‘Zero to hero in less than a second’: strong British contingent impress in first phase at Luhmühlen
Fiona Kashel riding WSF Carthago in the dressage phase at Luhmühlen Horse Trials.
(Image credit: Libby Law Photography)
British riders are in strong positions ahead of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country after impressing in the first phase.
Overnight leaders Bubby Upton and Cannavaro, owned by Rachel Upton, head the overall dressage results at Luhmühlen Horse Trials, with a strong continent of Brits within touching distance of the top spots.
“The canter was good, the trot he made me carry him a bit too much today, but he’s a big horse in the heat. I gave him about a 10-minute warm-up, that might have been eight minutes too much,” said Oliver.
“He is very easy in the cold rain at Lincoln with the wind up his backside. When it’s warm and still, he is a big horse and obviously it affects them more.
“We are where we are. I was happy enough, it’s what we expected and onto tomorrow – I’ve had a lot of luck out of sixth position.”
Fiona has played the long-game with this sparky Irish Sport Horse gelding, putting him on the lorry to experience the atmosphere of big events as a young horse.
“He is a really talented horse, but he needs managing. He’s got a switch that goes from zero to hero in less than a second,” said Fiona.
“He is very good on the flat. He’s really come on and he’s just got so much strength. Being at three days suits him, because he is so rideable here.”
“He was really good, I probably did five minutes too much in the warm-up, so I’m kicking myself for that really,” said Tom. “He probably hasn’t had an experience like that since Le Lion with Tappers [Paul Tapner] when he was six. Even though he is super chilled, he gets a bit nervous in there. But he stuck at it the whole way through and tried his best.”
Badminton re-routers Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI, owned by Carol Sommers and John Johnston, are in 11th on 31.1, while Kylie Roddy and the Fox family’s SRS Kan Do are in 12th on 31.4.
“He actually felt better than he was at Badminton, I just missed the first change and at this level it becomes a bit expensive, doesn’t it?” said Kylie.
“His superpower is that he is a very rideable horse. Sometimes he lacks sparkle in the arena because of that. With the heat today, maybe that bit of him was turned down a bit, but I can’t take away from what he gave me in there.”
Kylie has worked with her farrier to try a new shoeing approach with “George”, after losing a shoe at Badminton and then another at Little Downham, which will be put to the test on Saturday.
“He’s a great big gallopy horse, who can turn into a quad-bike. Normally you get the little pocket-rockets that are good at this, then you get the great big scopey gallopers who are good at the other bit. Somehow, he manages to juggle both of these balls.”
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