Overnight leader Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS (GER) kick Sunday off with a wink and a smile. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Twenty-five of 25 horses passed the Sunday morning inspection here in Germany, many of them looking quite spry after yesterday’s taxing effort.
It never ceases to amaze me how these elite equine athletes can be so poised in the dressage ring, one-track-minded on cross-country and unflappable amidst the sound and color of show jumping, yet the task of jogging politely down a strip of asphalt seems emotionally too much to bear.
Coral Keen and Wellshead Fare Opposition (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The North American contingent, at least, kept it together. Ever the consummate professional, Clark Montgomery’s Loughan Glen looked loose, limber and feeling the chill vibes after his clear run yesterday. If you’d just prick your ears for a moment, Glen, I could get a decent photo of you! For such a handsome horse, you’re never going to make it as a supermodel.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (USA). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Take a hint from Rupert.
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (CAN). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Stunning.
Michael Jung jogged in jeans on Wednesday but was in his Sunday best today. Now there’s a guy who cleans up well. And as long as I’ve got my suit and tie / Imma leave it all on the floor tonight…
Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Nice suspension, too, although not quite as impressive as Ludwig Svennerstal.
Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Julien Despontin was bringing sexy back in his sweet shades.
Julien Despontin and Waldano 36 (BEL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
No sunglasses for Toddy, who seemed to have a little twinkle in his eye this morning.
Mark Todd and NZB Campino (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The best of the rest:
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- Dirke Schrade and Hop and Skip (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Coral Keen and Wellshead Fare Opposition (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Claas Herman Romeike (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Christopher Burton and Graf Liberty (AUS). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Blyth Tait and Xanthus III (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon (GER). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Willa Newton and Newmarket Vasco One (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Tim Price and Bango. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Nicklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3 at Luhmühlen 2015. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Nicky Roncoroni and Stonedge (GBR). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Tim O’Toole and Greenfort Endeavor (IRE). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
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- Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo (NZL). Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Go get ’em, guys. Show jumping starts at 11:15 a.m. CEST, a bright-and-early 5:15 a.m. for those of you on ET. Sally, a true Eventing Nation hero who definitely deserves a raise, will be live blogging from the FEI live stream while I’m doing the business ringside.
What’s about to go down out there? No telling. There’s very little room to breath between the top scores, with just a 10th of a point separating first placed Ingrid Klimke and second placed Jonelle Price. The leaderboard heading into show jumping.
Yesterday Ingrid sounded confident that the momentum from her stellar cross-country round would carry over into show jumping today: “Escada is a good jumper and she has been great in training. My trainer Kurt Gravemeier promised he would come down here for the show jumping providing I was in the top three. I told him to fill up his car!”
Perhaps she was trying to tell us something with that winky face.
Stay tuned. Go Eventing!
Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entry List] [Schedule] [Leaderboard]
