The German rider was a potential individual medal contender with Samourai Du Thot, the horse with whom she won the CCI4* (now CCI5*) at Luhmühlen in 2017. The pair have won seven of their past eight starts — withdrawing after dressage on the other one — but “Sam” was withdrawn from Aachen last month with a bruised foot and has not recovered in time to contest the Europeans.
Despite this, Germany puts forward a strong squad for the event. As host nation, they have the opportunity to field eight individuals rather than the usual two, and so have named a 12-strong squad. They have not yet confirmed which combinations will contest the team competition.
Germany won the team gold last time the European Championships were held at Luhmühlen, in 2011, and followed up with victory at the 2013 European Championships in Malmö, Sweden and in 2015 at Blair Castle, Scotland. In 2017, Britain won the team gold in Strzegom, Poland.
Germany also achieved a clean sweep of the individual medals in 2011, with gold going to Michael Jung (La Biosthetique-Sam FBW), silver to Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo) and bronze to Frank Ostholt (Little Paint).
Full preview of the showjumping, dressage and para European Championships in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 15 August) and full preview of the eventing European Championships in the magazine the week after (dated 22 August).
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
