European Showjumping Championships: Marcus Ehning’s late call-up

Marcus Ehning and Stargold riding at the European Showjumping Championships — Ehning Marcus, GER, Stargold European Championship Riesenbeck 2021 © Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans 01/09/2021

(Image credit: Dirk Caremans)

The legendary Marcus Ehning stepped in to ride for the German team at the European Showjumping Championships at the 11th hour after a team-mate’s horse was ruled out.

The 47-year-old, who has been on the gold medal-winning team at five senior championships, was brought in when Maurice Tebbel’s ride Don Diarado was pulled out with a suspected hoof abscess.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

Showjumping legend in last-minute European Championships call-up after horse pulled out

Marcus and his own and Elm Rock BV’s 10-year-old stallion Stargold crossed the finish line in today’s speed class in a superb 72.32 seconds, which would have been good enough for second place had two poles not fallen, Stargold showing his spirit and enthusiasm in some exuberant bucks en route.

“We’ve got a good team and good team spirit; we’re working well together and we’ll see where this week leads us.”

“I have to try to concentrate on myself,” Marcus added. “On the one hand, you already want to ride, sure. But when it happens like this, it’s not so nice in the end.”

Marcus also finished in ninth place in today’s CSI3* competition, a qualifier for Saturday’s (4 September) three-star grand prix, on Comme Il Faut. The 16-year-old stallion was his partner on the silver medal-winning German team at the 2019 European Showjumping Championships.

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