an increased margin for error in the showjumping.

“He’s young and green and you just don’t know if they are true five-star horses until you arrive,” said Boyd. “I fell off him early at Maryland last year, but I was a bit rickety after falling off earlier that day, so I didn’t really worry about that too much.

“He felt very, very strong in his last run at Stable View four-star short, and I just thought we’d give it a crack.

“He really worked hard to get inside every flag for me, even though he’s green and a bit unorganised sometimes, but he’s a gutsy horse.”

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 at Kentucky 2025. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Boyd rode three horses and said the ground was a little more chopped up on the turns and heavier by the time he went on out on Commando 3.

Boyd’s 10.4 time-faults on the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B mean he has moved up from 11th to seventh, while his 16.8 time-penalties on the syndicate-owned Luke 140 slipped him from sixth to ninth.

Britain’s Tom McEwen now holds fifth, after 10.4 time-faults on Brookfield Quality – owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn – who was third after dressage.

Lucienne Bellissimo, a US-based British five-star first-timer, had an awkward jump over the ditch at the Care Credit Question and then a refusal at the following angled hedge. She and Dyri then had a further refusal at Fox’s Den Gate at fence eight and she pulled up a couple of fences later.

Jarillo best of Price’s three

New Zealand’s Tim Price had a slightly disappointing day after having three horses in the top 10 after dressage. He has moved up from equal seventh to sixth on Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, James and Rachel Good’s Jarillo, but didn’t manage jumping clears on either of his other rides.

“Jarillo was really good – he’s a wee, honest little horse with so much ability to dig himself out of a few green moments and that’s exactly what he did. And I thought he actually stayed in terms of stamina better than Pau. It’ll set him up for the future,” said Tim.

Happy Boy – owned by Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and Tim – broke a frangible at fence three and then had a couple of run-outs in what Tim described as an “educational round”. The pair were also stopped on course – in the middle of the Cosequin Cove water – because officials thought the horse had blood in his mouth, but were allowed to continue once the horse had been checked and it was clear there was no blood.

Tim had the opportunity to make a real impact on the leaderboard on final ride Falco, owned by his rider and Sue Benson, but the pair ended up a bit far off the first arrowhead out of the Cosequin Cove (fence 22abc) and so the two strides before the final element became long, the horse chipped in a third, ran out of space and refused.

The rider said: “Falco was just superb everywhere and was up on the time, and everything was a joy. But unfortunately, at the Cosequin Cove, he just went a bit lower with his belly over the first and he’s such a deliberate jumper, such a careful horse. He’s not like an old-fashioned eventer that would just step over no matter what. It just put us on a bit of a half distance, and he just put in a little stop.”

Derek di Grazia’s course rode very well and proved influential – there were 16 jumping clears from 33 starters and no serious injuries to horses or riders.

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European visitor sets new Kentucky dressage record score: ‘He’s sensitive, but I absolutely trust him’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:16:40 +0000

Michael Jung set a new Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage record this afternoon when he powered into the lead with a score of 18.6 on his Olympic champion FischerChipmunk FRH.

The 17-year-old bay, owned by Michael’s father Joachim, the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport and Klaus and Sabine Fischer, put in a flawless, expressive test, demonstrating how established and secure he is in his work. He earned six 10s, five of them from ground jury president Christian Steiner of Austria and one from Canada’s Peter Gray.

This is Chipmunk’s first competition since his individual gold in Paris last summer.

“We didn’t have such good competitions around my place, so I needed to think about a different preparation,” said Michael. “I went to a few training places to prepare him and I absolutely trust him. We have a great partnership. We have done so many competitions. I think he’s in a really great shape.

“He had a longer break after Paris and I started with more training in February to build up the endurance, the muscles and try to get him ready.”

With his test today, Michael Jung beat his previous Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage score, from 2022, by 1.5 marks. Asked why he chose to return to Kentucky, Michael said: “Because I really love this place and if I have the chance and opportunity, I try to take it.

“I’m just thankful to have this good horse. He’s so nice to ride and it’s a big thank you to my owners, the Fisher Group as without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Michael took over the ride on Chipmunk from fellow German team rider Julia Krajewski in 2019, after she produced the son of Contendro I to championship level.

“He’s very uncomplicated if you know him, but looks more calm than he is – he is quite sensitive inside,” he said. “It took a while to get a good partnership. But if you know him, he’s so, so easy, so relaxed. He’s a super talent in all three phases.”

Michael commented that Derek di Grazia’s Kentucky cross-country course is twistier than some previous iterations of the track.

He explained: “FischerChipmunk is a big horse with big strides, so for sure it’s better for him to gallop more straight. I’ve walked the course twice and it’s very important to find a good line through the turns so that you need not slow down too much, so that you can keep the rhythm and not lose too much time.

“You need a very trustful rhythm – you cannot make everything 100% safe because then you are too slow. So you need to trust your horse and try to have good rhythm and take a little bit of risk and gallop.”

Two New Zealand rider share second place at this early stage, with Tim Price (Jarillo) and Clarke Johnstone (Menlo Park) both scoring 28.4.

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When do the Brits and other favourites do their dressage at Kentucky? Full times released Friday times updated following weather delay

Pippa Roome — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:35:26 +0000

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times for this week’s event (24-27 April) have been released.

Dressage in the five-star starts at 1.30pm local time (6.30pm British time) on Thursday, with the final horse on that day entering the arena at 4.04pm (9.04pm local time). The class resumes at 1pm local time (6pm British time) on Friday and the last pair will start their test at 3.34pm local time (8.34pm British time). Update on Friday at 9.15am local time: due to a weather delay, competition today has been put back to 1.15pm (6.15pm British time) – all times below have been updated to the new times.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times: British riders

Harry Meade and Et Hop Du Matz: 4.04pm local time (9.04pm British time) on Thursday
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality: 1.48pm local time (6.48pm British time) on Friday
Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri: 3.09pm local time (8.09pm British time) on Friday
Harry Meade and Grafennacht: 3.25pm local time (8.25pm British time) on Friday

Other ones to watch

Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo: 1.30pm local time (6.30pm British time) on Thursday
Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B: 1.38pm local time (6.38pm British time) on Thursday
Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH: 2.18pm local time (7.18pm British time) on Thursday
Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park: 2.26pm local time (7.26pm British time) on Thursday
Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy: 3.56pm local time (8.56pm British time) on Thursday
Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist: 1.39pm local time (6.39pm British time) on Friday
Tim Price (NZL) and Falco: 3.17pm local time (8.17pm British time) on Friday

Tim Price and Boyd Martin both have three horses in the competition, while Harry Meade is the other multi-horse rider with two on the list.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times: full list

All times (dressage times are on left of the page, cross-country times on right)
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Eventing maestro on song to score record third individual Olympic title

Lucy Elder — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:26:38 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung claimed a record third individual Olympic eventing gold medal with a copy-book final showjumping round aboard Chipmunk FRH.

The eventing maestro has extended Germany’s unbroken golden run of individual Olympic eventing titles to five.

Michael, who won his previous Olympic individual titles at London 2012 and Rio 2016 with the great Sam, came within a whisper of Laura Collett and London 52’s record-breaking score of 17.5 in the first phase (17.8). Their quick clear across country then elevated them to the gold medal position ahead of today’s showjumping.

They rolled a pole in the team showjumping – but it did not affect their provisional standing. There was no such luxury of having that buffer in the individual final.

Just four faults covered the top four ahead of the round to decide the individual medals. By the time Michael and Chipmunk cantered into the arena, all three of their closest rivals had jumped clear – he could afford to be one second over the time, but no more. A rail would have bumped him off the podium.

The 16-year-old Chipmunk, owned by the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport, Klaus and Sabine Fischer, and Michael’s father Joachim, jumped beautifully. Their assured clear put the ghosts of recent championship performances to bed, securing individual gold on the best Olympic finishing score in history (21.8) and making Michael the first ever three-time Olympic individual gold medallist.

“I tried to say to myself it’s just a normal show. Not easy with so many spectators, but it’s important the horses feel it’s nothing special,” said Michael.

“At the end I needed to look a few times on the board to check it was really true – I needed a moment to understand what it means, it’s a very special moment for me.”

Australia’s Chris Burton took silver aboard Shadow Man (22.4), with Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 clinching bronze (23.1).

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‘I believe we can do it’: medals beckon as epic day of Olympic cross-country concludes

Becky Murray — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 15:14:06 +0000

Great Britain remains in gold medal position following an action-packed day of Olympic eventing cross-country – while Germany holds the individual top spot at the Paris Games.

Thanks to superb rounds from Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, Laura Collett and London 52, and Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, the Brits have maintained their lead and sit on 82.5pen ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping (28 July). Tom jumped clear inside the time, Laura accrued 0.8 of a time-penalty, and Ros was given 15 penalties for a flag – but this is under review.

One of the biggest surprises of the day was Germany dropping out of the team medal standings, following Christoph Wahler’s elimination when he fell from Carjatan S. This paved the way for France to move into the silver team position on 87.2pen. Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine remained on their dressage score, while Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau had 2.8 time-penalties, and Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe picked up 3.2 time-penalties.

Nicolas said the French team had been “expecting something extraordinary, but not as much as this”.

“It’s quite incredible,” he said, adding that they need to stay concentrated on the task. “There’s not many points between us and Great Britain, or Japan either, so we need to keep focused.”

Diabolo Menthe is only 11, and Nicolas said he felt a little “agitated” to begin with across country, but once he settled he was “with him all the way”.

“It was he who helped me out, he was really my friend today. The ground was perhaps a little stickier than we expected, which explains the time-faults a bit,” he said.

“There’s a lot of pressure on these three days. We’ve been talking about nothing else for so long. It’s the most pressure I’ve felt in my career, definitely, but that’s a positive thing.”

Japan rise into medal position

Japan has risen from fifth to the bronze medal position after the Olympic cross-country, on a team score of 93.80. Ryuzo Kitajima and Cekatinka added 6.4 time-penalties to their 34.5 dressage, while Yoshi Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street and Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci De La Vigne both jumped clear inside the time.

Kazuma was “really pleased and proud” of 15-year-old Vinci De La Vigne, who is owned by the Japanese Equestrian Federation.

“He knows everything; what he needs to do, what I want him to do. He’s an absolute professional horse, especially in the big events. At home, he’s like a lazy boy but in a big atmosphere he’s like, ‘Come on it’s my time’, so he was fantastic today,” said Kazuma.

“I tried to enjoy it, but concentrate on my job. I saw a few Japanese flags on the course so that was really good.”

Kazuma added that the feeling in the Japanese camp is positive, with all three riders being “very good” showjumpers. Kazuma has competed to 1.55m level in showjumping, and had hoped to compete at Paris in showjumping as well as eventing, but missed out on qualification.

“We are really hungry to get a medal and bring it back home,” said Kazuma. “Tokyo was our home ground, we felt very big pressure, but this time we’re more relaxed. I believe we can do it.”

Individual medal standings after Olympic cross-country

While Germany’s hopes of a team medal have slipped away, Michael Jung tops the individual leader board with Chipmunk FRH, still on their 17.8 dressage. Laura and London 52 are just behind them in silver on 18.3, and Australia’s Chris Burton and Shadow Man have moved into bronze – also on their dressage score, 22.

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New leader in individual medal standings following Paris Olympic cross-country

Becky Murray — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 13:21:51 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung is at the top of the individual medal standings following the Paris Olympic cross-country.

Michael and his established partner 16-year-old Chipmunk FRH tackled Pierre Le Goupil’s track with precision and bravery to finish clear inside the time, keeping them on their 17.8 dressage score. As Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 added 0.8 of a time-penalty to their record-breaking 17.5 dressage, they have slipped to silver, with Michael and Chipmunk FRH now in overnight gold position.

“Every jump was easy, he was listening and connected to me, and he was so powerful galloping,” said Michael. “I checked the time and said, ‘Ok we have more time on the next fence, slow down, slow down’. It was an unbelievable feeling.

“I’m so thankful to have such good horses and to be at my fourth Olympic Games is a dream, it’s always a special feeling.”

While the combination fences on the Olympics eventing cross-country course offered multiple options, some riders opted to change tact as the day played out, but Michael said he stuck to his plan.

“I know my horse very well and he was listening, it was a little bit of an easy feeling today,” he said. “He’s a bigger horse, and I started a bit later in the season with him as the focus was absolutely the Olympics Games.

“He’s a horse with so much talent in the dressage and the jumping, and he’s so brave in the cross-country.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow Michael said he’ll take it “step by step” with Chipmunk FRH, who is owned by the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport, Klaus and Sabine Fischer, and Michael’s father Joachim.

“If you are in front it’s fantastic for sure, but at the moment it’s time to enjoy it. It’s a dream today, and tomorrow it’s a new day,” he said.

“I will try to focus and not think too much about the prize giving or anything after, I will just concentrate on the vet check, the first jumping round, the second round, and go step by step. He’s super fit and he wasn’t tired today, he was looking like he could go again – so this is very good for tomorrow.”

End of day update: following the conclusion of the Olympic cross-country Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH are in gold, Laura Collett and London 52 hold the silver position, and Chris Burton and Shadow Man are in bronze. Great Britain holds team gold, France silver, and Japan is in the bronze medal position.

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‘A lot of head scratching’: riders share their thoughts on the Paris Olympics cross-country

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:19:49 +0000

Competitors have been sharing their reactions after walking the 2024 Paris Olympics cross-country course, which is designed by French course-designer Pierre Le Goupil. So here is the lowdown on the fences on the Paris Olympics eventing cross-country course that the riders think are likely to determine who wins the Olympic eventing medals.

Check out every fence on the Olympic cross-country course

British pathfinder Tom McEwen echoes many rider’s sentiments in saying it is a “well-designed” and “beautiful” track.

“I think it’s a fantastic course. If I compare it to Tokyo, it’s slightly different with the ideas and questions, but I think it very cleverly opens you out,” he explains. “There’s galloping areas – it’s not just twisty – but I think at the end is when you’re going to slightly get caught out as there’s lots of twists and turns, not just fences.

“I see the optimum time being quite tight, and I think it will be intense to ride – I’d compare it to a nine-minute version of Luhmühlen.”

One fence that sticks out in Tom’s mind is the second water complex at fence 10 – The Vauban Citadel (pictured top).

“For me, I think it’s a big question. It’s a big jump in over the direct route and it’s at the highest point of the course,” he explains. “Then I think there’s a few different questions elsewhere and I think it will be an accumulation of effort for horses and riders. You could build the easiest course in the world, but it is the Olympics, and people will make some mistakes.”

Tom’s teammate and dressage leader Laura Collett says that there has been “a lot of head scratching” due to the number of combinations and options available.

“There’s a lot of options at fence 10 and we haven’t seen a shape of fence like the jump into the water before, plus it’s at the top of a long uphill pull,” she continues. “To be honest, I think it’s like any other cross-country course in that you’ve got to be on your A game from start to finish and you’re not home until you’ve gone through the finish flags.”

Ros Canter, who is anchor rider for the British team agrees with Laura in that “there’s plenty to jump”.

“The time is going to be a big factor and that’s where mistakes creep in. I’ve got a plan – I’m open to that plan changing, but I’m going to try and stay in my bubble,” she states.

Germany’s Michael Jung thinks the continued rain that the area has experienced over the past 24 hours will be “good for the ground”.

“When I first looked at the course a couple of days ago, I thought that the ground was maybe a bit hard in places,” he continues. “We have not much experience here, but my feeling is that cross-country will be amazing.”

Paris Olympics cross-country course: “It’s very clever”

Michael’s compatriot and reigning individual Olympic champion Julia Krajewski says that the course “shouldn’t be underestimated”.

“It’s very clever. I think if you ride forward and bravely and have an honest horse, you probably will do well,” she concludes.

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg was another to comment on the beautifully presented track, but with an interesting word of caution.

“It’s the prettiest course I have ever seen – I think it’s maybe a little bit too pretty and everyone feels comfortable. If a rider is on their line, maybe they’ll be lulled into forgetting how to ride a little bit,” he explains. “If you are not really focused and riding like it’s a cross-country, I think it will be tough.”

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor said to keep an eye out on ground conditions, owing to the heavy rain.

“The ground is getting soft and it’s certainly going to change the complexion of the competition – hopefully the blood horses will come to the fore,” he says. “Pierre Le Goupil is a very, very clever course designer – fair, but clever.

“It’s quite intense and it’s going to be quick, but you will need to have enough petrol. I think from seven minutes onwards it will be interesting with the riders that are having a real go. ”

Austin pinpoints fences 5abc and 7ab – The Ménagerie Pond and The Ulysees’ Companions – as jumps to look out for.

“The water at five will sort people out early on the course and fence seven, which is a step up to a rail, will either fill horses with confidence or suddenly have them thinking early on. I think from the word go, it’s all got to be respected,” he states.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Switzerland’s Robin Godel suggests that the time will be “difficult” to achieve and that people should keep an eye on the final water, The Etoile Royale Waters, at fence 23abcd.

“The angle is not so easy to ride at this fence and it comes after the eighth minute. We have to pay attention to the end and be on a good line and also, when the horse is a bit tired and long, we have to react and be ready.”

Jonelle Price, who is riding in her fourth Olympics for New Zealand, says that Pierre’s job as course designer for this Olympics is “not an easy brief”.

“Where you’ve got the world’s best combinations, but also some of the lesser nations as well – that can be tricky, but I think he’s done a really good job. There are some things we haven’t really seen before and Pierre has been creative. The dimensions are fair and you can make up some time in the third minute, but that’s about the only place you can on this course – during the second minute, I think there’s seven jumping efforts and it will be about minimising the damage to your time in those busy patches.”

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‘A goosebump feeling’: Michael Jung wows during Olympic eventing dressage phase

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 15:31:31 +0000

Michael Jung wowed the judges during his Olympic eventing dressage test at the Paris Games aboard the impressive Chipmunk FRH, scoring 17.8 to go into provisional second.

It’s nip tuck at the top of the leaderboard, with the German rider just .3 of a penalty behind Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, who hold the lead after setting a new Olympic record score.

Chipmunk FRH produced a relaxed and accurate test, earning a 10 from one judge for his penultimate flying change and 10s across the board for his final halt.

“It was an amazing feeling to gallop into the stadium – it was really like a goosebump feeling,” explained Michael of what it was like to ride this 16-year-old, owned by the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport, Klaus and Sabine Fischer and Joachim Jung. “At the same time, Chipmunk was so well concentrated and so with me and listening. Every second it was nice to ride him and directly before I went in, I knew I could take all the risks and I can try everything to get the best marks with him.”

Australia’s Chris Burton produced a beautifully presented Olympic eventing dressage performance with Shadow Man to score 22, which is enough for equal third at the moment, alongside Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne Van Bareelhof.

“He was on his toes – he’s normally a very relaxed horse, but he got really excited because some guy went before me, who the crowd likes to cheer for,” joked Chris, referring to Michael Jung completing his test just prior to him entering the arena. “But then I was just delighted with him, he went back to work showing what a lovely gentleman he is and showing how well schooled he is, so that was a real treat for me.”

Chris took over the ride on Shadow Man, a 14-year-old he co-owns with Guy Bloodstock Ltd, from British event rider Ben Hobday at the start of this season.

“I said when we went up to Ben’s to ride him and vet him in the same day, I felt like I knew him already – were made for each other,” explained Chris of how he managed to cement a partnership with Shadow Man so rapidly.

Chris spent time away from eventing to focus on showjumping before returning to eventing this year.

“I was away from eventing for a while and I was delighted when I got back to it and found my skill set hadn’t left me,” he stated. “Although I got very nervous at Aachen [where he finished fourth in the CCIO4*-S with Clever Louis this month], because I thought ‘what if I ruined my career and what if I’m old and I can’t go fast anymore?’ But that was nice to see it hadn’t left me.”

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

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

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

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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).

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.

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.

‘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.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing: the $350,000 prize Oliver Townend could win at Badminton

Pippa Roome — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:30:18 +0000

Oliver Townend’s win at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event last week on Cooley Rosalent, following his victory at Defender Burghley Horse Trials last autumn on Ballaghmor Class, means that he goes into the Mars Badminton Horse Trials (8-12 May) with two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing completed. If he can take the Badminton title, he will become the third event rider to complete the Rolex Grand Slam.

Need a refresher on what the Rolex Grand Slam bonus is and who has won it in the past? Read on…

What is the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing?

The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing is a cash prize, given by watch-makers Rolex, to any event rider who can consecutively win the three biggest four-stars events in the sport — Badminton and Burghley in Britain and Kentucky in the USA. The events can be won in any order. Badminton and Kentucky take place in the spring each year, with Kentucky usually the week before Badminton (two weeks in 2024), and Burghley in September.

A rider can use the same or different horses for each event, but in reality a minimum of two horses are needed to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing because the same horse would not run at Kentucky and Badminton as they are too close together.

How much is the prize money for the Rolex Grand Slam?

$350,000 (around £255,000). The prize was initially $250,000 when the Rolex Grand Slam was conceived in 1999, but was increased to $350,000 in February 2008.

Who are the Rolex Grand Slam winners?

There have only been two Rolex Grand Slam winners.

Britain’s Pippa Funnell completed the challenge in 2003 — she won Kentucky 2003 on Primmore’s Pride, Badminton on Supreme Rock and Burghley on Primmore’s Pride.

Germany’s Michael Jung won the Rolex Grand Slam in 2015/2016 — he started by winning Burghley 2015 on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, then in the spring of 2016 won Kentucky on FischerRocana FST and Badminton on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

Have any other riders come close to winning it?

Yes. Four other riders have won two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, but fallen at the final hurdle – and one of them, Oliver himself, has been in that position twice before this 2024 attempt.

In 2006 Australia’s Andrew Hoy took Kentucky on Master Monarch and Badminton on Moonfleet. He led until the showjumping at Burghley, but 12 faults in the final phase meant he and Moonfleet ended up second behind Lucinda Fredericks on Headley Britainnia.

In 2009, Britain’s Oliver Townend won Badminton on Flint Curtis and Burghley on Carousel Quest. He went to Kentucky with Ashdale Cruise Master and ODT Master Rose — with some drama, due to a volcanic ash cloud disrupting his travel plans — but was airlifted to hospital after a fall with Ashdale Cruise Master.

In 2011, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt won Burghley on Parklane Hawk and he then won Kentucky 2012 on the same horse. However, Badminton that year was cancelled, so his attempt to complete the Rolex Grand Slam was deferred to 2013. Meanwhile, Andrew Nicholson won Burghley 2012 on Avebury and Kentucky 2013 on Quimbo, setting up a situation where both he and William were “live” in the Rolex Grand Slam and aiming to complete it at Badminton, a situation lent extra frisson by the history of rivalry between the two men. In the event, neither of them were able to achieve the final victory, with William finishing fifth on Parklane Hawk and Andrew third on Nereo.

Oliver Townend had a second crack at the Rolex Grand Slam in 2018, after he won Burghley 2017 on Ballaghmor Class and Kentucky 2018 on Cooley Master Class. He came close, but not quite close enough to take the big prize with second on Cooley SRS and fifth on Ballaghmor Class, with Jonelle Price winning the event on Classic Moet.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

FischerChipmunk FRH – the unluckiest horse ever to hold an eventing world record?

Pippa Roome — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 18:30:23 +0000

FischerChipmunk FRH is perhaps the unluckiest horse in eventing at the moment. He is the holder of the record finishing score at five-star level and the winner of an extraordinary 23 international events – and yet he has never claimed an individual gold medal.

The beautiful bay, by Contendro I out of a mare by the thoroughbred stallion Heraldik, started his career under Germany’s Julia Krajewski, who was later the Tokyo Olympic champion riding Amande De B’Neville. He first came to the attention of British fans when he was third in the CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) at Blenheim Horse Trials in 2017 and then won at the same level at Bramham Horse Trials the following year.

Already at this stage Chipmunk was signalling his brilliance in the dressage – at Bramham, as a 10-year-old, he won on his 19.4 dressage mark.

“I’ve had him since he was four and he’s a tall horse with long legs, so it’s taken him time to grow into his body,” said Julia after the pair’s Bramham win. “Now he’s strong through his back.

“He’s the kindest horse, like a dog. He wants cuddles all the time, but he’s also brave and has learnt he can trust the rider and people around him. Even when things aren’t going well, he tries again — sometimes you have to save him from himself.”

Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH win Bramham 2018. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The pair broke the 20-barrier again at the Tryon World Equestrian Games later that year, scoring 19.9. H&H reported that, “Chipmunk could have escaped from the pure dressage arena next door, such was the uphill shape of his outline and his suppleness, submission and energy.”

Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH at the 2018 WEG. Picture by Peter Nixon (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

But their challenge unravelled on cross-country day when they had a run-out at the second corner at fence 14.

Chipmunk FRH becomes FischerChipmunk FRH

In February 2019, Chipmunk moved from Julia’s yard to her compatriot, double Olympic individual gold medallist Michael Jung.

Julia said it was a “very sad day” adding: “After six very successful years together, the contract I had with the owner [Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff] expired, was not renewed for personal reasons of the owner (which I can understand) and it was decided to sell Chipmunk.

“I will remember him as this kind, genuine, brave yet sensitive horse who always gives his all and did so much to do us proud! And despite being very sad to see him go there are so many little and big moments I am thankful for and I wish him a very happy life with his new rider.”

Chipmunk moved into the ownership of the DOKR (the German Olympic commitee for equestrian sport), Klaus and Sabine Fischer, with Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff also retaining a share. It was at this point that the bay acquired the Fischer prefix.

Michael said: “When I was informed at the end of last year that Chipmunk could not stay with Julia, but there was the opportunity to hold him for Germany and me, I tried to achieve this. In the end, I owe it to the support of many sponsors and all of my great partner Fischer that I have a new future [star].”

Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH quickly formed a formidable partnership, finishing their first year together with individual silver and team gold at the Luhmühlen Europeans, where one showjump down cost them the title.

“FischerChipmunk is a really great horse, he has a lot of power and is really clever,” said Michael in Luhmühlen. “He’s a pretty horse and a super mover for the dressage.”

H&H reported: “In FischerChipmunk FRH, Michael has a deadly weapon… probably the most talented horse Michael has ever had — and that’s a pretty terrifying prospect for the rest of us.”

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH at the European Eventing Championships 2019. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

And yet, it has never really come together at championships for Michael and Chipmunk since.

They have led the dressage at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro and the 2023 Europeans in Haras du Pin. But in Tokyo they broke a frangible pin, finishing eighth, in Pratoni they led until the final line of showjumps, where a second fence down left them fifth, and in Haras du Pin they had an uncharacteristic fall across country. Team gold in Pratoni and silver in Haras du Pin will have been scant recompense for their lack of individual gongs.

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH at Kentucky 2022. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Between these championships, the pair won their only non-championship five-star, at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022, when they finished on their 20.1 dressage score and set a new record finishing score at the top level.

Going into the Paris Olympics, Michael will be acutely aware that this could be 16-year-old FischerChipmunk’s last major championship and he will no doubt be out to right the horse’s record and put a shiny individual gold on his CV – as well as claiming his own third individual Olympic title.

Eye-catching ride switches from one sporting legend to another: ‘The sky is the limit’

Lucy Elder — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:31:01 +0000

Andrew Hoy’s eye-catching ride Hasenacher Balou Couleur has moved to Germany’s Michael Jung, as the Australian rider ramps up his preparations to target his ninth Olympic Games.

The 11-year-old gelding, by Balou Du Rouet, was bred in Australia by Melissa Froesch, and started his competition as an event horse with Andrew before switching to showjumping.

“I can still vividly remember the day Balou arrived at my yard – it was Valentine’s Day, we had lots of snow and it was minus eight degrees,” said Andrew.

“Balou had just come out of quarantine in Australia and a summer of 40 degrees – and arrived here in the worst possible wintery conditions the UK has got on offer.”

He added that they “quickly discovered” that Balou’s “true love and true talent” was in the showjumping arena.

“He is an exceptional horse in so many ways – exceptional in his talent, exceptional in his character, exceptional in his looks,” said Andrew.

“I have loved our trips around the European showjumping tours – there is nothing that compares to the feeling of jumping a fence with him – the sky is the limit.

“The 2024 season is upon us and with it being an Olympic year I would like to direct all my focus and all my time on to my eventing horses, so it was time to work on a next chapter for Balou, together with his most wonderful owner and dear friend Barbara Keller and the Hasenacher Stud.”

Andrew, who has been a Hasenacher Stud rider since 2014, will continue his partnership with the stud’s event horses.

Michael was Andrew and Barbara’s “first choice” of rider and Balou will join the eventing Rolex Grand Slam winner’s string of showjumpers.

“Michael is an exceptional rider and horseman and we both have so much respect for him: As a rider, as a person and as a friend,” said Andrew.

“Everyone at the Hoy team will be missing seeing Balou´s cheeky little face over his stable door – but we all are excited to follow his journey and see what he and Michael can achieve together.”

‘So disappointing’: individual favourite reflects on European Championships elimination

Pippa Roome — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 08:40:26 +0000

Michael Jung has shared his thoughts following his elimination on the European Eventing Championships cross-country yesterday.

The German three-times European champion was going well over Pierre le Goupil’s track until fence 24, the hedge before the final water, where FischerChipmunk FRH seemed to crumple on landing.

“The course was tough, the ground was deep. Nevertheless Chip gave me a great feeling,” said Michael, reporting that Chipmunk was feeling fresh and never for one moment felt tired.

“At the last water he just misunderstood the landing. He landed on his knees and both of us had no chance. To be honest it’s so disappointing that we always have things like this at the championships and I feel really sorry for my team.

“But most important we are both fine and that was just a shocking moment. Thanks to everyone for the support and lovely words.”

Michael Jung and Chipmunk are widely acknowledged as one of the best eventing combinations in the world, but they haven’t won an individual medal since silver at the 2019 European Eventing Championships. At the Tokyo Olympics their bid was thwarted by breaking a frangible fence across country and then last year they had two showjumps down at the World Championships.

Two Irish riders have also given updates following yesterday’s action.

Team rider Felicity Ward, who had a horse fall at fence 19, reported that Regal Bounty is “ok and happy in his stable”.

Individual competitor Jennifer Kuehnle, a championship debutante, withdrew Polly Blue Eyes before the cross-country.

She said: “After Polly’s super effort in the dressage, I made a strong decision to withdraw from the cross-country. With the tough ground conditions, and the big bold cross-country, I made the decision for the welfare of my horse. She owes me absolutely nothing.”

The Irish team currently hold fourth place ahead of the final showjumping, with Sarah Ennis fifth on Grantstown Jackson after a brilliant pathfinding cross-country performance, Susie Berry 13th on Clever Trick and Joseph Murphy 18th on Calmaro.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the action at the Europeans in Haras du Pin. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

British domination interrupted, and a scintillating debut: all the action from day two at the Eventing European Championships

Martha Terry — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 17:04:30 +0000

The European Eventing Championships dressage concluded today and the British riders are in brilliant form. They hold pole position in the team competition, ahead of Germany and Belgium, and occupy six of the top 10 individual places.

Anchorman Ros Canter produced a spellbinding test from Lordships Graffalo to take second, behind Germany’s Michael Jung, with fellow Brit Tom McEwen in third, riding as an individual on JL Dublin.

Watch the video below for highlights and interviews with leading riders at the European Eventing Championships

Catch up with all of the day’s most important action here…

The reigning Badminton champion put in a career best performance to slot into second as the penultimate rider of the day at the European Eventing Championships dressage phase.

How did Ros Canter spend the anxious wait before her late test?

But it’s a familiar face at the top of the standings after dressage.

Find out how Michael Jung eased FischerChipmunk FRH’s tension before the test

Tom McEwen lies in third place with the reigning European champion JL Dublin.

Read Tom’s thoughts on his “simply stunning” partner

Laura Collett produced yet another cracking test on her Olympic gold medallist to take fourth spot.

What put London 52 off his stride?

British individual rider Tom Jackson lies in sixth on Capels Hollow Drift.

Find out how Tom scored a personal best on his championship debut

The Brits may be holding the lead after the dressage phase, but the Germans are breathing down their necks.

Learn how one former Haras du Pin champion fared

And finally, find all the cross-country times for tomorrow here…

Who starts when on Saturday?

New leader! Hot favourite breaks up British domination in European Eventing Championships

Martha Terry — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:06:43 +0000

Michael Jung broke up the British stranglehold on the podium with a world-class test on Fischerchipmunk FRH. Michael produced just the test his fans were hoping for, coasting into the lead on 19.4 at the European Eventing Championships dressage.

Michi has won 19 championship medals including three individual European golds, but has yet to secure an individual gold medal with his current top horse. Riding as German’s anchorman, Michael conjured a mistake-free test from this outstanding mover to steal a lead of 2.6pen over Tom McEwen and JL Dublin.

“Fischerchipmunk was amazing to ride – he was super in the warm-up, and in the preparation last week he gave me a good feeling,” said Michael. “He was very calm in the arena, but in the beginning he was a little tense, which is the reason why I went in early, so I had more time – which was very good for him. When I went into the test, he was perfect.

“His canter was the highlight, but maybe the walk could have been better. It was a bit long and low and the connection was not perfect but it’s difficult to have 100% as you wish for. It’s difficult to have the horse powerful but relaxed, and that’s where you have to be flexible in your preparation – sometimes do some jumping or harder work.”

Michael laid down the gauntlet with a 10 and two nines for the early half before the rein-back. While his extended walk dropped him off his own superlative pace, he regained the high scores with fantastic changes – the first one scoring nines across the board. His bold and vibrant extended trot was another highlight.

The pair’s own record in the dressage arena is 18.8, and they were not far off that peak here, but still have not given them much breathing space ahead of the chasing pack.

Despite Michael’s dazzling score, the Brits will hold the advantage in the team contest ahead of cross-country, with their anchormen Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo the penultimate pair into the dressage ring.

European Eventing Championships dressage: day two

Among the other riders in this final session, Calmaro was on his toes for Joseph Murphy but still scored Ireland’s top mark of 32.5. Belgium’s Karin Donckers conjured a super test from Fletcha Van’T Verahof, the oldest horse in the competition at 18 and contesting his eighth championships. Karin is riding in her 28th senior championships, having missed just two Europeans since 1993.

Their early halts and the rein-back were exemplary, scoring nines, and this veteran campaigner looked loose and supple in a beautifully steady outline throughout to score 26.5 and go into seventh place. Fletcha showed how at ease he was with the championships atmosphere by delaying his final exit from the arena with a long leg scratch just before A.

End of day update: Michael Jung has retained his dressage lead overnight. Full results here.

‘He is an amazing horse’: Michael Jung reflects on his Pratoni cross-country round and voices strong opinions on the course

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 14:30:45 +0000

Michael Jung has maintained his overnight lead with FischerChipmunk FRH after his eventing World Championships cross-country round in Pratoni Del Vivaro, Italy.

“FischerChipmunk is an amazing horse – yesterday in the dressage and today on the cross-country – he is a machine,” said Michael. “He was so motivated in the warm-up and playing around. It’s just an amazing feeling for the rider when you have such a powerful machine and he was still super-galloping at the end.”

Michael and FischerChipmunk completed their Eventing World Championships cross-country round comfortably within the optimum time, stopping the clock with nine seconds to spare. This means that they remain on their impressive 18.8 dressage score and have 4.4 penalties in hand over second-placed Yasmin Ingham, who is riding as an individual for Britain.

“I always stay a little bit with my foot on the brake as he is so powerful and today I just tried to keep him relaxed at the beginning of the course because we had a few more minutes left to go,” explained Michael. “It’s amazing how big he is, with such a big stride, but then also in some difficult situations how quickly he can think and how quickly he can react.”

Opinion on eventing World Championships cross-country course

Michael voiced some strong opinions on the cross-country course yesterday and he said that his view on the track hadn’t changed today.

“Sadly the ground wasn’t perfect and I said before this course is not great for a championship with all the turn left, turn right, go forward, collect, go up the hill, down the hill, jump on an angle – this is very difficult for the horses with the speed and gallop they have to travel at and still be so quick in their reaction and concentrate and keep their brain,“ he said after his round today.

“The end the course is tricky, the beginning is nice with a nice open gallop, but then the middle part is very, very tricky.”

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

Michael Jung snatches gold medal position from Britain’s Laura Collett – but is disappointed with cross-country course

Polly Bryan — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:34:57 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung has replaced Britain’s Laura Collett at the top of the eventing World Championships dressage leaderboard. Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH dazzled the Pratoni judges to receive a score of 18.8 to take over the gold medal position from Laura and London 52, who scored a personal best of 19.3 yesterday.

The 14-year-old gelding by Contendro I x Heraldik produced a flowing, fault-free round, with particularly high marks given for the medium and extended canter and flying changes. The pair also banked 10s for their final centre line, despite a slightly crooked halt, and for the harmony between horse and rider.

“I’m really proud of my horse; FischerChipmunk is an amazing horse,” said Michael. “It is just wonderful if you can compete at this high level at a championship with another horse, another superstar, and it’s amazing how he performed in the arena. He just brings everything inside and you can ride like you ride at home, so this is a great feeling. He’s so relaxed, but still powerful, and concentrated, so you can ride everything that you train for.”

With Michael’s test, Germany become the first team to complete this phase, finishing the eventing World Championships dressage on a score of 76.1. They are five points behind leaders Britain, who still have one rider to go who could widen the gap further: Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, who will enter the ring at 4.54pm local time (3.54pm BST).

Former world champion Michael will likely start tomorrow’s cross-country in pole position, but revealed he is disappointed in Giuseppe della Chiesa’s track.

“I’m not so happy about the cross-country, because it is a beautiful place but he didn’t use the whole course. He made it very twisty with many turns where you have to slow down and it’s difficult to find a really nice rhythm at this high level. So it makes it much more complicated,” said Michael.

“But there are nice jumps and a lot of nice alternative routes for some people or horses who do not have the best experience. You want the course to have a few options, so that you can still arrive safely home.”

Eventing World Championships dressage: ‘This may well be his last big one’

China’s Alex Hua Tian made an impact as he slammed a brilliant score of 23.6 on the table – a new personal best at this level for the Britain-based rider and the 15-year-old British Hanoverian gelding Don Geniro.

Alex and this expressive gelding glided through his eventing World Championships dressage test, picking up nines for two of his flying changes, and a 10 for his final centre line.

“I’m very proud of him – he’s 15 now and he seems to get hotter and fizzier as the years go by,” said Alex, adding that Don does not tend to enjoy “heat and hill’, and that he found the journey from the UK to Pratoni quite tough.

The eventing World Championships weren’t Alex’s plan A for 2022 – he had hoped to compete for China at the Asian Games this month, but the event was postponed due to Covid, and so the pair switched their focus to Pratoni.

“This may well be his last big one,” revealed Alex. “He’s getting to that stage in life and career, so we decided to bring him whether we were competitive or not. I think tomorrow will be relatively academic in terms of competitiveness – we’ll set off and try to have a nice round, to look after him and make sure he comes home safely.

“I’m happy to admit that he is quite a hard horse to deal with in life,” continued Alex. “He has quite a lot of quirks and he’s very much a horse that when the stars align and your educated guesswork and his management is good, then everything goes well. But if you don’t get one thing quite right, then the way he is as a person, he sort of punishes you for it at a competition. He has been a horse who suits championships, because you can work your way up to a big event and put everything in place.”

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

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

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

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

The team consists of:

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

The individual rider is Alina Dibowski with Barbados 26.

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

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

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

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

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

Tom McEwen spearheads Brits’ Aachen eventing win, plus protest over top of individual leaderboard

Pippa Roome — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 10:08:34 +0000

Triumph and heartbreak went in hand in hand for the British team as they topped last week’s Aachen eventing results (1-2 July), but the competition was marred by the loss of Ros Canter’s ride Allstar B, the reigning world champion who had to be put down after suffering an irreparable injury on the cross-country.

This is the second year in a row that Britain has won the SAP Cup, which has been dominated by the home side over the 15 years since eventing joined the competition schedule at this premier German show, after first being run at the venue for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Last year, the fixture ran later in the calendar, and with the Olympics and Europeans taking precedence for top pairs, nations were mostly fielding teams of less experienced horses or riders. But the Germans certainly fielded a strong quartet this year and it was all credit to the Brits that they led throughout the competition and won by nearly 30 marks.

Britain’s effort was led by double Olympic medallists Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser – owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Tom’s mother Ali – who finished third after adding just 6.4 time-faults to their third-placed dressage score. No one made the time over Rüdiger Schwarz‘s cross-country course.

After his Olympic success last year, Tom has had a tricky start to the season with a fall at Badminton Horse Trials with Toledo and neither of his rides finishing at the five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials last month, but he said he didn’t feel any extra pressure.

“The horses been going really well. Sometimes in life, you make mistakes and I’ve made a good few this year, but it’s all about learning and coming out the other side, so if I can learn and move on from that, then we’ll be better and better,” he said.

“I’ve loved everything about being at the world’s best show – it was absolutely rammed for cross-country today and Toledo was super-excited to be at a big show again. He was letting rip trying to jump everything as usual. I couldn’t be happier with him and our team result.”

William Fox-Pitt provided Britain’s second-best score in seventh with his own and Jennifer Dowling’s Little Fire, while Yasmin Ingham impressed on her Aachen debut by finishing 12th on Janette Chinn and Sue Davies’ Rehy DJ. Both William and Yasmin added only time-faults to their first-phase scores.

“Aachen is more than I ever expected it would be and it’s really good for me to build up mileage and come to this incredible show,” said Yasmin. “Everything rode as I wanted it to across country. It was extremely fast and intense out there and lots of the let-up fences were quite decent as well.”

Sarah Bullimore competed as Britain’s individual on home-bred European bronze medallist Corouet – owned by his rider, her husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate – and finished 22nd with one showjump down and a few seconds over the time, plus a steadier round across country.

Aachen eventing results confusion after protest

German superstar Michael Jung looked set to top the individual Aachen eventing results on Kentucky Three-Day Event winner FischerChipmunk FRH when he led from the start on a dressage of 22.2 and held a significant lead as he headed out across country.

He crossed the finish line with 1.2 time-faults and was announced as the winner, but as he was waiting for the press conference to start, news filtered through that there had been a protest over whether he should have been penalised for missing a flag at the right-handed brush corner at fence 14. The 15 penalties were eventually added to his score card and Michael dropped to eighth.

Michael was riding Chipmunk as an individual. His team ride Kilcandra Ocean Power finished down the leaderboard after having 20 penalties at fence 16d, but the Germans had to count his score as Ingrid Klimke had 40 jumping penalties on Equistros Siena Just Do It.

Their team-mate Sandra Auffarth took top honours individually with Viamant Du Matz. She commented that Viamant Du Matz has more “life experience” than last time he was in Aachen in 2019 and “understands every question” now – an ominous prospect for Germany’s rivals ahead of the eventing World Championships with it in mind that Sandra’s last win in Aachen was in 2014 with another chestnut, Opgun Louvo, and the pair went on to be world champions that autumn.

Andrew Hoy finished second as an individual on David and Paula Evans’ and his own Olympic bronze medallist Vassily De Lassos; Australia did not field a team. The pair put in the fastest cross-country round, finishing just one second over the optimum time.

“It’s an absolute privilege to ride a horse like Vassily,” said Andrew. “I’ve worked with him since 2017 and we’ve developed a very good relationship. There wasn’t once on the cross-country when I pressed the button and said, ‘Come on, you have to go.’ He’s a horse that can just run and jump and for me it was a very nice ride.”

Michael Jung sets new five-star record to win Kentucky Three-Day Event

Pippa Roome — Sun, 01 May 2022 21:01:55 +0000

Michael Jung set a new record score at five-star level when he finished on his dressage mark of 20.1 to top the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event results.

The German superstar jumped a fabulous clear round on FischerChipmunk FRH – who belongs to Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the Germany Olympic committee for equestrian sport – to finish 11.6 penalties ahead of Britain’s Yasmin Ingham.

“I’m really proud of FischerChipmunk, he’s an amazing horse,” said Michael. “I have to say thank you to my whole team, who’ve helped me train the horse, bring him to the top level and compete here.

“FischerChipmunk is super talented. He’s really nice to ride in the dressage, so powerful across country and scopey in the showjumping.”

Michael has now won Kentucky four times in total – as well as the 2010 World Championships at the venue – and said: “I’m so happy to have this horse to bring me back to Kentucky. It’s a special moment and it’s made so much better by having spectators here.”

Boyd Martin went into the showjumping in second place, but Tsetserleg TSF hit the third part of the treble at fence nine and the upright at fence 12. He could have held third with eight faults but he was also three seconds over the time and dropped to fourth, leaving Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, best of the home side in the Kentucky Three-Day Event results.

Buck Davidson took fifth on Carlevo – who also could have been third but for 1.2 time-faults – while Britain’s Pippa Funnell went clear to move up from ninth to sixth on SHE Eventing AB’s Maybach. Pippa was also 14th on Majas Hope, who had one fence down.

Sarah Bullimore finished 20th for Britain on Corouet, who just hit the front rail of the final oxer today.

Can Michael Jung set a new world record? German superstar on track for historic Kentucky victory

Pippa Roome — Sun, 01 May 2022 00:19:00 +0000

Michael Jung retains his lead after the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country and could set a new five-star record finishing score tomorrow if he showjumps clear.

The German multi-medal winner enjoyed a virtually foot-perfect round today over Derek di Grazia’s course, cruising in 11sec under the 11min 4sec optimum time.

It was a first five-star for FischerChipmunk FRH – who belongs to Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the Germany Olympic committee for equestrian sport – but the 14-year-old has plenty of experience, including European individual silver and team gold in 2019 and a top-10 finish at the Tokyo Olympics, where a broken frangible device put paid to individual gold hopes.

After his round today, Michael said: “Chipmunk was amazing. He was so powerful, galloping like a machine, jumping everything. It was 11 minutes of fun.

“I had a great rhythm and although I respected every fence because it was his first five-star, and took a bit of time at the last combination and in the last water, he’s fast enough on the gallop tracks that I could take that time at the fences.”

Michael also paid tribute to the Fischer Group for helping to keep the horse in Germany when it looked like he’d be sold abroad. Chipmunk was produced by Michael’s team-mate Julia Krajewski, who rode him at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, before Michael took over in 2019.

Michael sits on a score of 20.1, which, if he can stay on it tomorrow, would best Laura Collett’s score of 21.3 from Pau 2020 as the best ever five-star finishing score.

He has two fences in hand over second-placed Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg and only once since 2008 has a leader with such a margin not gone on to win at five-star.

“My fellow was a champ,” said Boyd after his fault-free round. “He’s not the fanciest or most talented horse, but he’s got a heart of gold. His best attribute is how hard he tries and across country he’ll do everything he can to please me.

“Last year I tipped him over right at end of course. It was my mistake – I felt I was home and hosed and all of a sudden I was looking up at stars. Today he was giving me a great trip, but I wanted to stay focused right to the finish.”

Britain’s Yasmin Ingham holds third on Banzai Du Loir.

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course analysis

Twenty-four of the 43 starters (55.8%) put in jumping clears, but there were only three clears in the time, which came from Michael, Boyd and Phillip Dutton, who moved up from equal 31st after dressage to seventh on Sea Of Clouds.

Two fences proved particularly influential, catching out five combinations apiece. The first of these was the Park Question at fence 7abc – the sort of fence which used to be described as a coffin – where horses jumped a set of rails, ran down a steep slope, popped a ditch and then powered back up to an angled hedge.

Jonelle Price was among those who fell foul of this combination, saying she knew this might be the “coffin of doom” for McClaren as he doesn’t like open ditches. She had 20 penalties at element b, but aside from that was pleased with McClaren, who finished with 13.2 time-penalties.

“It’s a step up from the five-star at Pau which he did last year and I wasn’t sure how genuine he’d be so I had to make sure of the fences, but he ticked a lot of boxes,” she said.

The last water, the Cosequin Cove (fence 23abc), also caused faults for five pairs. Here horses jumped a hedge into the water, then on exiting the pond made a sharp left-handed turn to two angled skinny brushes, which most tackled on a one-stride distance though a few horses chipped in two.

FischerChipmunk FRH’s ‘best test ever’ takes Kentucky dressage lead, plus Jonelle Price ‘gutted’ with her mark

Pippa Roome — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 18:46:12 +0000

Michael Jung has taken over the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage lead at the halfway point of the second day (29 April).

The German superstar and FischerChipmunk FRH scored 20.1 for a definitive 9.2-penalty margin over the rest of the field at this stage. The pair were awarded 13 nines between the three judges and Christian Steiner at B gave them a 10 for their final centreline.

FischerChipmunk FRH’s work was on a different level to anything else seen so far in the competition – the test was flowing, the horse’s outline uphill and Michael placed the flying changes with unhesitating accuracy. His only tiny error was a slight movement in the mid-test halt.

“I think that was the best test I’ve ever done on him,” said Michael of the 14-year-old horse who belongs to Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the Germany Olympic committee for equestrian sport.

“There were small things that were better than in Tokyo – I think he’s got more powerful and spectacular, but he’s also really relaxed so I can work him through the test.

“He can be a bit shy and nervous so you have to know how to work with him. I was worried about his reaction to the spectators, but we had great timing and everything worked out.”

Speaking about his decision to bring Chipmunk here for the horse’s five-star debut, Michael said: “I have great memories here and the horses always feel good here – they feel well in the stables and there are perfect conditions on the all-weather arena and the beautiful cross-country. That all helps for a horse’s first five-star.”

The pair start the competition as favourites, with data analytics experts EquiRatings giving them a 41% win chance in the pre-event predictions.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: Boyd Martin holds second

US Olympic combination Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF were the first pair to break the 30-barrier today when they scored 29.3, which currently puts them in second place. The Turner family’s horse showed some slight tension in his neck, but his work was otherwise pleasing.

“He has been a bit nervous, tight and edgy the past few days, but I rode him on the grass this morning and he took a breath, so I had a feeling we were in business,” said Boyd.

“It’s certainly more electric here with crowds and he perked up when he went round the ring. He likes crowds but there’s a point where he loses attention. In Tokyo, with no spectators, he felt a bit flat, but today he was about right.”

Last year’s Aachen winners Will Coleman and Off The Record now hold third (32.5) with overnight leaders Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal in fourth.

New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is fifth with David and Katherine Thomson’s McClaren on a score of 33.4.

“I’m pleased with him, but gutted with the mark – 62% from the judge at H is a bad test and it didn’t feel like a bad test, so I’ll need to go and take another look [on video],” she said.

“He can go a little wide behind but it felt like a solid test, a clear round with no blinding mistakes.”

Three British riders perform their tests in the final session this afternoon – Yasmin Ingham (Banzai Du Loir), Sarah Bullimore (Corouet) and Pippa Funnell (Maybach).

Pippa Funnell heads to the US, plus top dressage in Britain and 5 other events to follow this week

Polly Bryan — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 07:32:24 +0000

From Pippa Funnell in action at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event to top dressage names flocking to Keysoe, here’s what top-class sport you can look forward to this week in the equestrian world…

1. Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, USA

Dates: 28 April-1 May

More info: kentuckythreedayevent.com

How to watch: free on USEF network in North America or on Horse & Country elsewhere

Get the H&H lowdown: full coverage online, magazine report in 5 May issue and a review on episode 101 of our podcast (out 6 May)

Why we’re excited about it: it’s the first five-star of 2022 and a strong field will start, headed up by German superstar Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH, who will be the favourites. Britain has some live chances at Kentucky too, with Pippa Funnell fielding Maybach and Majas Hope, Sarah Bullimore bringing forward her European bronze medallist Corouet and young gun Yasmin Ingham riding the exciting Banzai Du Loir in his five-star debut. Can Sarah Bullimore, Yasmin Ingham or Pippa Funnell secure a British victory in Kentucky?

2. QIPCO Guineas Festival, Rowley Mile Racecourse, Suffolk

Dates: 29 April–1 May

More info: thejockeyclub.co.uk

Get the H&H lowdown: report in the magazine dated 5 May

Why we’re excited about it: The QIPCO Guineas Festival is all about world-class Flat racing and it features the first two Classics of the season – the 2,000 Guineas (Saturday) and 1,000 Guineas (Sunday). After the racing finishes on Saturday and Sunday, there will be a live DJ set from special guest Pat Sharp on the Saturday and Radio 1 DJ Chris Stark on the Sunday. Tickets start from £22.

3. Cirencester Horse Trials, Glos

Dates: 30 April-1 May

More info: British eventing schedule or event website

Get the H&H lowdown: report in the magazine dated 5 May

Why we’re excited about it: the Cirencester team have stepped in to host the fixture normally run at Withington. Traditionally, it’s the last chance to see riders in action before Badminton and although it’s too late for Badminton horses to be running, big-name riders in the advanced sections include Tom McEwen, Tim Price, Kitty King and Laura Collett. The Withington pony trial was always meaty, too, so expect to see the stars of tomorrow tested in that class.

4. Keysoe Premier League, Beds

Dates: 29 April-1 May

More info: keysoe.com

How to watch: live stream available via Horse & Country

Get the H&H lowdown: report in the magazine dated 5 May

Why we’re excited about it: Premier League season swings into gear with 2022’s second of these prestigious national shows. Expect top riders from around the country to be in action at Keysoe, with classes running from advanced medium up to grand prix, with highly-contested direct qualification to the National Dressage Championships up for grabs. Youth classes and young horse qualifiers complete the timetable.

5. BSPS Winter Championships, Arena UK, Lincs

Dates: 30 April-2 May

More info: bsps.com

Get the H&H lowdown: full report in the 12 May issue

Why we’re excited about it: Three days of showing action held at the fantastic venue of Arena UK. A host of top open ponies, from show ponies to mountain and moorlands, will contend for championship titles and 2022 RIHS tickets, while new faces will also compete in the selection of novice classes to ultimately contend for the coveted Winter Novice supreme held in Sunday’s evening performance. Other highlight classes include the Gold Cup show jumping, the Winter Worker Stakes championship and the Winter Restricted supreme.

6. Chepstow Spring CSI2*, Wales

Dates: 29 April-2 May

More info: theshowground.com/chepstowspringinternational

Get the H&H lowdown: report in the magazine dated 12 May

How to watch: available to watch on Clip My Horse TV

Why we’re excited about it: international horses and riders will flock to Wales for Chepstow’s first international show of the year. The four days feature international classes from 1.05m up to 1.40m, including a world rankings class.

7. Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening, Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos

Date: Friday 29 April (first race at 4.40pm)

More info: thejockeyclub.co.uk

Why we’re excited about it: the final fixture on Cheltenham’s 2021/22 season is the racecourse’s sole evening meeting each year. It is the Olympics of amateur Jump racing, where only amateur jockeys and trainers can run their horses. There are seven races on the card in total and Radio 1’s Greg James will also be performing after the last race. Tickets start from £8.

See the Kentucky cross-country times for the British competitors and other favourites

Pippa Roome — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:33:08 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times have been released ahead of the action on Saturday (30 April).

The CCI5* cross-country starts at 12.50pm local time (5.50pm British time) and the final rider is scheduled to start at 3.46pm local time (8.46pm British time).

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times for British riders

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’: 12.58pm local time (5.58pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 1.50pm local time (6.50pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 3.18pm local time (8.18pm British time)
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet: 3.34pm local time (8.34pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Maybach: 3.46pm local time (8.46pm British time)

Other riders to watch

Will Coleman and Dondante (USA): 12.50pm local time (5.50pm British time)
Doug Payne and Vandiver (USA): 12.54pm local time (5.54pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds (USA): 1.22pm local time (6.22pm British time)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF (USA): 2.26pm local time (7.26pm British time)
Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH (GER): 2.34pm local time (7.34pm British time)
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA): 2.38pm local time (7.38pm British time)
Jonelle Price and McClaren (NZL): 2.42pm local time (7.42pm British time)
Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo (USA): 2.46pm local time (7.46pm British time)
Will Coleman and Off The Record (USA): 2.50pm local time (7.50pm British time)

Full Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times

See all the times (cross-country times are listed to the right of the rider name)

When do the British riders do their dressage at Kentucky? Find out here

Pippa Roome — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:14:03 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times have been released for this week’s competition (28 April-1 May).

The flagship CCI5* dressage takes place in the afternoons on Thursday and Friday, starting at 1pm local time (6pm British time) on Thursday and 12.30pm (5.30pm British time) on Friday.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times for British riders

Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre’: 1.24pm local time on Thursday (6.24pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 3.56pm local time on Thursday (8.56pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 3.18pm local time on Friday (8.18pm British time)
Sarah Bullimore and Corouet: 3.50pm local time on Friday (8.50pm British time)
Pippa Funnell and Maybach: 4.14pm local time on Friday (9.14pm British time)

Other riders to watch

Will Coleman and Dondante (USA): 1pm local time on Thursday (6pm British time)
Doug Payne and Vandiver (USA): 1.16pm local time on Thursday (6.16pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds (USA): 2.28pm local time on Thursday (7.28pm British time)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF (USA): 12.54pm local time on Friday (5.54pm British time)
Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH (GER): 1.10pm local time on Friday (6.10pm British time)
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA): 1.18pm local time on Friday (6.18pm British time)
Jonelle Price and McClaren (NZL): 1.26pm local time on Friday (6.26pm British time)
Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo (USA): 1.50pm local time on Friday (6.50pm British time)
Will Coleman and Off The Record (USA): 1.58pm local time on Friday (6.58pm British time)

Full Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times

See all the times

A former winner, a 2021 European medallist and a rising star among British entries for Kentucky five-star

Pippa Roome — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:23:27 +0000

Four British riders are among the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event entries set to line up in this year’s competition (28 April-1 May).

The British riders span the range of experience. Pippa Funnell, who won Kentucky in 2003 on Primmore’s Pride, is entered with Marek Sebestak’s and her own Majas Hope and S.H.E. Eventing’s Maybach.

US-based British rider Leslie Law, the 2004 Olympic individual champion, comes forward with Tre’ Book’s Voltaire De Tre.

Yasmin Ingham is set to make her Kentucky debut on one of the most exciting young horses in eventing, Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s Banzai Du Loir. The Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L winner will be starting at five-star for the first time, although Yasmin has gained five-star experience in two starts at at Pau Horse Trials on other horses.

Finally, Sarah Bullimore is entered on her European individual bronze medallist Corouet, owned by Sarah and her husband Brett, plus the Kew Jumping Syndicate.

German superstar Michael Jung, a three-time Kentucky winner on FischerRocana FST, brings forward FischerChipmunk FRH – owned by Sabine and Klaus Fischer, Hilmer Meyer Kulenkampff and the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport.

This will be a hotly awaited five-star debut for a horse who has been a European individual silver medallist and who topped the list of the best event horses in the world at the end of last year according to data analytics company EquiRatings.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy will also make the journey from Europe for his Kentucky debut, riding Claire and Charlie Mayne, Annette O’Callaghan’s and his own Calmaro, who was 14th at Pau last year.

Among the home-side stars on the list are all three riders from the US Olympic team from Tokyo – Phillip Dutton (Sea Of Clouds), Doug Payne (Quantum Leap and Vandiver) and Boyd Martin, who will certainly be among the favourites when he starts on last year’s Maryland 5 Star winner On Cue, as well as Tsetserleg TSF.

A number of horses appear on the Kentucky Three-Day Event entries as well as on the Badminton Horse Trials entries, but they will only start at one of the events.

Pippa has Majas Hope on both lists, but she has three horses entered for Badminton and can only ride two, so it is likely Billy Walk On and MGH Grafton Street will go to Badminton and Majas Hope to Kentucky. Three US riders also each have a horse on both lists – Lauren Nicholson (Vermiculus), Tamie Smith (Mai Baum) and Will Faudree (Mama’s Magic Way) – as does Canada’s Karl Slezak (Fernhill Wishes).

Who are the best event horses in the world right now? And why the Olympic champion isn’t on this list…

Pippa Roome — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 16:24:56 +0000

Who do you consider to be the best event horses in the world?

Equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings has released a list of the best event horses in the world, according to their Elo last month. The Elo is a ranking methodology originally developed for chess and now used in a number of sports.

The EquiRatings Elo is based on the principle of horses starting with 300 points. Every time a horse finishes ahead of other horses in a competition, it takes points from the horses it beat. This means successful horses which are consistently beating good horses will grow their ranking, while those who generally finish down the placings will lose points.

The nature of the Elo system is that change in the rankings is gradual and a horse won’t shoot to the top of the rankings by winning one big competition. Neither the current Olympic champion Amande De B’Neville nor the European champion JL Dublin appear in the top 10 by Elo. Both are younger horses who have not yet had time to build a really strong Elo ranking. All the horses who appear in this top 10 are at least 13 years old and have been competing at CCI4*-L level since 2018 or earlier.

So, let’s check out the current best event horses in the world by Elo…

1. FischerChipmunk FRH (pictured above, Elo 884)

FischerChipmunk FRH, who has been ridden by German supremo Michael Jung since 2019, won four of his five international eventing runs last year and finished eighth at the Olympics, denied an individual gold by a broken frangible device on the cross-country. He is also the 2019 European individual silver medallist. He belongs to Klaus and Savine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff and the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport.

2. SAP Hale Bob OLD (Elo 852)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Now 18 years old, SAP Hale Bob OLD is the winner of six championship medals for Germany with his owner Ingrid Klimke, including two European individual golds. He has had huge success during his long career, including landing a five-star title at Pau Horse Trials in 2014.

3. Ballaghmor Class (Elo 843)

Oliver TownendBALLAGHMOR CLASS (Image credit: Amy Katherine Dragoo)

The highest rated British-ridden horse on the list, Oliver Townend’s mount Ballaghmor Class is an Olympic team gold medallist and a double five-star winner, having triumphed at Burghley Horse Trials in 2017 and Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2021. He has run six times at five-star and never been out of the top six. Ballaghmor Class belongs to Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan.

4. Toledo De Kerser (Elo 827)

Tom McEwen ( GBR) riding Toledo De Kerser during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Sea Forest Cross Country Course in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Another member of Britain’s gold medal-winning team from the Tokyo Olympics and also the individual silver medallist, Toledo De Kerser landed his first medal when he took a world team gold medal at Tryon 2018. His five-star successes include winning at Pau Horse Trials in 2019. He is owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Ali McEwen, mother of his rider Tom McEwen.

5. Vassily De Lassos (Elo 814)

Andrew Hoy ( AUS) riding Vassily De Lassos during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Owned by Paula and David Evans and his rider, Australia’s Andrew Hoy, Vassily De Lassos claimed individual bronze and team silver at the Tokyo Olympics, where he was the only horse to finish on his dressage score.

6. Classic Moet (Elo 791)

Jonelle PriceCLASSIC MOET (Image credit: Amy Katherine Dragoo)

The 2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner, Classic Moet has also finished in the top 10 at four other five-stars and was fourth individually at the 2014 World Championships. She is the top mare on this list and is owned by Trisha Rickards, Jacky Green and her rider, New Zealand’s Jonelle Price.

7. Balmoral Sensation (Elo 788)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Balmoral Sensation was retired in May 2021, but appears on this list by virtue of his performances up to that point. Ridden by Clarke Johnstone, he represented New Zealand at the 2016 Olympics, finishing sixth individually, and his 16 international career wins included the five-star at Adelaide in 2017.

8. Vanir Kamira (Elo 778)

VANIR KAMIRA Piggy French (Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Trevor Dickens’ five-star specialist won Badminton Horse Trials in 2019 with Piggy March and they have been in the top five at the top level on four other occasions, including most recently at the one-off five-star at Bicton Horse Trials in 2021.

9th equal. London 52 (Elo 774)

Tokyo , Japan - 1 August 2021; Laura Collett of Great Britain riding London 52 during the eventing cross country team and individual session at the Sea Forest Cross-Country Course during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) (Image credit: Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Laura Collett and London 52 won Pau five-star in 2020 and went on to be members of Britain’s gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics the following season. The horse belongs to Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and his rider.

9th equal. Virgil (Elo 774)

Shane Rose ( AUS) riding Virgil during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Another Tokyo Olympic medallist, but this time for Australia. Virgil was on the team that took silver and has been in the top 10 at five-star three times. He is ridden by Shane Rose and owned by Shane, his wife Niki and Michelle Hasibar.

Pictures by Peter Nixon, Amy Katherine Dragoo, Lucy Merrell, Corbis via Getty Images, Alamy Stock Photo and Sportsfile via Getty Images

Who would you rate as number one in a list of best event horses in the world? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com and we might print your views in a future issue of the magazine. Please include your nearest town and county.

Britain tightens grip on gold as Kitty King continues team riders’ fabulous run at eventing Euros

Martha Terry — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 13:27:56 +0000

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats put in another impressive British round at the European Eventing Championships cross-country track to bolster the team’s grip on the top prize.

Britain had already strengthened her gold medal hopes with flawless clears from the first two team riders, Piggy French and Nicola Wilson, who had held sixth and third respectively after dressage. Kitty’s fast clear, just two seconds outside the time, ensured that Britain have three scores in the bag ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping (26 September).

Kitty set out on a score of 24.1 on Vendredi Biats, a 12-year-old owned by Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker. This was the drop score for Britain at this stage, despite being in eighth place after dressage, signalling just how powerful Britain’s team is at this championships.

The grey was bold and brave, but nimble where he needed to be, such as when fiddling to shorten his big stride at the Flower Box arrowheads at fence 10ab.

“I got us in a bit of a hole at the double of arrowheads but he got me out and he was pretty much foot-perfect everywhere,” said Kitty. “I didn’t give him the best ride through so he had to bunny-hop over and that slowed us down a bit. I wanted to make sure I got the next few right, to give him confidence again. That’s cross-country, it’s never perfect and we have to help each other out, and hopefully I helped him in other places.”

Kitty was reserve for the Olympics and referred to the pressure to perform: “With all the build-up to Tokyo, I was desperate to deliver and show we are good enough. He felt absolutely fantastic.”

European Eventing Championships cross-country: Jung rides the wave

Germany’s second rider Michael Jung put his team’s challenge back on track after compatriot Andreas Dibowski was slower than he had hoped. Michael put a fall from Fischerwild Wave on their last international run behind him to complete this phase on his seventh-placed dressage of 23.9. It was economical and neat (despite the horse’s boots flapping), and they finished easing up 11 seconds inside the time.

“I’m very happy with Fischerwild Wave – he’s a young horse but he is amazing and has a lot of talent in all three disciplines,” said Michael. “Today in the cross-country he showed how light and easy he is galloping, he has super endurance and a lot of scope. He just needs a bit more experience for the bigger and tougher courses, but he’s really fast. He can be funny just at the start box, but when you start he is super.

“At the beginning [of this track] you have to go forward, but then I saw I was super inside the time so I took a long route at 24. He is a very big horse [17hh], very sensitive, with a lot of blood, but he is focused and calm, not stressed.”

France, third after dressage, needed a finishing score after Gwendolen Fer’s fall, albeit with their number one Jean-Lou Bigot completing inside the time. Their third rider Stanislas De Zuchowicz delivered when he piloted another nine-year-old, Covadys De Triaval, clear for 14 time-faults. This was another confident and impressive round from a young horse at championship level.

“After Gwen’s fall, I had to finish,” said Stanislas. “The game wasn’t to try and chase the Germans and the English, which might lead to making a mistake, but to prevent those behind us from catching up. So Thierry [Touzaint, team trainer] said, ‘if you pick up 15 faults, it’s not too serious’.

“I lost a bit of time at the start, at the coffin, he was looking into the ditch, but he jumped perfectly throughout,” he added. “I did have a huge slip on a tight turn [on the flat], and I knew I couldn’t have a fall. Maxime [Livio] will have to be the same even though he is in the running for an individual medal – it’s about getting a safe round for the team first and foremost.”

At this stage, after three team riders have completed, just five have gone round inside the time – three of whom are British (Piggy March, Izzy Taylor and Nicola Wilson.

‘He is an amazing young horse’: Michael Jung throws down his challenge at the Eventing Europeans

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:31 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung has gone into third place early on the second day of Eventing European Championships dressage in Avenches, Switzerland.

Riding the nine-year-old fischerWild Wave, Michael scored 23.9, which is .6 of a penalty behind second-placed Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent and three penalties behind current leaders, Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin.

Judges’ marks varied for Michael, with Christian Steiner, who is the judge at M, placing the combination in the lead on 79.05%, while Christin Landolt, who is the judge at E, placing them in sixth on 72.14%.

“I’m very happy about fischerWild Wave. He is an amazing young horse, but it’s very nice when you feel he’s getting better and better and better over the past few competitions and the last weeks,” said Michael after his Eventing European Championships dressage performance. “So I had a very positive feeling, and I’m absolutely happy about today.”

Michael says he is very excited about fischerWild Wave’s future.

“He’s a very smart horse – he has a lot of power and you maybe wouldn’t expect that when you see him, but he has a lot of thoroughbred and a lot of power inside. He’s a big galloping horse – he has a lot of energy, endurance, a lot of power for the jumping. I think is a really top horse for the big five-star classes.”

Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli, who was another to complete his test earlier this morning, has gone into ninth with Bolivar Gio Granno on 27.4%.

“I was very happy with our test,” Stefano said afterwards. “He was a little bit tense, but he is a young horse for this test and this year he has proved a lot and this was a good test for the team.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

European Eventing Championships: German team mixes youth and experience

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

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

‘It was fast and furious’: top riders share their thoughts on the Tokyo cross-country course

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 05:56:13 +0000

Today, the world’s top event riders and horses did battle in Tokyo for the Olympic eventing cross-country (1 August).

The leaderboard has undergone a shake up, but Great Britain lead the way in the team and individual competition, with Australia in team silver ahead of France in bronze.

Here, some of those competitors share their thoughts on how the track rode…

Olympic eventing cross-country: what riders thought of the track

Michael Jung

“The course was really nice to ride. The humidity was quite bad but much better than it was during the test event here [in 2019], so I think we were quite lucky with the weather today.”

Tim Price

“It was fast and furious with lots of big jumps just around the corner. It hit the horses in the face, which is why it was always a little bit of a risk for the younger horses, because even though you warmed up over some fences, you got out here and it sort of dawned on them this was cross-country day and not another training day – it was a pretty serious day at the office. With any difficult track you want to set out on course and give them a little moment or two at the beginning to find their rhythm, their breathing, their jump and their scope, but you had to keep squeezing from start to finish here with the shorter track of just seven minutes 45 seconds.”

Tom McEwen

“You could gallop and make up time down to fence 12 and use the hills in your favour there. The course rode amazingly and exactly how we thought it would. It was really nice to actually have a few open distances, but we thought we would be fine on three strides in the first water, but most people went on four, which was very interesting.”

Laura Collett

“It all just came up so quickly – you didn’t have a second to think really, which probably was a good thing. You just had to get on with it and get going. Everything came up as I walked and as we planned and that kept giving me the confidence at each combination. He just cruised the whole way and we knew from watching that we were going to be down on the optimum time in the first few minutes and then I opened him up and he just went.

“If you blinked, you missed it and it was over. There was no time to dwell on anything and you were at the next question before you knew it. On the bits that we thought was a bit of a galloping stretch, suddenly you were like, ‘Oh my God, the fence is there already’. But it all worked out really well – you just had to get on with it.”

Phillip Dutton

“It was hard work, spending a lot of time accelerating and then slowing down, but we knew that was coming so we had to get the horses fit and prepared for that.”

Boyd Martin

“The heat knocked my horse around, for sure. Like in Kentucky, when it’s cold and we’re in the spring weather, they feel fresher, and I felt like he was a bit winded by the second minute here, which is unusual. Initially I was hoping for a longer course because I thought it would suit my horses with a lot of stamina and endurance, but I’m glad it wasn’t as it would have been an ugly picture.”

‘He’s just the most phenomenal horse’: Andrew Hoy boosts Australia into team silver after Olympic cross-country

Becky Murray — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:28:26 +0000

The leaderboard faced a major shake-up in the final stages of the Olympic eventing cross-country, as big names like Andrew Hoy, Tim Price and Michael Jung influenced the order, with double Olympic champion Michael Jung clipping a frangible fence.

Australia’s highest placed rider after the dressage, Andrew Hoy, had a “really nice” ride in the Olympic eventing cross-country on Vassily De Lassos. The pair were stopped on the course due to Swiss rider Robin Godel falling with Jet Set, but Andrew went on to finish on his dressage score of 29.6, firing the combination into the top 10. Andrew, here competing at his eighth Games, produced Australia’s second clear round of the day, following Shane Rose’s clear earlier.

“He’s just the most phenomenal horse across country,” Andrew said of the 12-year-old Jaguar Mail son. “Right up until the time I was stopped it was really good. I ride him in the same bridle and bit in all three phases, and he’s so on the ball and focused.

“When I was stopped, the cooling system was absolutely excellent – until I got under the tent I could feel the temperature rising all the time. It’s a very good barometer for me as to what the horse is doing, when you are galloping you have wind on your face and body so you stay very cool. As soon as you stop you don’t have that wind and so your temperature rises.”

Olympic eventing cross-country: shocks and leaderboard shuffles

New Zealand’s Tim Price climbed a place into the individual fourth spot after jumping clear, but taking home 1.2 time penalties.

“It felt fast and furious with lots of big jumps just around the corner,” said Tim Price following his round with 11-year-old gelding Vitali.

“It just hits them in the face, which is why it was always a bit of a risk for a young horse because they come up the hill and even though you’ve warmed up over some fences it sort of dawns on them this is actually cross-country day – it’s not another training day – and it looks like a pretty serious day at the office.”

One of the biggest shocks of the day came when Germany’s Michael Jung, who sat in provisional individual gold with Chipmunk FRH on a dressage score of 21.1, picked up a frustrating 11 penalties after activating the frangible device at 14c, Lone Tree Moguls. He had an otherwise clear round inside the optimum time – but the penalty drops him to 10th place individually.

“I’m very happy about Chipmunk,” he said, adding he had not initially realised the safety device had been triggered. “As I galloped away from the fence I heard a sound and it was quite a surprise for me but everything else was really nice.”

Sarah Ennis and Woodcourt Garrison rounded off proceedings for Ireland with an expensive 37.6 penalties to add to their dressage score.

Sarah said she found it “tight” in the warm-up for the 12-year-old gelding ahead of her round.

“I’m not saying that’s an excuse. He’s just quite a buzzy horse. He headed out good, he jumped the first few really well,” she said, adding he became strong at the first water.

“He jumped well again but after fence 13 I thought he got a bit tired and he was getting longer and heavier. I was cantering up to the drop and I had it in my head I probably should go long but I was really struggling to turn him. We got to the top of the drop, and I kind of loosened his jaw and he came back to me, popped off, and he just locked the jaw and for all of my life I could not turn him. I would have had to be 20 stone heavier!”

Team Ireland finishes on a score of 161 for eighth place ahead of the showjumping, with Austin O’Connor producing the only clear on Colorado Blue.

6 things you need to know about today’s Olympic eventing dressage: from Michael Jung and his golden quest to the Brits on pole

Martha Terry — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 04:18:56 +0000

The Olympic eventing dressage phase of the competition in Tokyo is now complete. At the end of day two, here are six things you need to know about how today’s action unfolded…

Olympic eventing dressage news and results

Two-time Olympic champion Michael Jung took the lead for Germany at the Tokyo Olympics today (31 July). He posted a fabulous score of 21.1, riding Chipmunk FRH (pictured). Few would bet against him adding a third consecutive gold to his haul. But remember, the last dressage leader to hold onto their lead was back in Sydney, 21 years ago.

Hear what Michael had to say about his partnership with Chipmunk

Oliver Townend, the long-time leader, is still in touch of the lead. He holds the silver-medal position on Ballaghmor Class, just 2.5 penalties behind Michael Jung. Tom McEwen rode today and boosted the team’s chances with Britain’s third sub-30 test. Tom is lying 12th with Laura Collett sixth.

Hear Tom’s thoughts on finishing his test

The British team are still holding on to the gold spot as they head into cross-country, but Germany have moved up to second position. New Zealand are third and the hosts Japan in fourth.

Check out the team standings, and where the individual Brits are placed

Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy posted a sub-30 score with Vassily De Lassos. He was thrilled with what he believed was the “maximum he could have achieved”. This brilliant jumper now has it all to play for.

Find out why Andrew was so thrilled with his horse’s performance

Horse & Hound’s horse of the day is the feisty mare Quefira De L’Ormeau, who is competing at her second Olympics at the age of 17. Today was not her day in the dressage phase, but her longevity is remarkable.

Read about Arianna Schivo’s tough championship mare

Our rider of the day is the Thailand’s Korntawat Samran, also known as “Nut”, who produced a great score for his country.

Hear from Nut and his thoughts on his “cute horse”

Roll on the cross-country phase…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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The Horse & Hound Podcast: Daily Tokyo Special – episode five

Britain holds team gold and Oliver Townend individual silver at conclusion of Olympic eventing dressage

Pippa Roome — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 03:25:20 +0000

Britain tops the team standings in the Olympic eventing dressage results at the conclusion of the first phase today at the Tokyo Games.

Britain’s third rider, Tom McEwen, scored 28.9 – overall he was pleased with Toledo De Kerser, owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Tom’s mother Ali and he scored some strong marks in the trot and later canter work. But some lower marks in walk – the horse’s weakest pace – and a late first flying change and subsequently rushed second change pulled the marks down to 28.9.

“He’s been amazing, unreal in Tokyo, so it was a shame to get 28,” Tom explained. “I know he could have scored very low 20s, even into the teens on the right day.

“His changes are very good, very correct. I thought the preparation for them was good today, but it was a flop. They were probably too quiet, too polite.”

Tom sits in 12th individually. Britain other two riders performed yesterday – Laura Collett and London 52 now sit sixth place, while Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class slipped just one spot today to hold the individual silver at this stage.

Britain has a 2.1-penalty lead over Germany, who were pulled up the leaderboard from fifth overnight by a brilliant test from Michael Jung today. He took the lead individually on Chipmunk FRH, scoring 21.1, which puts him 2.5-penalties ahead of Oliver.

“I had a very good feeling with my horse in the weeks before this competition, which gives you confidence as a rider and makes you relax,” said Michael, who was also celebrating his birthday today. “We had a very good partnership today and everything worked like I wished it to, so I’m very happy with him.”

New Zealand now hold the team bronze in the Olympic eventing dressage results, a strong test from anchorman Tim Price and the 11-year-old Vitali, which scored 25.6 for individual fifth, helping them up the Olympic eventing dressage results.

“It was a little bit of a glimpse of what he’s capable of. I think when he’s an established advanced horse in the future, he’s going to be pretty special in the dressage department,” said Tim. “He just showed a little bit of his age and stage in a couple of little moments, but he’s a real trier, he kept coming back to me and executed pretty well.”

China’s Alex Hua Tian (Don Geniro) holds individual third, having done his test yesterday, and another Friday rider, Germany’s Julia Krajewski (Amande De B’Neville) is fourth.

Japan hold fourth, after a disappointing ride from third rider Yoshiaki Oiwa, who said he “wished I could have contributed more to the team” after scoring 31.5 for equal 21st with Calle 44.

Sweden now sit fifth after final rider Ludwig Svennerstal’s test today, while Australia are in sixth place, led by Andrew Hoy, who is 13th equal individually on Vassily De Lassos.

Michael Jung storms into Olympic eventing dressage lead: ‘We had a good partnership today’

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 02:57:18 +0000

Michael Jung has stormed into the lead for Germany in the Olympic eventing dressage in Tokyo today (31 July). Riding Chipmunk FRH, he posted an impressive score of 21.1 to sit 2.5 penalties clear of second-placed Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, who were long-time leaders for Britain.

“I had a very good feeling with my horse in the weeks before this competition, which gives you confidence as a rider and makes you relax,” Michael said after his test. “We had a very good partnership today and everything worked like I wished it to, so I’m very happy with him.”

Michael admitted that the Olympics being postponed for a year has worked in his favour.

“For me actually it was much better that I had one year more for the time to train with this horse and a long winter to work with him and to get more competitions in this year together. Everything is working much better this year than last year, so, for me it was perfect. We have worked every day together to get a good partnership, get information about each other one and try to find the best preparation for us.”

Tim Price takes fifth in Olympic eventing dressage

New Zealand’s Tim Price also impressed the judges during the final session of dressage. He scored 25.6 with Vitali to slot into fifth place.

“Today was a little bit of a glimpse of what he’s capable of,” Tim said after his test. “I think once he’s an established advanced horse in the future, he’s going to be pretty special.”

There were a few mistakes in Tim’s test, including on the first centre line.

“There were a couple of errors, which were just a little bit due to his age and stage in training, but he’s a real trier and he kept coming back to me,” Tim explained. “He just was over-trying and overthinking – we came into trot with a nice uphill transition and I was happy with that, then I put my leg on a little bit and he popped to canter, which is not like him – he knows the distinction in the aids pretty well usually.”

‘The best Olympics ever’: statistics predict high hopes for British eventers in Tokyo

Becky Murray — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 12:03:38 +0000

British event riders are predicted to take at least two individual medals at the Tokyo Games, although Michael Jung is predicted to win gold.

According to data analysis company Equiratings’s SAP Eventing Prediction Centre, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class have a 15% chance of taking individual gold, followed by Laura Collett and London 52, and Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser, both on 13%. But the Brits will need to fight off German rider and Michael Jung, who has taken individual eventing gold at the last two Olympics, on Fischerchipmunk FRH who have been predicted as having a 26% chance of winning.

The Equirating’s Eventing Prediction Centre is a statistical model using SAP predictive technology to forecast the results of major eventing competitions before and during the event. The model simulates events 10,000 times pre-competition and after each phase and updates its projected leaderboard and the estimated probability of victory, podium or top-10 finish for each combination, factoring in past performance at events and in the different phases.

The predictions suggest Michael Jung has a 48% chance of a top-three placing, Oliver 35%, Tom 34%, and Laura 29%. Michael has a 78% chance of a top-10 placing, while Tom has a 69%, Oliver 66%, and Laura 58%.

Other predictions state that US rider Phillip Dutton and Z has a five percent chance of taking individual gold, but a 60% chance of a top-10 finish. Kiwis Tim and Jonelle Price have a 29% and 36% chance of a top-10 with Vitali and Grovine De Reve respectively, and only a one percent chance of taking the gold medal.

Equiratings co-founder Diarmuid Byrne told H&H the company is “very proud” of the prediction centre model, which accurately forecast that Laura Collett and London 52 would win the CCI5*-L at Pau in 2020.

“The prediction centre is a complex model, which takes into account thousands of data points and looks at every single mark of every horse for many years, as well as the level of competition,” he said.

““The model also has a weighting towards the more recent runs, because doing a 21 dressage in your last run is more important than doing it 10 runs ago. It’s basic when you say it out loud but that’s what our scientists spend their time doing, they work out the importance of a weighting, and things like how many of these horses have done a five-star test before – those are the things we can control.”

Diarmuid added that the model cannot factor in things such as humidity, and the fact the competition is the Olympics.

Continued below…

(L-R) Oliver Townend, Piggy March, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen - Great Britain selected Equestrian Eventing athletes - Tokyo2020 (Image credit: BEF / Jon Stroud Media)

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“It’s going to have a lot of atmosphere, but also possibly not going to have any with no fans so there’s going to be huge nerves I’m sure from the riders, but maybe the horses will think it’s a two-star arena and no one’s watching them!” he said.

Equiratings will soon release its team predictions, and Diarmuid said teams having only three counting scores means fans can expect a different Games to any other.

“There’s no drop score now and every single mistake will count. I think it will be the best Olympics ever in terms of excitement even though none of us are there and we’re going to go on a massive rollercoaster,” he said.

To view the full predictions visit Equiratings.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

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

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

The team consists of:

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

Andreas Dibowski is the alternate rider, with FRH Corrida.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Michael Jung retires triple Kentucky and multiple medal-winning ride

Lucy Elder — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 09:43:03 +0000

Michael Jung has retired his triple Kentucky and multiple medal-winning mare FischerRocana FST after a stellar career.

The 16-year-old mare (Itunago XX x Carismo) is one of the world’s best event horses and will enjoy her retirement with her celebrity field companion, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

Michael has also indicated that motherhood is in the pipeline for his world team gold medal-winning ride.

He announced her retirement on Monday (12 April), adding she only went to a few small events in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with the hope things would be back to normal this year.

“She enjoyed a great winter break with Sam in the paddock and when we realised it wouldn’t be much different this year with the big classics [being impacted], I decided to take her out of the sport,” he said.

“Because what else can she prove?

“I think my little fighter has shown more than enough what she can do, and just for something three- or four-star, she doesn’t have to keep running.

“I’m very excited about her offspring and seeing her every day with Sam in the meadow.”

He added: “She is super fit and it’s time to get some foals from this amazing mare.”

FischerRocana secured her first medal as a six-year-old, winning the World Championship for young horses at Le Lion in 2011, and went on to take victory in eight further international events.

Her three back-to-back wins at Kentucky CCI4* (now CCI5*) in 2015, 2016 and 2017 are a stand-out statistic in a career that boasts so many highlights. She came within a fence of winning the US event for a fourth time in a row in 2018, finishing 2.8 penalties behind winners Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class.

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The mare’s first senior championship was the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy as a nine-year-old, where she jumped double clear to take individual silver and help Germany to its fourth consecutive team championship gold medal. The pair also won individual silver at the 2017 Europeans in Strzegom.

She has countless placings to her name, including second at Luhmühlen and Pau in 2014 and 2015 respectively, and represented Germany on many Nations Cup squads.

The pair led after dressage at Burghley 2015, but were unlucky to stumble and fall on the flat at the first water. Michael later found he had broken his ankle in the fall, a discovery he made only after he had gone on to win both that year’s Burghley title (La Biosthetique-Sam FBW) and the eventing Europeans team and individual gold medals (FischerTakinou) the following week.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.