Classic Eventing Nation

Photo by Thomas Ix, courtesy of Luhmühlen.

We’re into the second and final day of dressage at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, where we’ll see the final bunch of CCI5* riders this afternoon (if you’re in Germany) to close out the first phase of competition. This morning, we saw Great Britain’s Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden (also former 5* winners here) take the CCI4*-S lead on a score of 24.8. You can watch their test on the Horse & Country replay here.

Leading after yesterday’s competition in the 5* are Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street on a score of 23.1. Will anyone topple them from the top of the leaderboard – we’ll have to wait and see!

[Click here to catch up on scores]
[Click here to watch the H&C+ live stream]

We’ll be kicking off with the first competitor – Great Britain’s Will Rawlin and The Partner – at 1:45pm local time – that’s 7:45am EDT / 12:45pm.

If you’re following the US contingent, the first from the American camp today will be Tamie Smith with Solaguayre California at 8:52am EDT / 1:52pm BST. They’re the last combination before the coffee break.

Other Americans going today are Matthew Flynn and Wizzerd at 9:30am EDT / 2:30pm BST, and Boyd Martin will be closing the two days of dressage with Luke 140 at 10:42am EDT / 3:42pm BST.

In this session we have the World Champion, Great Britain’s Yaz Ingham, who comes forward with Rehy DJ at 9:37am EDT / 2:37 BST; Olympic team gold medal and Badminton 2022 winners Laura Collett and London 52 go at 10:07am EDT / 3:07pm BST, and last year’s Luhmuhlen champs Felix Vogg and Colero will be getting their 2023 campaign underway at 10am EST / 3pm BST.

Wow! What a dressage day we have in store for us!

Who will be leading the field as we go into cross country tomorrow? We can’t wait to see! Keep this live thread bookmarked and refreshed, and watch this space!

Want to follow along with the form of all the horses and riders cantering down the center line for the 5* this afternoon? Check out EN’s Form Guide for all the inside info and keep it locked onto EN for all the news from lovely Luhmuhlen – you’ll find all our coverage here. Don’t forget to follow @goeventing to see what Tilly’s sharing from Germany!

Looking for the live stream? You can watch live on Horse & Country all weekend with your H&C+ subscription (you can save 15% off the cost of an annual subscription with code EVENTINGNATION15) or a one-time Luhmühlen-only pass. Click here to see our How to Watch guide, complete with links to the live stream.

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EN’s coverage of Longines Luhmühlen is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

10:30 And that’s a wrap!

That brings us to the end of the 5* dressage at Luhmuhlen Horse Trials. What a day! What a two days! Wow!

It’s a British 1, 2, 3 on the leaderboard going into the cross country.
In the lead is Laura Collett with London 52 on 20.3.
Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street are second on 23.1.
Kitty King and Vendredi Biats are third on 26.8.

The best of the Americans is Boyd Martin with Luke 140 – they’re in 9th on 30.1

Will they stay there? How much shuffling will take place? It’s all to play for at Luhmuhlen!

Thanks to everyone who’s followed along – it’s been a blast!

If you’re reading this after the event, scroll to the bottom and read up!

We’ll be back with live updates from the cross country tomorrow at around 9:15am local time – that’s 3:15am EDT / 8:15am BST. Keep it locked onto EN for the full dressage report – coming soon!

Go eventing!

10:27 Boyd Martin and Luke 140 score 30.6.

10:26 There’s been a lot to like in this test. There’s a good pat for Luke who looks pleased with himself. A clear round.

10:25 Luke’s showing off a lovely big canter in the extended and Boyd rides forward bravely. The changes are clean. It’s so impressive how they’ve managed to put the couple of little blips firmly behind them very quickly.

10:24 Luke’s very vocal at the beginning of the walk work – perhaps he spotted his mate Thomas. He walks on nicely after that though – a bit of tension but not too much.

10:23 Oh dear, there’s a break in the trot but Boyd gets Luke back quickly and they continue as though nothing happened – very professional.

10:22 We’re expecting sub-30 in this phase…

10:21 And finally, last but most certainly not least, we have the USA’s Boyd Martin and Luke 140 wrapping up the dressage phase.

Hot form! 🌶️ Boyd won the 2*-L, 3*-L and 4*-S at Bromont a couple weeks ago!

‘Luke’ has been to Luhmuhlen before – in the 1* with Malin Peterson in 2018. He was 2nd that year, completing on a very impressive 25.9.

5* first timer! Luke, not Boyd…!

10:20 Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs score 31.7.

10:19 Oliver’s done a great job recovering from the problems in the walk. The canter is much better and the final halt is square.

10:18 Things look more settled now they’re cantering. Oliver’s brave in the canter across the diagonal and the following change is clean.

10:17 There’s some tension going on today for Swallow Springs. A brief halt at C and a hurried rein back. The excitement’s really coming out in the walk. Oliver will be glad to get into canter.

10:16 Ooo, Swallow Springs shuffles off the center line in the halt. He’s off into his trot work now though and looking to be listening to Oliver and producing some lovely movement.

10:15 Swallow Springs has pulled out some very smart dressage tests. Regularly in the low 20s – they scored 23.2 at Badminton in this phase – this could be one fighting for a place at the top of the leaderboard.

10:14 Our penultimate combination is Great Britain’s Oliver Townend with the former Andrew Nicholson ride Swallow Springs.

Swallow Springs has been 5th (with Andrew Nicholson) and 3rd (with Oliver) at 5* – will he improve on that in Luhmuhlen?

Family connection – Oliver’s Dad also competed in eventing.

10:13 And it’s into the lead for Laura Collett and London 52 with a score of 20.3!

10:12 A great test and a huge cheer from the crowd. Laura’s delighted.

10:11 A brave extended canter and Dan very clearly comes back and delivers a brilliant change. This is truly lovely to watch – so expressive and accurate. They create a very happy picture of a horse and rider working together as one.

10:10 They’re trending sub-20.

10:09 That’s got to be a great score for the extended. Another square halt at C and a very accurate rein back. The walk is nice but Dan could take his neck out a little – Laura’s encouraging him and he’s listening.

10:08 Of course Dan starts with a beautiful square halt. He’s flicking his toes in the trot and they’re creating a lovely picture.

10:07 They won the 4*-S at Bicton a couple of weeks ago with a 19.8 in the first phase. They posted a 19.3 in the dressage at the World Championships in Pratoni. Will it be sub-20 today? All eyes on Laura and London!

10:06 Olympic team gold medalist, Great Britain’s Laura Collett comes forward next with Badminton 2022 winner London 52.

Royal approval! 👑 Laura was awarded an MBE from the Queen of England for her services to equestrianism.

In the barn… London 52 is known as ‘Dan’.

Laura was unable to defend her Badminton title when Dan picked up a slight injury in the lead-up so we’re super happy to see him here at Luhmuhlen.

Tough cookie! 🍪 In 2013 Laura had a terrible fall which left her in a coma for a week and caused her to lose the sight in one eye. 7 weeks later she won her first class back.

10:05 Felix Vogg and Colero score 33.3.

10:04 So many positives and highlights but quite a few wobbles today. Colero jogs off after the halt. He’s clearly very fit and excited for the competition.

10:02 There’s a lot of wriggle going on in the walk. Felix is brave in the canter across the diagonal but pays for it in the corner. Colero’s very perky today. There are beautiful movements but you can feel the bubbling excitement underneath.

10:01 Colero clearly knows he’s a good looking lad – he’s totally showing off. There’s definitely some fizzle going on, but Felix is doing a great job of keeping it under wraps. Lots of expression in the extended but a bit of a tense moment in the rein back. Colero’s fit and ready to run cross country.

10:00 Colero is a truly beautiful horse – so impressive and expressive – a total joy to watch.

9:59 Colero is very capable of pulling out a competitive score in this first phase. Last year, they finished on their dressage of 29 to win, but they’ve scored as low as 21.7 at 3* and posted 24.2 at Pau last year.

9:58 Next, for Switzerland, it’s Olympian and last year’s winners Felix Vogg and Colero.

Top class treat! This pairing have competed at the World Championships and the Olympics.

Felix was actually born in Germany. His main mentor is Michael Jung, but he also works closely with Bettina Hoy on his dressage – so we’ll be watching for some of that German brilliance shining through in this phase.

Hot form! 🥇 Felix and Colero won here last year – on Felix’s birthday 🎂 – will they hold onto their title?

9:57 Jerome Robine and Black Ice score 30.1.

9:56 The start of this test was truly lovely, but things got a bit tense in the middle. Black Ice settles towards the end though and they end in a square halt. Jerome really rode well. There’s a big cheer from his home crowd.

9:55 A very positive ride in the medium canter results in a bit of bother in the corner. Black Ice is a little lit up but Jerome pushes for the extended canter and they get the change this time.

9:53 There’s a lot of expression in the extended and medium trot. He’s very secure in the halt at C. There’s a bit of a break in the rhythm of the walk but Black Ice looks relaxed enough until he starts anticipating the canter transition.

9:52 Black Ice and Jerome look very smart as they canter up the center line. They’re very positive and punchy in the early trot work.

9:51 We’re looking at a mid to high-20s score here – add to that the fact that, with Jerome, the gelding’s never had a cross country jumping penalty and this could be one to watch.

9:50 Now we have German rider Jerome Robine with Black Ice.

Rookie alert! It’s a first-time 5* for both Jerome and Black Ice.

They came to Luhmuhlen for the 4*-S (The German National Championship) last year and finished 5th, winning the U25 title. 🥇

9:49 Cedric Lyard and Unum de’Or score 35.

9:48 There’s not a whole lot of stretch in the canter circle, but everything’s accurate. Overall not the most expressive test, but very clean and safe on the whole.

9:47 The canter’s a bit conservative but Cedric’s being very clever in his riding – both changes have been very clean.

9:46 The halt at C is brief and the rein back is a bit wobbly. There’s a spook in the corner. Cedric’s working hard to encourage the gelding to relax in the walk.

9:45 Unum de’Or’s trotting out nicely and everything looks balanced and strong. He’s a lovely big rangy horse.

9:44 They’ve been as low as 31.6 at 5* – that came at Pau in 2021, the horse’s first time at the level. It was a 33.6 at Burghley last year. What will it be at Luhmuhlen?

9:43 It’s the turn of French rider Cedric Lyard next, riding Unum de’Or.

Medal alert! Cedric won a team silver medal at the World Championships in 2002 and was part of the Olympic gold medal winning French team in 2004. 🥇🥈

In another life… Cedric would love to have been a rock and roll singer! 🧑‍🎤🤘🎸 Will he be on song here today?

9:42 Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ score 27.5 and go into 3rd.

9:41 They finish up with a lovely square halt and Piglet gets a big pat from Yaz.

9:40 Piglet anticipates the canter a bit but he settles once he gets going. Yaz is riding really positively and accurately – her bravery is impressive.

9:39 A square halt but then they lost the diagonal pairs a bit in the rein back. The walk’s nice and Piglet’s showing a good overtrack.

9:38 Piglet is looking absolutely beautiful. What a lovely partnership this pair have – they create a very pleasing picture.

9:37 Generally this pair are mid-20s to low-30s in this phase. They scored 28.7 at Pau in 2020, the gelding’s only other 5* run. They’ve been as low as 23.7 at 4*.

9:36 World Champion Yasmin Ingham will be next to come forward for Great Britain with Rehy DJ.

Yas was just 25 when she became World Champion with Banzai du Loir. 🏆

In the barn… Rehy DJ is affectionately known as piglet. 🐷

Cute story! When she was a kiddo, Yas would build show jumping courses and then jump round them on foot. Maybe that’s why she was so good at hurdles and high jump at school!

Eventing idol… Yas was offered the ride on Imperial Cavalier when he retired from top level eventing. The gelding had won Olympic silver and World gold with Mary King.

Top trivia! Yas was the youngest ever podium place of Kentucky 5*.

9:35 Matthew Flynn and Wizzerd score 34.2.

9:34 A few tense moments, Matt will be breathing a sigh of relief. Wizzerd looks happy with himself though.

9:33 The tension continues in the canter work but Matt’s doing a great job of sitting quiet and not panicking. Wizzerd’s chomping at the bit – he wants to go cross country… now!

9:32 A good rein back but an extra step. There’s a bit of tension in the walk which is affecting the rhythm a bit. And now the tension’s bubbled over in the transition to canter. He’s back with Matt quickly though.

9:30 So far, so good for Wizzerd. He’s working accurately and is in balance. There’s a bit of tail swishing going on, but overall this is an attractive test thus far.

9:29 Typically in this phase they’re low to mid-30s, but they’ve squeaked sub-30 a few times – will this be one of those times?

9:28 Coming into the dressage arena next, we have Matthew Flynn and Wizzerd for the USA.

Wizzerd is the first horse that Matt’s kept long enough to compete at 5*.

Matt’s trained with Karen and David O’Connor, Phillip Dutton and Mara DuPuy.

Will Wizzerd work some magic in the ring today? 🪄

9:22 News… New Zealand’s Tim Price has withdrawn Happy Boy. Happy Boy didn’t feel 100% so Tim’s decided not to go here.

9:20 Bill Levett and Hubertus AC score 30.1.

9:19 Bill offers the rein in the stretch circle and Bart does take it but could have done a bit more with it. He struggles to come back to trot for a few strides, but a square halt to finish. All good for Bart overall – accurate and clean.

9:18 Bill’s really brave in the medium canter and there’s a clean change following. Another brave attempt from Bill in the extended canter followed by another clean change. A clear round so far for Bart.

9:17 The extended trot is lovely and Bart does a square halt and clean rein back. Bill has to kick a little to get Bart going in the walk but surely that’s preferable to trying to keep a lid on it!

9:16 A lovely square halt to start. Bart looks happy in his work and everything’s balanced and clean in the trot work.

9:15 Bart’s scores can be a bit inconsistent in this phase – from the very low-30s to the very low-40s. At Badminton he posted a 32.5. What will it be here?

9:14 Here’s a name eventing fans will be familiar with – Australia’s Bill Levett is getting us back underway with Huberthus AC.

At 60, Bill’s one of the most experienced riders in the field and is a double World Championships rider.

Bill and ‘Bart’ have re-routed from Badminton – the horse’s first 5* – where they retired on course. Before starting out, Bill’s intention was to see how this young horse coped with the difficult ground conditions at Badminton and pull up if he wasn’t happy.

8:59 No change at the top of the leaderboard as we go into coffee break. We’ll be back with the action at 9:15 am EDT / 2:15pm BST when Australia’s Bill Levett will take to the arena with Hubertus AC.

8:58 Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California score 31.9 and go into 9th place.

8:57 This test has really been lovely. Just a couple of blips in the changes, but it’s good to have something to work on. The tension crept in a bit as the test went on, but it started brilliantly and Tammy, of course, did a great job on a relatively inexperienced horse.

8:56 Whoops, a bit of a short change. But Tammy’s brave in the extended.

8:55 The walk is expressive and active and the mare is obedient and relaxed. A clean strike off gets them going into the canter work.

8:54 There’s such balance and cadence in the trot work. It really is a picture. Very clear steps in the rein back.

8:53 A beautiful halt to begin – Tammy’s off to a great start!

8:52 There’s a very good chance that we’ll see a sub-30 test here. They scored 25.2 last time out in Mill Spring a few weeks ago.

8:51 Newly-crowned Kentucky champion and World No 5, the USA’s Tamie Smith comes forward as our last competitor before the coffee break with Solaguayre California.

5* first-timer! Solaguayre California’s following in Mai Baum’s hoofprints as she makes her debut at the top level.

Trivia time! Tamie’s Starucks order is hot chocolate. Yum! ☕

It’s all in the genes… Tamie’s daughter, Kawlawna Smith-Cook, is also competes in eventing.

8:50 Emma Brussau and Dark Desire score 32.9.

8:49 A lovely halt to finish but Dark Desire’s still looking round. Lots of pats for the mare.

8:48 Dark Desire’s a bit spooky but Emma’s doing a good job of reassuring her. The next change is clean and the stretch circle is nice, but then there’s a spook across the arena.

8:47 A lovely square halt is followed by clean steps in the rein back. Emma’s working hard to encourage Dark Desire to step out in the walk work. She’s brave in the canter but the change is a bit wobbly.

8:45 Emma’s riding positively and accurately. Dark Desire is being a bit looky looking – let’s hope the umbrellas don’t bother her too much as it’s bucketing down in Luhmuhlen.

8:43 Generally, this pair are low to mid-30s in the first phase, although they can definitely can – and may today – go sub-30. They’ve have been as low as 24.6 at the 4*-S level.

8:42 Germany’s Emma Brüssau with Dark Desire GS are next between the white boards.
Rookie alert! It’s a first-time 5* for both Emma and ‘Desi’.

Emma and Dark Desire have been together since Emma was a teenager.

🥇 They won individual gold at the Young Riders European Eventing Championships in 2019.

8:41 Emily King and Valmy Biats score 28.4.

8:40 Ah, so close to a square halt but there’s a little step off the line. Some lovely moments in this test.

8:39 There’s some tension creeping in but Emily’s very brave in the extended canter. The second change is better than the first. Despite the tension, Valmy stretches in the circle nicely and produces a lovely change.

8:38 There’s an extra stride in the rein back but the walk is nice and active and Valmy stretches in the extended. It’s just started to rain in Luhmuhlen.

8:37 Valmy Biats is lovely and bouncy in his trot work – he’s uphill and everything looks very polished. All very active and expressive.

8:36 This pair could potentially give us another dressage in the 20s. They scored 31.3 at Badminton but they’re well capable of mid to high-20s – they posted a 25.5 at Pau last year. Let’s see how they show up today.

8:35 Coming forward next we have Great Britain’s Emily King and Valmy Biats.

They come here from Badminton after Emily decided ‘Valmy’ wasn’t enjoying the muddy ground. Before that, they won the 4*-S at Thoresby Park.

Live the dream… Valmy Biats is part owned by the Event Horse Owners Syndicate – you can buy a tiny part of him for £95!

Hot to trot! 👟 Emily must be pretty fit – she ran the London Marathon a few weeks ago and, along with her partner, fellow eventer Sam Ecroyd, raised money for The Brain and Spine Foundation.

Fun / random fact! Emily lives in North Wales, not too far from me!

8:34 46.6 for Nicolas Wettstein and Meyer’s Happy.

8:33 There’s a change on the center line too. Nicolas did a great job keeping calm there. Shout out for Meyer’s Happy’s groom though – his braids are beautiful. Apparently he has hair extensions in his tail too.

8:32 There’s a blip in the corner before first change and Nicolas has to bring him back and does get the change. He misses the second one also. It’s a shame. Meyer’s Happy has got quite tense and isn’t playing ball. He’s back on track for the stretch circle though.

8:31 Meyer’s Happy looks very happy in his trot work. He’s a little wobbly in the contact sometimes, and he opens his mouth throughout the rein back, but he’s into a lovely walk and seems to be with Nicolas.

8:30 They’ve scored as low as 32 in the first phase at 4*. They’ve also been as high as 41.1. What will it be today?

8:29 Here’s Nicolas Wettstein and Meyer’s Happy for Ecuador.

Nicolas represented Ecuador at two Olympics (Tokyo and Rio), two World Championships (2014 and 2018) and two Pan-Am Games (2015 and 2019).

Meyer’s Happy was Nicolas’ World Championships mount for Tryon.

Origin story… Nicolas was actually born in Switzerland. As a junior he represented France, later changing to Switzerland, and now he rides for Ecuador.

Polyglot extraordinaire! Nicolas speaks five languages!

In his other life… Nicolas is the director of a pharmaceutical company.

8:28 Apologies for missing the first few horses live. Chinch has been frantically scribbling notes though – here’s what we missed…

8:22 We have 22-year-old Belgian rider Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z coming up next.

Rookie alert! This is Seppe and Kawa de la Cour Z’s first 5*.

Seppe made his senior team debut in the Nations Cup at Boekelo in 2021.

Their 4*-L run this season saw them post a 35.1 in the first phase. What will it be here?

Kawa de la Cour Z is working nicely for Seppe at the beginning of their test. There are a couple of wobbles in the lateral work but overall it’s clean.

Their long-time partnership is evident – they’re clearly on the same page and it’s lovely to watch them working together.

They finish up with a lovely halt and big pats.

Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z score 34.9.

8:15 And now for Ireland we have Susie Berry and Monbeg by Design for the gelding’s first 5* attempt.

Susie was one of only three in the first cohort of Young Eventers in the Wesko Equestrian Foundation for Young Eventers.

Susie’s represented Ireland at six European Championships from Ponies to Young Riders.

We’re looking around the mid-30s mark for this combination, potentially high-30s for their first 5*. They scored 38 in this phase in the World Championships at Pratoni.

Their test starts off tidy. Monbeg by Design drops to the forehand occasionally but there are no major mistakes.

The walk’s quiet and the gelding hollows slightly in the transition to canter.

The first change is very neat and Susie’s brave in the extended canter. That leads to a bit of a loss of rhythm at the end and Monbeg by Design dives the change. He enjoys the stretch circle though. The next change is a bit muddled and the final one is late behind, but they finish with a lovely square halt.

Susannah Berry and Monbeg by Design score 38.9.

8:07 Next in front of the judges is Great Britain’s Harry Meade with Tenareze.

Fun fact! Tenareze is one of only two stallions competing in the 5*.

He comes here after Harry opted to withdraw before the cross country at Badminton. There’ll be no problems with muddy ground here in Luhmuhlen though.

Hot form 🔥 Harry is currently sitting in second place for cross country jump clears in British eventing – 51 out of 55 runs this year.

Not just an event rider… Harry delivered his son at home when baby Charlie refused to wait for the ambulance to arrive. If he decides to hang up his riding boots, perhaps there’s a career as a midwife waiting for him! 🍼

They scored 26.9 in the dressage at Badminton. What will it be today?

This test is all looking as accurate as we’d expect from Harry – very neat and tidy.

Harry’s very brave in the extended trot.

Tenareze drags his legs a bit in the rein back but he’s relaxed in the walk. The extended walk is particularly good. Tenareze anticipates the changes a bit but they’re clean and the stretch circle is a good as the extended walk.

There’s lots to like here, but a couple of tiny blips. Harry’s riding the horse that’s underneath him and using all his experience to get the best out of the horse on the day. Lots of pats for Tenareze at the end.

Harry Meade and Tenareze score 31.

8:00 Austrian Olympian Lea Siegl will canter up the center line next with her Olympic and World Championship partner, DSP Fighting Line.

Olympic result! Lea and ‘Fighty’ finished 15th individually at Tokyo 2020, where she was the youngest competitor.

In the genes – Lea’s dad also competed at the Olympics in eventing.

They’ve started off this season in fabulous form, winning the 4*-S at Montelibretti with a dressage of 24.5. Will this great form continue here?

Oh oh… Fighty waves at the judges rather than halting and saluting. He is looking hot, hot, hot.

Lea does a superb job at keeping her cool – for such a young rider she’s riding very maturely in a difficult situation. She gets him back quickly and he relaxes better in the trot – she’s even brave enough to push for the extended.

The excitement’s back for the walk. Lea keeps him together though. He’s very ready to get into canter but she gets him back again.

Phew! A beautiful square halt to finish what’s been a difficult test for Lea. Fighty’s still living it up after he’s left the arena. He’s totally full of himself and is certainly fit and ready for cross country.

Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line score 39.9.

7:52 French rider Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beaufour are next up for France.

Florian’s an amateur rider and full-time farrier.

Did you know? Blue Bird de Beaufour is a stallion.

This is the pair’s third 5* together, and their first outside France.

They posted a 36.1 at Pau lat year. What will it be at Luhmuhlen?

Blue Bird de Beaufour is clean and accurate in the trot work and delivers a lovely square halt at C.

This horse is, according to Florian, a bit lazy by nature and we can see that in the walk work. It’s clean but could he be more in front of the leg.

There’s a bit of a stumble in the corner which affects the first change, but the second change is better.

Oh no! Florian’s forgotten the stretch circle. He goes back and corrects himself but misses the change afterwards. The final change is better though.

Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beaufour score 36.3.

7:45 First into the ring is Great Britain’s Will Rawlin whose partner is The Partner.

Rookie alert! This is a first 5* for both Will and his partner.

Did you know? You can be a parter of The Partner through the Event Horse Owners Syndicate.

In the barn… Contrary to his name, The Partner prefers to go it alone and would much rather he didn’t have a neighbor in the stall next door.

They’ve scored everything from 30.7 to 37.4 at 4* – where will they slot in at 5*?

The Partner’s a bit fragile in the bridle sometimes. He misses the first change but Will gets him back quickly. The next change is better.

The Partner really enjoys the stretch circle.

Overall this test isn’t without mistakes, but there is some lovely work on show.

Will Rawlin and The Partner score 36.5.

Nadine Marzahl and Victoria 108, this morning’s CCI4*-S dressage leaders at Luhmühlen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’re pretty sure there’s nothing sweeter than a sunny day at Luhmühlen, which is, we reckon, the world’s happiest event. Seriously: everyone on site at this place is always smiling, always chatting, always ready to stop for a catch-up and a Schnapps (time of day permitting, of course), and that lends its own unique kind of magic to the place. It’s like a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, but for eventing. We adore it.

We also adore the seriously spicy entry list that this year’s event has commanded. Forty horses, twelve nations, three five-star winning partnerships, endless talent: the competition is wide open and about to be hotly fought, and we’re bringing you along for every moment of the ride. We’ve got this morning’s CCI4*-S session behind us as a pipe opener and a palate cleanser, and now it’s time to dive into the main event — 2023’s fourth five-star.

Our pathfinder for today’s competition will be Great Britain’s Oliver Townend on the first of his three rides, nine-year-old debutante Cooley Rosalent, who will head down the centre line at 13.45 local time (12.45 p.m. BST/7.45 a.m. EST). The last of the day will be Boyd Martin on the second of his own three rides, and another debutant at the level in the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B. You can catch them at 16.22 local time (15.22 BST/10.22 a.m. EST), and click here for the full running order and times of today’s competition, which will be held in front of a ground jury comprised of Nick Burton (GBR) at C, Dr Joachim Dimmek (GER) at M, and Katrin Eichinger-Kniely (AUT) at E.

Keep your finger on that refresh button for live updates from all the action between the boards, and if you fancy following along via the live stream, you can find all our info on how to watch — plus a cheeky H&C TV discount code for EN readers — here.

Want to get yourself in the zone for the competition to come? Check out our jam-packed form guide, which has all the info you need on every single horse and rider in the field. Then, get ready, get set, and let’s Go Eventing!

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10:31 That brings us to the end of day 1 at Luhmuhlen Horse Trials. What a day!

It’s Britain holding the top three spots after the first day of 5* dressage.

Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street lead the way on 23.1.
Kitty King is in second with Vendredi Biats on 26.8.
Laura Collett is third with Dacapo on 29.7.

Thanks for tuning in to our live updates – I’m off to rest my weary digits before we do it all again tomorrow! It all kicks off at 1:35pm local time – that’s 7:45am EST/ 12:45pm BST.

Keep it locked onto EN for the full report – coming soon!

If you’re reading this after the event, scroll to the bottom and read up.

Go eventing!

10:30 Score in for Boyd Martin and Fedarman B – 32.4.

10:27 Score in for Oliver Townend and Tregilder – 29.9.

10:26 There’s tension in the changes – the only blips in a superb test. We’re just waiting on his score…

10:25 There’s such quality on display from this combination. Everything is clean and strong and everything is just beautiful.

10:24 The walk has much the same quality as the trot – purposeful, strong and balanced. Bruno shakes his head a bit in the transition to canter but it’s a clean strike off and they’re on their way.

10:23 Wow Bruno’s a beautiful boy! He’s so impressive in his way of going – totally uphill – powerful and confident. A real picture.

10:22 This pair are likely to go sub-30, with their last four runs coming in at 28 or 29. What will it be today?

10:21 We’re back with the USA’s Boyd Martin for our last competitor between the white boards today, with the second of his three rides Fedarman B.

5* first-timer! This is Fedarman B’s first attempt at 5*.

In the barn… Fedarman B is known as ‘Bruno’.

Family ties… Olympian Boyd’s parents met at the Winter Olympics – his mom competed in speed skating and his dad in cross-country skiing. So that’s why he’s so quick across the country!

Did you know? Boyd has a guru who is a regular sight at events.

10:19 Score in for Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG – 43.2.

10:18 Gizmo looks incredibly rideable. There’s nothing massively expressive but everything is spot on in terms of accuracy. He reaches in the stretch circle and picks back up when Oliver asks. Overall, this has been pleasing to watch and Gizmo gets a good pat at the end.

10:16 There are a few knocks to the boards but Gizmo’s not upset by that. This is a quiet test so far.

10:15 A very straight entry gets Gizmo’s test off to a very good start. He’s balanced enough in his trot work and Oliver’s riding as accurately as ever.

10:14 Tregilder’s scored high-20s in his two other 5* attempts. Can he keep it sub-30 today?

10:13 Our penultimate rider of the day, Great Britain’s Oliver Townend is back in the ring with the second of his three rides Tregilder.

Third time lucky? Tregilder – ‘Gizmo’ at home – comes forward for his third 5*.

Royal approval! 👑 Oliver was awarded an MBE for his services to equestrianism by the Queen of England in 2022.

Fun fact! Oliver’s mom showed side-saddle.

10:12 Score in for Tom Jackson and Farndon – 34.9.

10:11 Commander jumps the flying change a bit, a shame when everything was going so well. But it doesn’t upset him too much and they continue on without incident. The stretch circle doesn’t have a lot of stretch and then quite a bit of tension over the flying change. But overall, this has been a great job from Commander and Aistis is grinning as he halts at the end.

10:09 He’s a good boy in the halt at C – nosing round a bit but doing what Aistis asks. He’s happy enough in the walk – incredibly settled. Aistis must be happy with how the gelding’s going today.

10:08 Commander VG has a good look around in the first halt. He seems to like what he saw as he’s off in trot now and looking to be working well with Aistis so far.

10:07 This combo are not averse to dipping a toe into the 40s in this first phase, although their scores have been trending downwards. How will he do here?

10:06 Next up is Lithuanian rider Aistis Vitkauskas with his sweetheart gelding Commander VG.

This is Commander VG’s sixth 5* and third time at Luhmuhlen.

Cuteness alert! This lovely horse can be spotted at events giving Aistis’ young daughter pony rides.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t challenge Aistis’ sometimes though. He got hot, hot, hot – despite the rain – during his dressage at Badminton. Will he keep a lid on it today?

10:04 Score in for Elizabeth Power and Senza Fine – 32.1.

10:03 A brave attempt in the extended canter leads to a bit of a late behind change. There’s not a huge amount of stretch in the circle and the next change is late behind too. The next one’s better. A super halt to finish though. On the whole, good work from Farndon, just a shame about the couple of blips.

10:01 A very secure halt at C and a clean rein back. Farndon’s shining beautifully in the sunshine. Lots of relaxation in the walk. They look like a very happy partnership together.

10:00 This is another horse with a lovely bouncy trot. It’s rhythmical with lots of expression. A slight kick of the board but Farndon doesn’t even seem to notice.

9:59 His latest form is a 26.5 a couple of weeks ago. Before that, we were looking at low to mid-30s at 4*. What will it be at 5*?

9:58 We’ll be seeing British rider Tom Jackson up next, with Farndon.

This is Farndon’s first 5* but Tom’s no stranger to the big time – he was 2nd at Burghley last year and 5th at Badminton this year on his other ride, Capels Hollow Drift.

9:57 Score in for David Doel and Ferro Point – 40.8.

9:56 There’s more great balance in the canter work. Esib’s making this test look easy. There’s a good stretch in the circle – there could have been a bit more – but everything’s very accurate and pleasing to the eye.

9:54 The walk is all very relaxed. It’s clean and purposeful and should be pulling in some nice scores.

9:53 Senza Fine is stepping out really nicely in the trot work. It’s bouncy and energetic and they look to be working together well as a partnership.

9:52 At the 4* level, Senza Fine regularly scores high-20s to very low-30s. What will she do at 5*?

9:51 Next before the judges is Elizabeth Power and Senza Fine for Ireland.

Senza Fine is a former Tim Price ride – Esib’s had just one season with the mare and now brings her forward for her first 5*.

Did you know? Esib also competes in FEI show jumping at 5* – she’s jumped in the Hickstead Derby and she won the Royal Dublin Stakes in 2019.

It’s all in the genes! Esib’s dad was an international show jumper, her mom competed at Badminton and her brother is a Grand National winning jockey!

9:50 Score for Hallie Coon and Global Ex – 38.4.

9:49 A lovely square halt to finish and a pat for Ferro Point.

9:48 Ah, she’s very much ahead of David in the first two changes. She’s been so rideable thus far, what a shame. They’re back together for a bit but there’s a tranter into the next change and then late behind on the final one. A real shame in what was a lovely test up to then.

9:47 A super square halt but the rein back’s a bit diagonal rather than straight. This mare has kissing spine and is very thoughtfully and carefully managed by David and his team.

9:46 So far this is a very accurate test. Everything’s happening as it should and Ferro Point is working nicely for David.

9:45 They posted a 39.1 in the first phase at Pau last year. They came out this season with a 35.1 in the 4*-S at Chatsworth a couple of weeks ago. What will it be today?

9:44 Coming up the center line next is Great Britain’s David Doel with Ferro Point.

David came through the Junior and Young Rider teams, medaling multiple times.

Last year at Luhmuhlen – it’s safe to say their show jumping round did not go to plan. The saddle slipped right under Ferro Point’s belly. Fingers crossed for a less dramatic competition for them this time around.

In another life… David works with his dad at their ice cream company. 🍧

9:43 Score in for Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver de Haar – 32.7.

9:42 A couple of late changes – Dolly’s looking almost too relaxed. Hallie’s doing a great job in the saddle. The final change doesn’t happen and Dolly gets a bit upset about it. But they’re at the halt now and Dolly’s getting a pat.

9:41 The walk’s not so relaxed but she keeps a lid on it, just about.

9:40 Lots of air-time in the extended trot – a lovely picture. Dolly looks very relaxed standing there in a square halt. The rein back’s a bit wonky, but the steps are clean.

9:39 They get off to a great start with a super halt and set off in a very balanced trot. Dolly’s looking happy to be at Luhmuhlen.

9:37 Recent form suggests a score in the low to mid-30s in this phase. Where will it land?

9:36 Next into the ring will be Hallie Coon and Global Ex for the United States.

Hallie’s spent the 2023 season thus far with ‘Dolly’ competing in the UK.

This is their second 5* – their first came at Kentucky in 2021.

9:35 Score in for Katherine Coleman and RLE Limbo Kaiser – 36.0.

9:34 There’s a bit of ear flopping going on in the canter work – perhaps there’s a fly in there – but everything is accurate and harmonious – very cool, calm and collected. A super test overall. Horse and rider are both smiling.

9:32 A lovely relaxed walk must be pulling in the marks – there’s great ground cover and over-track in the extended. There’s a bit of fussing in the mouth in the transition, but they’re happily off into canter and showing more very accurate work.

9:31 You can really see the great partnership horse and rider have in the picture they’re making. Totally together and harmonious – just lovely. Everything’s brave and forwards and very, very confident.

9:30 They’re generally pretty consistent in this phase, trending around the low to mid-30s. They posted a 34.1 at Badminton.

9:29 Next up the center line is Great Britain’s Fiona Kashel with Creevagh Silver De Haar.

Leveling up! Fiona has brought Creevagh Silver De Haar through the levels from 1*.

They’re here after withdrawing at Badminton after the dressage.

This is the gelding’s fourth 5* start – they were top 30 at Pau and completed on their first attempt at Badminton last year.

Family connection! Creevagh Silver de Haar is ¾ related to Piggy March’s Badminton winner Vanir Kamira.

9:28 New leader alert! Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street score 23.1!

9:27 RLE Limbo Kaiser looks like a guy who’s been concentrating hard at the end of his test! Big pats for him.

9:26 Some of the canter is a bit downhill. He’s late in his flying change. The stretch circle is fine but he’s late again in the change afterwards. The next one’s better though.

9:24 He obviously doesn’t enjoy walking that much. He’s a little fussy in his head but Katherine’s moving him forward. A little stumble in the first corner of canter upsets him a bit but they’re on their way now and all seems to have settled.

9:23 Limbo Kaiser is working smoothly through the trot work. He looks relaxed and happy to be at Luhmuhlen so far.

9:22 It’s likely to be a score in the 30s for this combination, but it’s really hard to guess where going off their form. Only time will tell…

9:21 British-based American rider, Katherine Coleman is next, with RLE Limbo Kaiser.

A true three-phaser – before taking up eventing, Katherine competed in both dressage and show jumping.

Katherine relocated to the UK in 2012 when she went to work with EquiRatings’ Sam Watson.

Katherine’s looking for her 5* finish of the year here this weekend after completing Badminton a few weeks ago with Monbeg Senna.

9:19 Pippa’s making this look easy. There’s such beautiful harmony in the work – an absolute pleasure to see. Pippa’s got to be delighted with this test.

9:17 The first change is totally on the money. That kind of sums up this test so far – clean, accurate, strong, expressive – all the great stuff.

9:16 A very square halt at C. The walk is relaxed and Squirrel’s stepping out nicely.

9:15 Squirrel’s looking great as he begins his test. Balanced and strong and really working with Pippa.

9:14 Their latest form is a 22.3 in the 4*-S at Bicton a couple of weeks ago. They posted a 26.1 at Badminton last year. This is surely a combination to watch!

9:13 Three-time Olympic medalist Great Britain’s Pippa Funnell is getting us back underway. She brings MGH Grafton Street.

🐿️ ‘Squirrel’ looked very pleased to be at Luhmuhlen at the Horse Inspection on Wednesday. He’s full of run – Pippa will be hoping he saves it for the cross country!

Royal approval! 👑 Pippa was awarded an MBE from the Queen of England for her services to equestrianism.

Pippa was the first (and only in the long format) winner of the Rolex Grand Slam. 💵

Fun fact! She’s also a video game star!

Luhmuhlen memories… Pippa won her first major 3-day here with Sir Barnaby in 1991 – and the European Championships with Supreme Rock in 1999.

9:08 A score in for Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty – 38.5.

8:57 Well, Luhmuhlen 5* is well and truly underway! We’re off for a short break now. We’ll be back with the action at 9:15 am EDT / 2:15pm BST when Great Britain’s eventing superstar Pippa Funnell will take to the arena with MGH Grafton Street. Felicity Ward’s score will follow as soon as we know it.

8:56 A score in for Muzi Pottinger and Just Kidding – 30.7 and into 3rd.

8:55 More of the same, accurate, solid work in the canter. He stretches down nicely in the circle, but you do get a sense that he’d rather be doing cross country. Overall a good test and he gets a big pat from Felicity at the end.

8:54 A solid start to Cuba’s test. He’s walking out well and staying nice and relaxed.

8:53 They scored 39.5 in this phase here last year. Their 4* form is mid-30s. What will happen between the boards here?

8:52 Our final combination before the coffee break is Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty for Ireland.

This combination were 15th here last year – can they improve on that this time around?

On form! ‘Cuba’ had his highest placing in international competition this season – 2nd at Ballindenisk in the 3*-S.

Cross country machine! 🏇 Since 2017, this pair have only one cross country retirement on their record.

8:51 Score for Kitty King and Vendredi Biats – into the lead with 26.8. Our very own Tilly’s just had a shout out on the commentary – we can see you talking to Kitty, Tilly!

8:50 Muzi’s got to be pleased with that! A square halt to finish. Great work.

8:49 Lots of stretch in the stretchy circle. Just Kidding looks so rideable – what a good boy he is.

8:48 Muzi really goes for it in the extended canter – more brave riding. And a great flying change to follow.

8:47 A super square halt at C and a clean rein back set them up very nicely for the walk work. Just Kidding is taking the rein in the extended. This is all a very lovely picture of a horse and rider who are in total partnership.

8:46 Just Kidding can’t wait to carry on down the center line after a very brief halt. Great ground cover in the trot work – brave and determined riding – great to see.

8:45 This pair are capable of a very good first phase score – mid-20s isn’t beyond their reach on a good day. They scored 31.3 in the Badminton mud, but we can assume that the ground here will suit Fern better than that.

8:44 Next up it’s Muzi Pottinger and Just Kidding for New Zealand.

Muzi’s re-routing from Badminton after a fall on the cross country saw their competition finish early.

Trivia time! Fern is 15.2hh when he’s standing on his tippy toes!

Shout-out to eventing OTTBs! Fern is an ex-racehorse – Muzi bought him off the track as a 5-year-old. 🏇

Family connection! Muzi’s mom is Olympic bronze medalist Tinks Pottinger.

8:43 A score for Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire – 37.8.

8:42 What a test! A brilliant job by both horse and rider. Kitty made it look easy, but it’s really not!

8:41 A super accurate flying change and very accurate riding from Kitty. This is how you ride a test! Such a treat to see.

8:40 Ooo, the extended trot is lovely – lots of air time and reach. They’re getting on with the walk now and Froggy’s putting his best foot forward. Good boy Froggy.

8:39 Kitty and Froggy have entered the ring with purpose! He’s a little fussy in the rein, but Kitty’s riding him forwards and everything is super accurate so far.

8:38 They’re consistently mid-20s or below. They scored 22.3 at Badminton and 21.2 at Burghley. Are we going to see a challenge for the top of the leaderboard?

8:37 Great Britain’s Kitty King and Vendredi Biats will be next down the center line.

In the barn… Vendredi Biats is known as ‘Froggy’ at home! 🐸

They’re here after a fall early on the Badminton cross country ended their hopes of improving their 7th place in 2022.

They’ve been 6th at Burghley. Can they get closer to the top of the leaderboard here? I think so – they’re in my Eventing Manager team!

Sizzling stat! Froggy has one of the best 5* dressage averages in the field.

8:36 Score for Imogen Murray and Roheryn Ruby – 35.4.

8:35 There’s another wobble on the diagonal line but Sydney’s really helping Q out and riding brilliantly. They step a bit into the halt but get there in the end. Overall, lots to like in that test and Q is truly a good looking lad!

8:34 The walk was nice and relaxed on the whole. He’s a bit backwards in his approach to the change but he listened to Sydney and everything’s happening as it should on the whole.

8:33 As I typed that Q broke into canter. That was a shame but things are back on track now.

8:32 Q is moving freely in the trot work, she’s a bit wobbly in places but is working nicely for Sydney.

8:31 At 4*, this pair have scored everything from 26.2 to 35.9. It was towards the top end in the 5* at Kentucky last year. What will today bring?

8:30 Our next pair up the center line will be America’s Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire.

Medal alert! 🥈🥈 Sydney and ‘Q’ have two team silver Nations Cup medals to their name – from Aachen and Boekelo in 2021.

‘Q’s people describe him as quiet, sweet and mellow – what a cutie-pie he sounds!

Kentucky podium! This combination took 3rd place in the 4*-S at Kentucky this spring.

This is their third 5* together – they finished 8th in Kentucky last year and had a top-20 placing at their debut the year before.

8:29 A score for Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3 – 40.3.

8:28 Ruby got very strong towards the end of that test, which must have been hard work for Imogen. But there was no lack of effort on Ruby’s part and it’s her first 5*. There’ll have been lots of learning going on in the ring, which is something to take forward for the future.

8:27 After a relaxed walk, Ruby gets a bit full of herself in the flying change and dives it a bit. She breaks in the canter and the mare seems to be pre-empting everything that’s to come. Take a breath Ruby!

8:26 A beautiful halt at C!

8:25 Ruby’s moving nicely in the trot work, she’s relaxed and seems happy in her work.

8:24 They scored a 24.9 in the 4*-S at Bicton a few weeks ago. They’ve been as high as 35.5 recently too. Where will they land today?

8:23 It’s Imogen Murray and Roheryn Ruby up next for Great Britain.
5* first timer! This is Ruby’s first time at the level but she’s looking well up for the challenge.

Zen Master! 🧘 At a competition in 2019, a loose horse galloped through Ruby’s dressage test six times but Ruby kept her cool and didn’t put a hoof out of line”.

8:22 A score for Gireg Le Coz and Caramel d’Orchis – 34.9.

8:20 Arne must be super pleased with this mare. She’s been very good throughout and shows just what Arne’s been dealing with as she leaves the arena dancing.

8:19 Luthien’s anticipating the changes, but it’s because she’s a trier and you can’t knock that.

8:17 For how lit up she was before the test, the walk is going well. Everything’s a bit short and tense, but she’s doing what’s asked of her.

8:15 Luthien’s looking incredibly hot in the trot work, but it’s happening for her and she’s trying her best for Arne who’s doing a great job of keeping a lid on the mare.

8:14 Realistically we’re heading into the 40s for this pair. They’ve squeaked under at 4*-L, but they’ve been as high as 48 too. Luthien is very reluctant to go anywhere near the arena, she shows off her spins and rein backs. But she’s going around the outside now and the bell’s rung so fingers crossed she’s got that out of her system.

8:13 Now it’s the turn of Germany’s Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3.

Rookie alert! It’s a 5* first-time for Arne and Luthien.

This pair were long-listed to the German squad for the 2022 World Championships.

🪜 I have this combination down as Biggest Movers in my EN team picks – so no matter what happens here today, I expect them to be climbing up that leaderboard once the jumping phases get underway.

8:12 A score for Laura Collett and Decapo – 29.7, the best so far.

8:11 She’s showing her youth a little bit in the contact and the changes – she’s only an 11-year-old. But all in all, this has been a nice test and the final halt is lovely and square.

8:10 The steps are a bit short in the walk and the mare doesn’t look to want to extend. They’re into canter now though. She’s late behind in the first change but there’s lovely ground cover in the extended canter.

8:08 They start off with a nice square halt and are keen to get going. Caramel d’Orchis is bouncy in the trot, she’s looking around a little bit but extends nicely and holds the halt at C well.

8:07 This combination generally post a score in the low to mid-30s at 4*. What will it be at 5*?

8:06 Between the white boards next will be Gireg Le Coz and Caramel d’Orchis for France.

5* first-timer! This is the gelding’s first attempt at the level.

Caramel d’Orchis was a bit squirrelly on the jog strip on Wednesday, having a very good look around at the crowds. Will he be more settled today? Gireg will be hoping so!

As an U25 rider, Gireg spent time with Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths and William Fox-Pitt.

8:05 Some scores… Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent 37.4. Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF 31.1.

8:04 A tiny bit of tension in the changes, but overall a very classy test from Decapo.

8:03 He’s shortening slightly in the stride before the changes, but they’re accurate.

8:02 Decapo’s walk is very polished and smooth throughout. Super relaxed.

8:01 Decapo is showing off all of his moves in the ring right now. Laura’s such an exceptional dressage rider and together they’re making a lovely picture.

8:00 This pair are capable of a very low-20s score in this first phase – they posted a 25.2 at Badminton. They creep higher sometimes though, so we’ll have to see how they get on today.

7:59 Next up we have Great Britain’s Laura Collett coming forward with the first of her two rides Decapo, who’s known as ‘Cal’ at home.

This is Cal’s third attempt at 5* and Laura’ll be hoping for their first completion. She opted not to go cross country at Badminton because of the ground conditions, and retired on course at Pau in 2021. Will it be third time lucky?

Hot form! They’ve had a strong lead up, with a win in the 4*-S at Burnham Market and not finishing outside the top 5 at any event they’ve completed since September 2021.

7:58 We’re hearing there’s been an electrical fire in the building where all the scores and things happen. We hope all’s well there and will bring you all the scores as and when we can.

7:57 A very impressive stretch on the circle. Everything is harmonious and settled… until the final flying change where he gets a bit ahead of Boyd. But the halt is good and Thomas looks pleased with himself.

7:56 They’re into the canter work now and Thomas is being very accurate and seems nice and relaxed.

7:55 Thomas is looking very shiny in the Luhmuhlen sunshine! They’re creating a lovely picture of a long-time partnership and everything’s looking very easy thus far.

7:54 We’re almost certainly looking at the 20s for Thomas. His lowest is 22.1 at 4* – at 5* it’s 25.4.

7:53 Getting the American campaign underway, also on the first of his three rides, is Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF.

‘Thomas’ is rerouting from Kentucky where Boyd retired after a 20 on the cross country course.

In the barn (and the field, wherever really)… Thomas loves a good nap. 💤

Not so much behind the scenes as front and center on his IG feed… Boyd’s famous for his love of icy cold baths. 🛀

7:52 And we’re back up and running! Oliver’s now left the ring and we’re waiting on his score…

7:50 Ah! My feed’s gone down but Tilly’s being a star and keeping us updated. Cooley Rosalent threw in a change in the extended canter but was nice and relaxed in the stretchy circle. She was tidy in the changes but threw in a head toss at the final halt.

7:47 She’s not quite as established in the halt and rein back as she was in her trot work, but she’s walking out nicely for Oliver and is really keeping her head in this difficult walk walk.

7:46 This lovely 9-year-old is showing a lot of confidence as she starts her first 5* test. It’s all lovely and smooth and free-moving – a really pleasing picture so far.

7:46 On her last FEI start she posted a 24 in this phase and has gone sub-30 in all but two of her 14 runs. How low will she go at Luhmuhlen?

7:45 Getting the 5* competition underway on the first of his three rides will be British Olympic team gold medalist Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent, coming forward for the mare’s first 5*.

Cooley Rosalent took off towards the cross country course at the end of the jog strip on Wednesday – Oliver’ll be hoping she’s got that out of her system before her test today!

Oliver has partnered this mare all the way from BE100 to, now, 5*.

Tough cookie! 🍪 At Kentucky in 2010, Oliver broke his collar bone, shoulder bones, sternum and four ribs – he was in hospital for one day!

Fun / random fact! Oliver lives nearby my mom!

7:44 What’s up ENers?!!! It’s day one of the 5* dressage and we couldn’t be more excited to see what unfolds!
Let’s do this thing and go eventing!

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One of our favourite traditions here at EN is putting our pocket change where our mouth is and doing some serious claim-staking on five-star fields. Luhmühlen is no different, and between us, we have all the opinions. Check out our team picks, and then drop your own in the comments!

Emily King and Valmy Biats. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

TILLY BERENDT

The CCI5* Winner: Emily King and Valmy Biats 

There’s some names in this field that seem pretty obvious — how can anyone look past Laura Collett and London 52, for example? They’d certainly be the odds-on favourites here, and for good reason, and we’ve got last year’s winners, Felix Vogg and Colero, in the mix, too. But I suspect this will be a week for a five-star win for a rider who’s not yet nabbed one, and I think that rider will be Emily King. She and Valmy Biats have impressed a number of times, including when they finished eighth at Pau last year, and she was one of my riders of the day at Badminton this year when she decided to pull the gelding up because she felt him start to tire, long before any of us on the ground could see even a hint of weariness creeping in. They looked great to that point, and I like to think that the good karma of being a great horseman does come back around at some point. Maybe that point is this week, and we’ll see the next generation of five-star winners in the King family. I’ll certainly be rooting for them — and if they start their week with a score like the 25.5 they got at Pau, I think a lot of folks will be singing the same tune as we go into the weekend.

The Best of the US: Boyd Martin and Fedarman B

Having skim-read some of the team’s predictions after pulling my own list together in my Notes app, I’m not at all surprised to see that this combo is a particularly popular choice. And rightly so: it’s hard not to root for beautiful, blaze-faced Bruno, which also means rooting for the late and much-missed Annie Goodwin, who made him the serious upper-level horse he is. Every time Boyd pulls out a great result on him, he does so in her honour, and I’ve loved seeing Annie’s family and friends rally around her heart horse and her extraordinary legacy. If he wins this week — which he could do, even though it’s a five-star debut, because in his last six FEI runs, he’s never been lower than tenth and he’s won twice — it’ll be one of those fairytale moments that’ll have us all in our feelings. It won’t just be a win for the USA, nor just a win for Boyd — it’ll be a five-star win for Annie, which she so richly deserves.

The Best Brit: Kitty King and Vendredi Biats

Kitty’s had a bit of rubbish luck at her last two five-star runs with Vendredi Biats, but man, they really do have all the right raw material, and sometimes, you just need the winds to blow in your favour a bit. This is one of those partnerships that I really feel just deserve a big result on their record, and I think this is a competition that’ll play in their favour in a big way — especially come Sunday and that historically tough-as-hell showjumping track. This horse is an insanely good jumper, and I, for one, haven’t forgotten the European Championships in 2019, which were held here — and at which they finished best of the Brits in seventh. Go get ’em, Kit Kat.

The Top Mare: Elizabeth Power and Senza Fine

Dark horse alert: Esib and the Italian-bred former ride of Tim Price really could make a great impression here, though. While Senza Fine doesn’t have the most inspiring record at short-format, she really comes into her own on a long-format course, where she’s seriously nippy and very reliable, too. She tends to hover around the 30 mark on the flat, but absolutely can and does go below it, too, and she’s a one-or-none horse on the final day, too. I think this, the mare’s five-star debut, could be their week.

Biggest Climber: Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG

I’ll admit I was a touch surprised to see this pair on the entry list after a successful trip to Badminton, but Commander VG is a tough, scrappy dude of a horse and Aistis is a very good horseman, so I’ll hold my hands up and say that it’s highly unlikely that I know the horse better than he does. What I do know is this: Commander is a climber through and through. Though the first phase isn’t his forte — Aistis picked him up as a young horse from a dressage yard, and his bad experiences there mean that he gets defensive and tricky to ride in the dressage ring — he’s a classic run-and-jump machine, and he loves his job. That should see him make a significant leap up the leaderboard, especially if Saturday proves tough. I also think an honourable mention must go to David Doel and Ferro Point here: they’ll sit on a mid-30s score going into Saturday, where they’ll be seriously classy and quick and zip right up to the business end of proceedings. The final phase can be hit or miss — and the less said, the better about their round here last year, where poor David fell when the saddle slipped right under Ferro Point’s belly — but they can, and have, jumped clear on the final day of a long-format.

The Highest-Placed Rookie (Horse or Rider): Tim Price’s Happy Boy

Every time I see this horse on an entry list I just think of that one TikTok of the tappy-toed little dog and that ear worm of a song that goes with it. I know you know what I mean. But beyond his endless meme-ability, Happy Boy is also one heck of a competitor. At just eleven, he’s already got two CCI3*-L wins and a CCI4*-L win — at Boekelo last year — to his name, and he’s a quick little bugger with some seriously snappy knees. The first phase can go in either direction, really, but on his good days, he’s well into the 20s — and if he can start on a strong note, Tim knows he’s got speed on his side. When it comes to Sunday, he’ll be feeling confident, too — the gelding hasn’t had a rail in an international since running a young horse CCI2*-L at Tattersalls (RIP, you brilliant, boozy event) back in 2019.

The CCI4*-S Winner: Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden OR Hallie Coon and Cute Girl 

I hereby reserve the right not to choose. Last time Mollie and Charly came to Luhmühlen, the three of us were a mad, sweaty, unbeatable trio and nabbed a five-star, and it was, frankly, really bloody special and great. They should easily lead the first phase and have got everything it takes to follow through in the next two, too. (Oh, and our 5* lucky mascot, Sprinkles the unicorn, has come back to hang out in Chazzle’s stable this week!) But also, Hallie’s one of my best pals, we went pony shopping together and found the horse of a lifetime in Cute Girl, and I genuinely think that this pair has some absolutely massive results in them on the world stage. This will only be Gypsy’s second four-star, but she learned a tonne in her first at Millstreet, she’s looking and feeling great, and Hallie’s a serious competitor. It would surprise me not one jot to see them burst into the spotlight this week. DON’T MAKE ME PICK. THANKS.

Laura Collett and Dacapo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

CHEG DARLINGTON

The CCI5* Winner:  I’m going to go all in and say Laura Collet and Dacapo. London 52 may be the more obvious choice — being an Olympic team gold medalist and Badminton winner — but Dacapo seemed all for it in the first phase at Badminton before Laura decided not to run due to the weather, and if he can match the dressage score he posted there — 25.2 — he won’t have done his chances here any harm. Laura’s looking for her first 5* completion with the gelding, having had two previous starts, so she’s surely ready to put that to bed and I can see her doing it in style here this weekend.

The Best of the US:  Wow, this is tough when you look at the entries from the US! My heart always tells me Thomas (Boyd Martin’s Tsetserleg TSF) because I love him. But I’m going to plump for Boyd’s other ride, Fedarman B, because I also love a big white blaze and the gelding was looking great at the horse inspection. Boyd’s on fire at the minute after his Bromont hat-trick and I think Fedarman B’s speed and accuracy will see him well and truly hit the big time this weekend.

The Best Brit:  Another tough one given the impressive entries list from the British camp, but I’m going with Emily King and Valmy Biats. This is a combination I just have a feeling is heading for a big result at the level. He looked well up for the challenge at Badminton before Emily sensibly decided to save him for another day, and having had a taste of the muddy ground there, he’ll surely appreciate the going at Luhmuhlen.

The Top Mare: Emma Brussau’s horse, Dark Desire GS. I would never underestimate the power of a longtime relationship between a horse and rider, particularly when they’ve ‘grown up’ together. Their accomplishments in Juniors and Young Riders speak volumes about the quality of this pairing, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them finish on an impressive result this weekend.

Biggest Climber: Known to post a dressage result in the 40s, sometimes the high-40s, Arne Bergendahl’s Luthien 3 is likely to be towards the bottom end of the leaderboard at the end of the first phase. But let the mare loose on the cross country and you’ll truly see a horse who loves her job! We will for sure see them climb after Saturday’s action, and could well see them climb further on the final day.

The Highest-Placed Rookie (Horse or Rider): Tamie Smith‘s horse, Solaguayre California — it’s a long way to travel if you don’t think you can win. Although I’ve followed Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line for a while and would have put them as my Spoiler Alert had we included that category. I’ve narrowed it down for all my other picks (for once), so I’m giving myself two for this one.

The CCI4*-S Winner: Ingrid Klimke and EQUISTRO’s Siena Just Do It. Who would bet against Ingrid? Not me, that’s for sure!

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

DIANA GILBERTSON

The CCI5* Winner: Ah heck. I hate this one. I will likely get it wrong, and I’m not sure if I can mention the same horse twice, but here we are…. My pick for the Luhmuhlen 2023 5* Champ is quite simple. London 52. Yes, he ran out at Pratoni, but he also won Badminton in 2022, won Pau in 2020, and oh yeah, helped Team GB to victory in the 2021 Olympics.  So, it may be the obvious choice, but for once I think I might be backing the right one.

The Best of the US: Hmmmm. Tamie or Boyd, Boyd or Tamie. I am going to take a punt on Boyd Martin as the best of the US, purely because he has 3 shots here this weekend, to Tamie’s one.

Of those, it seems obvious to say that Tsetserleg TSF will bring home the goods for Boyd, being a 5* champ, and Olympian and a WEG horse, but I am going to buck the trend and say that Federman B will beat his stablemates this weekend. Yes, it is Bruno’s 5* debut, but hello?! Have you seen this horse’s jumping record? It’s pretty tidy I have to say, as is their 4* form. So, I reckon he will come out of the start box here like an old pro and give Boyd a really great result, 5* debut or otherwise.

The Best Brit: Oooh this is a tough one – we have quite a few major contenders coming across the water to Germany this weekend. Eventing Legend and the first ever Grand Slam Winner Pippa Funnel brings 2019 Burghley winner MGH Grafton Street forward, while the World Champion Yasmin Ingham brings her Young Rider Champion Rehy DJ along for a spin, and then there’s Kitty King on the lovely Vendredi Biats. However, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, it is hard to see past Miss Collett, who has not just one but two incredible contenders lined up and ready to shoot for the title this weekend: Dacapo and London 52, 2022 Badminton Winner and all round superstar. If Dacapo keeps his head and puts in the performance that he has proven himself capable of, he will be pretty far up that leader board, but let’s face it, it’s doubtful he will knock his stablemate off the top spot. London 52 has oodles and doodles of experience at this level now, and as long as he doesn’t do anything silly like her did at Pratoni last year, he will be hard to beat. He will likely lead the first phase by a country mile and good luck to anyone trying to catch up!

The Top Mare: There are  a few super smart mares lining up this weekend, not least Tamie Smith’s Solaguayre California and given her penchant for jumping a double clear, and the incredible jockey holding her hand around her 5* debut, she will almost certainly finish in a notable position on the leader board. However, Oliver Townend’s Cooley Rosalent, as beautiful as she is talented, has the potential to go even better. Oliver holds the mare in very high esteem indeed, and he would know, having partnered   her all the way from BE100. She placed second in her first ever CCI4*L at Blair Castle last year, and has shown little to no reason as to why she shouldn’t absolutely smash her first 5* too, vindicating Oliver’s long held faith in his noble steed.

Biggest Climber: I’d love this to be Susie Berry and Monbeg by Design. Arthur tries his heart out for his young jockey, despite not always finding the job easy, and his show jumping record is pretty awesome. He added just a few time faults to his dressage score at the World Championships in Pratoni last year, jumping clear around that show jumping course. So if he can get his skates on around the cross country, he could make up for his likely mid-range dressage score and do himself and Susie very proud indeed and  beat a few of the horses that may lay ahead before the second and third phase.

The Highest-Placed Rookie (Horse or Rider): This one is easy…. Tim Price and Happy Boy. Winner of Boekelo Nations Cup last year, he is, in Tim’s words, ‘really nifty.’ An incredible jumper, and a horse that just seems to get better and better every time out, Happy Boy may not be right up there after dressage, but he could easily skip up the leader board after both jumping phases, such is his prowess at getting between those flags, and keeping his knees up over the coloured poles.

The CCI4*-S Winner: Ahhhhh. A no brainer. Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden. They have already won the 5* here, so why not add the 4* title to their list of achievements? Like Laura Collett, Mollie benefits from the guidance of dressage maestro Carl Hester, so they will likely top the charts after the dressage. The jumping phases shouldn’t offer too much of a challenge given their previous performance here in Germany, so there is no valid reason why Mollie and her best mate Charley shouldn’t bring home another win here this weekend.

Laura Collett and Dacapo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

CASSIDY OELTJEN

5* Winner: Laura Collett and Dacapo (GBR)

I realize that this means I’m going against the stellar record of London 52, but I really liked this horse for having a breakout performance at Badminton. But if we can collectively agree that Badminton was just a bit different this year, I’ve punted my opinion to this weekend. Shine that light bright Dacapo… I think this is your time to shine.

Best of the US: Boyd Martin and Fedarman B (USA)

Being a part of the tearful masses at Bruce’s Field for last year’s Grand Prix Eventing solidified my forever fan status for this pair. While Boyd has never been short on mounts with fairytale stories, this one really has the collective positive vibes of an entire nation of eventers behind it. Not to mention Fedarman is stunning in all three phases, and being piloted by a jockey as skilled as Boyd doesn’t hurt either.

Top Mare: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California (USA)

Tamie didn’t need any help learning to win, but that weekend in Kentucky sure didn’t hurt. While this mare is inexperienced at the level, she is no stranger to clear rounds and pulling out mare tenacity. I feel like the energy she and Tamie collectively have will be electric in all the right ways.

Top Brit: Laura Collett and London 52 (GBR)

I’m just going to cover all my bases with talented horses from Laura’s barn. Even though I put my eggs in the Dacapo basket, I’m also confident in London 52’s winning ways. It seemed unlucky that he had to scratch from Badminton, but with how the weather played out, maybe it was luck’s way of ramping him up for a big Luhmuhlen finish.

Biggest Mover: Tim Price and Happy Boy (NZL)

I’m not going to be one who bets against Tim Price, even on a rookie horse. I have utmost confidence in Tim’s ability to pilot Happy around, finishing on his dressage score, whatever that might be.

Best Rookie: Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line (AUT)

When making notes for Lea’s form guide entry, I couldn’t stop saying “And then…”. She and Fighty have a long list of accomplishments, and although she was entered last year, Fighty was not, making this the first official CCI5* run for the pair. Hard to believe since they have Olympic and WEG appearances to their name.

4* Winner: Julia Krajewski and Ero de Cantraie (GER)

Both of Julia’s mounts are equally inexperienced, and equally talented. They both have the ability to pull of some pretty stellar performances in all three phases, and they both have the expert piloting of Julia. In all honesty, I’m going with Ero de Cantraie because alphabetically his name comes first and I had to find some way to separate these two who I think each have a chance at their first CCI4*-S win.

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

SALLY SPICKARD

Winner: Boyd Martin and Fedarman B

In order to assuage myself of any pro-U.S. bias, I took a good spin through our Form Guide to the pairs entered in this year’s 5* at Luhmühlen before I made my selection. I’ve had an inkling in my head for awhile now, but it’s always good to make sure you do some research before putting your cards out there. But even after that review session, I stand by my first pick: Boyd Martin and Fedarman B.

Boyd brings arguably three of his best current horses to the table in Germany this week, and I can tell you that he didn’t come all this way just for shits and grins. He will have selected each event on his horse’s schedule with an eye to his chances of winning (save, perhaps, the later addition of Tsetserleg TSF after an issue early on cross country at Kentucky forced a plan B).

I chose “Bruno”, piloted in honor of the late and loved Annie Goodwin, for a few reasons:
1. Bruno is rideable and capable of going fast, efficiently. He’s got his own style of jumping, but he always looks smooth and effortless, not requiring much in the way of set-up from his rider. On a course that demands intelligent selection of lines in order to have a hope of making time, having a rideable horse will matter more than having only a fast horse. Bruno is both, and Boyd has been selective about the times he’s asked the horse to go for the time, meaning he’ll have loads of reserve fitness to call on in the final minutes of the thinking track.
2. Boyd and Fedarman B stand a good chance to go out of the start box well-placed in the beginning. A penchant for a competitive score puts a top three or better post-dressage placing well within reach.
3. Touch wood, this duo have yet to lower a rail in FEI competition since beginning their partnership. Boyd’s got a not-so-secret weapon in the form of show jumping Olympian and super coach Peter Wylde, whose quiet influence can be seen in Boyd’s much-improved jumping technique in recent seasons.
4. The power of a story carries more weight than you may give it credit for, and this weekend Boyd will be carrying out a dream first laid out for Bruno by his former person, Annie Goodwin.

The Best of the US: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California

Having chosen a U.S. rider to win, I’ll follow that choice up with our own Queen of Kentucky, Tamie Smith. Hot off a historic 5* win at Kentucky in April, Tamie now focuses her attention on 5* debutant Solaguayre California, who is owned by Julianne Guariglia. This is a hotly-anticipated debut for California, whose zest and exuberance on cross country are unforgettable and whose athleticism should lend itself well to this level of sport.

Tamie will have selected Luhmühlen as a good debut spot for California on purposes and provided Tamie has the ride ability she needs to go quick on Saturday, she could be looking at another podium finish — and some proper momentum to take into CHIO Aachen at the end of the month with her Kentucky winner, Mai Baum.

The Best Brit: Kitty King and Vendredi Biats

After a heartbreaking fall saw their Badminton dreams end prematurely, we know this pair has the chops for this top tier of the sport. They’ve got a top-10 finish at both Badminton and Burghley to hang their hat on, and adding another to the pile would be icing on the cake this weekend. We know Kitty and Vendredi Biats will be near the top after the first phase, with a low-20s score more than possible, and if they can just nip around quick enough on Saturday they’ll be in good stead to go for all the glory on Sunday.

The Top Mare: Dark Desire GS (Emma Brüssau)

Reading through Emma and “Desi’s” collective CV is quite impressive. Similar to British World Champion Yasmin Ingham, this pair is a product of a healthy young rider pipeline, already laying claim to multiple individual and team titles on the junior squads for Germany.

Much of that success has come during Emma’s partnership with the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, and we all know that a large part of any success in eventing comes from health of partnership. So while this weekend is a debut of sorts, at the 5* level, this pair has more than enough experience to consider them prepared to go for a big result.

Biggest Climber: Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3

Let’s face it: not every competitor who finishes on the podium at a three-day started in that position. And really, it’s a nod to the history of the sport and its completeness. It tests all facets of athleticism and ride ability, and in the best tests, the horses that show the best results at the end of the weekend aren’t always those that pull out the best marks in the first phase.

You may not find German pair Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3 on the board after the first phase, more likely to pull a score in the 30s to start their weekend. But you’re likely to see them much closer at the end of the day Saturday. This is a pair that has proven themselves capable of going quick across the country and climbing the leaderboard as a result. If they can find the best way around Mike Etherington-Smith’s track Saturday and leave the poles where they belong Sunday, the Biggest Climber award will be firmly in their grasp.

The Highest-Placed Rookie (Horse or Rider): Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS

I’m going to be a little lazy here and refer you back to my pick for top mare, as the words still apply here!

The CCI4*-S Winner: Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39

It’s once again difficult to bet against experience, and I’m giving this nod to Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale, who’ve come up the rankings together — with plenty of competitive success along the way. That success includes medals at the Young Rider Europeans and a win in their first 4*-S at Strzegom in 2021.

While this pair doesn’t have a world of experience at this level — this weekend marks their fourth start at 4* over three seasons — they do know each other quite well at this point. That experience will come in handy in what stands to be a formidable test, but not one that this pair isn’t well-prepared for.

Tim Price: lost his horse, kept the vibes. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

TOKEN NON-HORSEY BOYFRIEND AND UNOFFICIAL EN MASCOT ALEX

CCI5* Winner: Tim Price and Happy Boy

Why? It’s Tim, duh. And he looked great when he was looking for his missing horse after the trot up. The look of a champion, that. 

The Best of the US: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California

Because it’s Tamie, and she’s awesome. Does there need to be more reasoning than that? I don’t think so.

The Best Brit: Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ

I like Yaz. I’m picking riders here who talk to me, mostly. Also her horse is called Piglet, and that is great.

The Top Mare: Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS. 

I’m going with this one for the name alone, to be honest. WHAT A NAME.

Biggest Climber: Hallie Coon and Global Ex

I had to pick Hallie because she tried to whip me after the trot up and I fear further retribution. Also, great horse. We hosted Hallie for Christmas at our house as well, which means she’s basically family, and also I’m mentioning this so I look really well-connected and in the game. 

The Highest-Placed Rookie (Horse or Rider): Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line

This horse will obviously be FIGHTING to get on the right LINE and that seems like a pretty essential trait for an event horse to have. Sold. (Also it’s a real pretty horse.)

The CCI4*-S Winner: Hallie Coon and Cute Girl

Look, again, the whip thing. Also my girlfriend Tilly helped Hallie find this horse so the horse is also part of the family. NEIGH. 

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