News from Luhmühlen

Press Release, 7 March 2023

After successfully opening the gates to the public again last year, Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen is looking forward to preparing this year's event, which will take place from 15-18 June 2023.

Event director Julia Otto is excited about potential entries: “Obviously, it’s way too early to predict the rider’s plans this far in advance but quite a few riders have already made it clear that they’d like to come to the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials. Four German riders are expected to compete in the Longines CCI5*-L, lots of others will try to recommend themselves for the European Championships in Haras du Pin by successfully competing in the Meßmer Trophy / German Championships. We are also very pleased that several international Luhmühlen winners have announced their plans to travel to Luhmühlen again.”

Prize-money increase

The Longines CCI5*-L prize money will be increased from EUR 100,000 to EUR 125,000, complying with the new FEI requirements for the organisation of the highest category of eventing.
Julia Otto is grateful to the sponsors for making this adjustment possible: “Thanks to our reliable partners, Luhmühlen is able to take this big step and thus create further incentives for competing at Luhmühlen.”

Partners at Luhmühlen's side

In addition to Luhmühlen’s title partner Longines, Meßmer and Lotto Niedersachsen are reliably at Luhmühlen's side as main sponsors, complemented by Nord Pool GmbH, which will focus on presenting its new market segment photovoltaics this year. LVM Versicherungsagentur Bernd Bamberger has also extended its sponsorship.
“I’m thankful that we have also have succeeded in finding additional partners and are now supported by the established banking house C.L. Seeliger from Wolfenbüttel and two regional companies: Therapiestation für Pferde Hof Fehmbusch (Eyendorf) and Physiotherapie-SPORT-PHYSIO Egestorf.”

Cross-country changes

“The cross-country courses will be turned!” A short sentence with big consequences: Luhmühlen's course director Mike Etherington-Smith has decided to turn the direction of the cross-country courses again.
“It’s new and exciting, a great way to give variety and interest to the course. I don't want to give too much away, but all the waters have a different look this time. The Longines and Messmer waters have had all the revetting removed and the ground has been landscaped which gives more variety in the future. Changing the direction requires a complete review of the 'package' of the courses to get the balance and the flow and feel good whilst trying to come up with new ideas. The courses need to work together - designing one on its own is much more straightforward than having two courses which have to complement each other. The safety of horse and rider is at all times paramount - our number one priority - which is not only mirrored in the use of frangible devices (MIM systems) but directs all of our planning decisions”, explains Mike Etherington-Smith. This year, Kai-Steffen Meier is involved as assistant course-designer.

Show programme

Eventing is based on the trust between horses and riders. A fact that is reflected in this year's supporting programme.

On Thursday, some riders will make use of Luhmühlen’s set-up to train horses that are not entered but will profit from the experience. The riders and a judge will then comment the ride. On Friday, the Kids Cross-Country Fun will once again show that children and ponies are a perfect match.

On Saturday, LeMieux is going to present a show programme by Lisa Röckener, who impressively combines competing her horses with horsemanship: “I am so happy to be a part of this great event in Luhmühlen. I have evented for a long time and I still love it – so in my new show I’m linking eventing with horsemanship.”

On Sunday, Wildpark Lüneburger Heide’s falconers are going to present their fascinating birds with a bird flight show.

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Press Officer:

Dr. Friederike Stüvel

Phone: +49 171 5382900
Mail: media@luhmuehlen.de
TGL Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen mbH
Bruchweg 3 21376 Salzhausen OT Luhmühlen
Germany

About the event

Luhmühlen has been organising major eventing competitions for over 60 years - including six European Championships in 1975, 1979, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2019 and the World Equestrian Games in 1982.
The Luhmühlen Horse Trials are one of the world's largest eventing competitions and welcome top international riders and numerous visitors every year.

Michael Jung wins the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy with Highlighter and the German Championship. Silver went to Dirk Schrade, bronze to Sandra Auffarth. Michael Jung (GER) was the only rider to finish on his dressage score of 25.6 points. He could even have afforded a rail in the show-jumping phase without jeopardising his lead but Jung kept his cool and finished the competition with an excellent clear round: “I am overjoyed. Highlighter has come a long way. To win the German Championship title with him now means a lot to me. He has been going strong all season and I am so proud of him. He has done so well all week and wasn’t fazed by the enormous crowd at all. He’s so cool.”

The runners-up of the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy Dirk Schrade and Casino also had a great week. Schrade could not afford a single time fault, a fact he managed to ignore before he went into the ring: "Casino is simply a great jumper. I was a little worried that he would be impressed by the atmosphere because there were so many spectators on site but he jumped really well, and was absolutely focused on his job.”

Sandra Auffarth was also very pleased with her nine-year-old Rosveel, who was only competing in his second fourstar-season. “I am so happy. His dressage has improved significantly and I had the feeling that he wanted to show what he is made of this week. In the cross country, I can absolutely rely on him. He was fit as a fiddle yesterday and very full of himself in the vet inspection. In the show-jumping he was very attentive and wanted to do everything right. I think he was actually quite proud of himself.”

Colero gave his rider a tremendous birthday present - the first five-star victory of his career! Just like the cross-country course, the show-jumping of the Longines CCI5*-L proved to be very influential. Only the top two riders stayed clear and within the time allowed. With a very fresh and smooth round, Felix Vogg (SUI) and Colero held onto their dressage score of 29.0 points. Kirsty Chabert (GBR) and Jonelle Price (NZL) completed the podium. It was Felix Vogg’s week. He laid the foundation for today's win on Friday with a super dressage, which was rewarded with 29.0 points. Vogg and Colero then mastered the demanding cross-country and show-jumping courses clear within the time. The Swiss rider proved to have nerves of steel: “When I rode into the arena, I just focused on keeping calm and tried to blank out everything else. That took the pressure off me and also off the horse, which was important. Even with a pole, the result would have been a personal highlight. He can jump fantastically and he showed that today." In the award ceremony, the 32-year-old thanked everyone who contributed to his win: "Many thanks to the audience, the horse's breeders and the organisers. This victory is extraordinary for me!”

Kirsty Chabert was the only other rider to finish the Longines CCC5*-L on her dressage score - her biggest achievement so far: “Classic has been fantastic this whole week. She gave me a phenomenal round cross country and she’s a very, very good jumper. It’s a team effort and we go out of our way to keep her in her happy place and then she rewards us by going above and beyond.”

Jonelle Price’s week was off to a rocky start. “I was a little frustrated with our dressage result. Faerie is brilliant but also a right little madam. It’s her fourth time in Luhmühlen and she’s already seventeen, so you’d think she knows her job but the dressage was hard work, we had a few mistakes and during today’s prize giving I couldn’t help but think ‘what if…’. On the other hand, she gave me lovely rides in the crosscountry and show-jumping phases and she’s always trying to do the right thing. She’s an incredible nice little mare and deserved a podium finish. She’s also quite pretentious, so I’m sure she enjoyed the prize giving today and thinks she has won.”

In the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, Michael Jung (GER) and Highlighter are in the lead with 25.6 points after cross-country day. Jérôme Robiné (GER) with Black Ice (29.0) and Dirk Schrade (GER) with Casino (29.6) are currently in second and third place. Michael Jung was one of only three riders who managed to stay clear within the time allowed: "Highlighter did a great job. He is super fit and we were able to keep up our pace before and over the jumps, that’s how we stayed within the time, which was quite difficult today. He’s so fit that the heat didn’t get to him at all. The cross-country course was super, the ground was really well prepared.”

With another fast round and only two added time faults, Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice worked their way up the leaderboard into second place: "The last competitions went very well for us but I still wouldn’t have expected to be in second place after the cross-country. The course was quite intense with a lot of questions and I had to make sure to keep him balanced. Now I’m obviously very pleased."

Dirk Schrade and Casino only added 3.2 points to their dressage score and are currently in third place: "Casino went so well. We had a small misunderstanding at the last show, so I didn’t take any chances today and perhaps put a little too much pressure on him, so the round wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. The temperatures didn’t bother him at all, though. He was fresh right till the finish line."

Due to a fast and clear round, Switzerland's Felix Vogg will go into tomorrow's final jumping competition with his dressage score of 29.0 points. With 29.1 points, Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali are hot on his heels in second place. Followed by Oliver Townend and Dreamliner with 29.6 points. Mike Etherington-Smith's demanding crosscountry course shook up the leaderboard. In total, nine horse-rider combinations managed to stay clear and within the time allowed. Felix Vogg, was over the moon after his round: “He went really well. He’s not a thoroughbred so he sometimes needs to be reminded that we need to keep going. He listened to me all the way round and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort. My goal for the season was to be among the top five here in Luhmühlen – and now I’d obviously really like to win."

Tim Price was also full of praise for his horse's round: “Vitali was super. He’s so talented and even though he does notice the crowd and can be a little impressed by the atmosphere, he’s still focused on the questions and always alert and attentive, which is exactly what I’m looking for in a horse.” The 12-year-old Holsteiner is competing at five-star level for the first time, so Price didn’t rush him: “He’s a first-timer so that’s where the time faults come because it’s my policy to start them in a way that they can find themselves at the bigger fences and questions. At this stage of the career I’ll happily accept a few seconds over the maximum time. He’s highly strung but he settled really well when we started and tried really hard all the way around.”

Oliver Townend and Dreamliner had the the fastest cross-country round of the day (10:48) and completed the podium ahead of the final day: "Dreamliner is maybe not the most athletic horse, but has a really great attitude, he’s so genuine and always wants to stay inside the flags. I’m so fortunate to be riding him.”

Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus are currently in second place (26.7) closely followed by Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali (27.1). The value of Bubby Upton's dressage score became apparent at the end of the second dressage day. None of the other competitors were able to overtrump yesterday's performance. Tim Price (NZL) and his 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Vitali are now in third place: “I’m happy with our test. He was a bit of a juvenile last year and it’s been all about building him to a five-star horse that knows the job. He’s very special and he’s in good shape. He can be a little neurotic and over the top, so it’s important to keep him relaxed and with me, then he’s s a super cool horse, so talented.” The only German five-star competitor, Sophie Leube is currently in seventh place of the Longines CCI5*-L with her horse J'adore Moi ( 30.6): "My horse felt great. She was super focused and with me the whole time." Tom McEwen (GBR) and Braveheart B will be the first competitors to tackle Mike-Etherington Smith's 6,270m cross-country course tomorrow morning at 9.30am.

Thoughts about the cross-country course

Sophie Leube: "The tasks are all clear to see and we have a plan. I have to pay particular attention to the first water. That comes relatively early and I have to make sure I have her well with me beforehand because she's often a bit more brisk at the start."

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp: “I think the course will suit my horse well, that's why I brought him here to Luhmühlen. I always thought this horse is a Luhmühlen horse. It is a challenging course, a true five-star with challenging questions right until the end. But this is his third fiver star and I’m hoping for a good round.”

Tim Price: “The course requires stamina. The jumps and questions are obvious with a proper five-star stamp. It requires concentration and focused riding.”

With an expressive dressage performance, William Coleman and Chin Tonic HS takes the lead with a score of just 24.6 points. The two German riders Michael Jung with Highlighter (25.6) and Dirk Schrade with Casino (26.4) are currently in second and third place respectively. The second dressage day of the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy promised exciting sport. William Coleman succeeded best in convincing the jury with his 10-year-old Holsteiner Chin Tonic HS. The audience agreed and celebrated Coleman with thunderous applause. Coleman was very pleased with the result: "My horse went in the ring and gave me a really honest effort. He’s still a little green and can be affected by the atmosphere. That’s why we brought him here, it’s all part of the education. He was very attentive and kept listening that way he was able to show his quality.” Multi-champion Michael Jung once again managed to secure an excellent starting position before cross-country day. He is close on Coleman's heels by just one point: "That was not our best dressage but I am still very happy. My horse is getting better and better overall, so I am still pleased with our test. I set myself a target of 25 points and we just about managed that." The dressage podium of the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy was completed by Dirk Schrade and Casino: "Casino was super. I could have ridden a bit more correctly in the arena. My horse usually keeps his nerve but he surprised me once in Avenches last year. Today I was fortunately able to use his energy to our advantage." Currently in third place in the German Championships, which are held as part of the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, is local up-and coming rider Alina Dibowski with Barbados. The CCI4*-S cross-country will start tomorrow at 1.06 pm with pathfinder William Coleman and his Irish horse Off The Record.

Thoughts about the cross-country course:

William Coleman: “It looks great. There are some intense but fair questions. My horse is very brave and honest but still a bit inexperienced, so he can be a bit spooky at times. The atmosphere here with all the spectators might be the biggest challenge for him.”

Nicolai Aldinger: "It’s a super nice course. In my opinion the spectators might be challenging for a lot of horses.” Dirk Schrade: “I think it’s is a very nice course: the questions are clear and fair.”

Michael Jung: "It’s very nicely built. You obviously have to be on your guard. The narrow jump at the second water requires a lot of focus. But it was similar last year and I think everyone will be concentrated there so as not to risk a run-out.”

A brilliant dressage test put British rider Bubby Upton with Cannavaro in the lead (24.9). Currently in second and third place are Lauren Nicholson (USA) with Vermiculus and Lea Siegl (AUT) with Cupido (30.8). The 23-year old British rider was over the moon with Cannavaro’s performance: “I’m so proud of him, he has struggled so much with the dressage but he has the biggest heart and tries ever so hard. He is the gift that keeps on giving.” At the end of the first dressage day the women were a step ahead. Up until the last two riders went into the ring, Tim Price was still in third place. Lauren Nicholson and Kirsty Chabert (GBR) with Classic VI (31.1) pushed him down the leader board. Nevertheless, Tim Price (NZL) was full of praise for his horse Spartaco: “He’s so cool. I’ve always believed in him and he’s really coming out of his shell. In the dressage, he has learnt to stay with me. Jonelle and I believe in him and we’ve wanted to get him to five-star level. So, I hope we can demonstrate what a good horse he is this weekend.”

Thoughts about the cross-country course:

Tom McEwen: “I think the course is pretty intense but all the questions are more than jumpable. It’s not just the fences, you’ve got to look for the smoothest line. I really like to be pathfinder”

Tim Price: “I really like the course. The questions are obvious. The waters always require good intuitive and reactive riding. And it’s a five-star so you’ve got to focus all the way round and make sure your horse is with you all the way.”

Bubby Upton: “It looks like a really god track. It’s my first time here so it’s really exciting. Everything looks beautiful. I’m really excited to go out there and give it a crack.”

Chris Bartle: “It’s a true five-star. The course is beautifully built and presented with classic cross-country lines and questions.”