Classic Eventing Nation

Australian Rider Heath Ryan Provisionally Suspended after Video Surfaces

By on Jun 14, 2025 9:00 am -

Embed from Getty Images

Australian rider Heath Ryan has been provisionally suspended by the FEI and Equestrian Australia after a video, approximately two years old, surfaced this week of the Hong Kong dressage Olympian repeatedly whipping a horse. Heath, an Olympian who represented Australia at the 2008 Olympics and the 1990 and 2002 World Equestrian Games, has competed in both pure dressage as well as upper-level eventing throughout his career.

After the release of the video, which depicts Heath repeatedly whipping a horse over the span of several minutes, the rider posted a statement on his social media pages. We’ve provided statements given about this case in full for additional context:

“Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery [slaughter]. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico.

“Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn’t and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video.

“I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding.

“I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future.

“All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee.

“All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.”

Equestrian Australia responded to the video, confirming that it had enacted a suspension of Heath as it investigates the matter.

“Equestrian Australia is aware of footage posted on social media showing a person repeatedly whipping a horse. We have also received a formal complaint about the matter. Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage. 

“Equestrian Australia’s Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy includes high standards to protect all participants and their horses against any adverse physical, social, and emotional conditions during all EA endorsed equestrian activities that are conducted under the auspices of EA or by any EA affiliate. We also have a Code of Conduct which requires participants to adhere to the FEI code of conduct for the welfare of the horse.

“The person depicted in the video is a member of Equestrian Australia. 

“Equestrian Australia has this afternoon [June 12] imposed a provisional suspension of this person’s membership of Equestrian Australia and their rights, privileges and benefits associated with their membership. This means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organisation of, or participation in, any event under the jurisdiction of Equestrian Australia. 

“The suspension will remain in place pending a thorough investigation of this matter by Equestrian Australia’s Integrity Unit. 

“Contrary to commentary on YouTube, we have no information to suggest Equestrian Australia management asked for the footage of this incident to be removed.”

EN reached out to the FEI to verify that a corresponding suspension had been handed down, to which they responded with the following statement:

“The FEI is aware of the footage published on social media and is taking it very seriously. We are liaising with Equestrian Australia and looking into this incident. Equestrian Australia has imposed a provisional suspension against the athlete Heath Ryan (AUS) and the FEI has recognised and implemented it at FEI level as of 12 June 2025. It is visible in the FEI database here.”

 

EN will continue to monitor this investigation and will provide further updates as they are made available to us.

Cross Country Day at Longines Luhmühlen: Live Blog from the 5* Competition

By on Jun 14, 2025 2:29 am -

Let’s do this thing – the first fence. Photo via Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen.

Here we are at the halfway point of the season’s 5*s, on the best day – cross country day – and I’ll be with you right from the first “Gute fahrt” to the last. (Sorry to German speakers, I honestly have no idea if Google Translate has spat out any semblance of sense, but I am very much in favour of all cross country starters around the globe replacing the regular ‘Have a good ride’ with this German – maybe – interpretation.)

But first, dressage happened and it’s given us a rolling podium as we head into today’s cross country:

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Top of the class is 2023 Luhmühlen winner, three-time 5* champ and two-time Olympic team gold medalist London 52 and Laura Collett who laid it all down between the white boards to sit on a score of 25.4, just 0.6 penalties ahead of the rest of the field.

2️⃣ 🇬🇧 Hot on their heels in second is Pau winner Izilot DHI and Ros Canter who floated their way to a score of 26.

3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Doing it for the home crowd, in equal third after the first phase is Kentucky 2024 fourth-placer Carlitos Quidditch K and Malin Hansen-Hotopp on a score of 28.9.

3️⃣ 🇳🇿 Joining Malin is Kiwi’s Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ and Samantha Lissington, here for the horse’s second 5* start after finishing top-10 at Pau last year – they’re also on a score of 28.9.

You’ll find the full leaderboard right here.

Here are the links you need to catch up on all the deets of what went down over the last couple of days:

▶️ [Thursday Report]
▶️ [Friday Report]

German efficiency comes into play in the scheduling today, with an early start for me here in Britain, but not quite so early as for our American friends – huge shout out to any eventing superfans following this blog in the US, we salute you. It all kicks off at 8:40am CEST / 2:40am ET when Britain’s Aimee Penny will trailblaze her way around the track with the first of her two rides PSH Encore.

You can have a look at what’s in store for the 2025 contenders here and see Tilly’s take on the whole shebangright here. As ever, we’ve wrangled the riders for their insights into the track – read their reactions here.

Before get down to business, a little ‘refresher’ on the no. 1 rule of following EN’s classic live blog: refresh, refresh, refresh – and all will be revealed.

If you’re catching up with this later and are the type to like things in order, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️. If going backwards is more your jam, have at it.

As you know, here at EN we just can’t help ourselves when it comes to bringing eventing superfans like ourselves every single scrap of the shenanigans at 5* events. You’ll find all of our crazy right here. And that’s not all. There’s also cool stuff going on over on our Instagram channel @goeventing – follow along here.

Gute fahrt, guys, and go eventing!

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Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

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6:44

UPDATE:

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI are now in 2nd on a score of 28.8 – the flag penalties were taken away on review. That drops Sam Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty into 3rd and Kitty King and Vendredi Biats into 4th.

Lea Siegl has had the 20 penalties from the Irish Bank taken away on review, meaning that she was clear jumping with van Helsing P with 11.2 time, leaving them in 10th spot.

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6:25

And so there we have it. Cross country day at Longines Luhmühlen has drawn to a close.

Here’s the provisional leaderboard. There are flags being reviewed, in particular for Ros Canter and Izilot DHI who would go into second if the 15 penalties are removed. But for now, this is how things look:

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Leading the pack is Laura Collet and London 52 who stormed round the track clear inside the time to land on a score of 25.4, 3.9 penalties ahead of the rest of the field – not a fence in hand for tomorrow.

2️⃣ 🇳🇿 Chasing the top spot is Sam Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ who showed their mettle across the country and sit on a score of 29.3.

3️⃣ 🇬🇧 Rounding out the rolling podium, is Kitty King and Vendredi Biats who delivered a brilliant clear inside the time and are on a score of 31.2 heading into the final phase.

You’ll find the full leaderboard right here.

Keep it locked onto the website for EN’s classic full report – coming soon.

Thanks for coming along for the live blog ride ENers, until next time, go eventing!

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6:15

🇬🇧 FINAL COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Ros Canter and Izilot DHI

Dressage Score: 26
Place: 2

Ros and ‘Isaac’ are hot on it through the first water combination at 5ABC. We don’t see them through the arena but they show as clear on the live scoreboard and we pick them back up at the Messmer Water at 11/12/13 and they’re confident and smooth as you like. We’re seeing a question mark at 16A for a flag on the live scoreboard. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with that. We pick them up coming round to the Irish Bank at 20 and are clear through there, not wasting a second. Ros brings him back for the ditch combination at 25ABC and they’re really smooth through there. They’re coming for home now, carrying that 15 for the flag at 16. They finish with 2.8 time penalties. They go into 13th as things stand, but that flag penalty will be under review.

Meanwhile, Lea is still clear through the double of gates at 18AB. We’re not seeing a lot of her though, sorry. Oh dear, when we do see them it’s as they have trouble at the Irish Bank at 20ABC. The horse doesn’t seem to want to drop off the bank at A and looks to take some steps back. They’re given two refusals which Lucinda in the commentary box thinks is a bit mean. And it is, the live scoreboard updates it to one refusal – 20 penalties. They have another moment at the ditch combination at 25 and almost bank the log at the C element but they’re clear through there. They complete with 20 jumping 11.2 time.

Laura uses up a little luck at the combination at 21AB. She’s driving through and sitting back. Heart in mouth a little. They continue on towards home. She slows right up for the ditch combination at 25ABC taking no risks there. They’re good on the time. Will they hold their lead? They come up to the last and it’s CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME!!! 5 seconds to spare and retains her overnight lead. Will London 52 take the Luhmuhlen crown for a second time? We’ll see tomorrow.

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6:10

🇦🇹 PENULTIMATE COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Lea Siegl and van Helsing P

Dressage Score: 29.8
Place: 6

Lea rides brilliantly through the combination in the Main Arena at 8. Very accurate and precise there.

Cosby is looking really confident as she nears the end of her round. She’s having a peach of a ride, for sure. They’re great through the final combination and then cruise toward the finish. CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME!!! Fabulous. They go into 3rd.

Laura’s riding bravely as she comes through the Messmer Water – she’s well up for this. She’s saving time all round the track, riding really efficiently. She has to give him a bit of encouragement at the Irish Bank but they fly on through.

UPDATES (exactly as we hear them):

Origi – has been X-rayed, no fracture, just sore.

Jalapeno – ruptured a tendon and has been put in a cast.

We’ll bring you more as we have it.

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6:06

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Laura Collett and London 52

Dressage Score: 25.4
Place: 1

Just two more combinations to go after Laura and London 52, which includes the clubhouse leaders – Laura and ‘Dan’ – and Ros and ‘Isaac’ who are sitting in second.

Will Laura hold onto the top spot? We’ll know soon enough.

Perfection for Laura and London 52 through the Main Arena at 8ABC.

Noor crosses the finish line absolutely delighted. They’re showing at having had a frangible device at 23A – the first of a double of corners. But they’ve completed 5* cross country. 30 time penalties for them.

Oh dear. We’re seeing Aimee on the ground at the Irish Bank at 20. The horse seems to be in the ditch and Aimee’s got hold of her. We then see them walking the mare round. The end of their competition but it looks like no harm done.

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6:02

🇺🇲 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious

Dressage Score: 34.6
Place: 16

Highly Suspicious is very keen at the start of the round, really pulling Cosby along. They stand way off fence 4, just before the water at 5. They’re blisteringly quick through the combination there. The horse is truly up for this. Wow. They’re still flying in the Main Arena but he’s listening to Cosby, they make the turn and they’re easily clear through there.

We see Aimee come steady through the combination at 8 in the Main Arena and make the two strides between the B and C elements look easy. They went as straight as possible over the angle there. Very good.

Noor’s flying as she comes to the Irish Bank at 20ABC. They hunt through there looking like they’re having a great time out there.

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5:59

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Aimee Penny and PSH Gazelle

Dressage Score: 37.6
Place: 29

We’re into out final five combinations to go now.

Aimee’s back on track for the second time after getting us underway this morning on her other ride. She comes down for the first water at 5ABC and are very smooth through there.

Jonelle’s coming for home now. Oh, they slide over the rail coming into the ditch combination at 25 and the device comes down. It’s really dark in the shadows there. How frustrating so late in the course and after such a great round. They finish with those 11 penalties and 3.6 time.

Noor puts in a little trot stride coming into 12A on the island at the Messmer Water. So clever from both horse and rider. They’re confident through there.

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5:55

🇲🇦 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand

Dressage Score: 38.7
Place: 35

Noor gets a great ride through the first water at 5ABC, very efficient and clean through there. They show a beautiful partnership between horse and rider in the Main Arena, really working as a team as they clear the combination at 5 easily.

Jonelle’s horse looks to be really enjoying himself as he picks his way through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. He’s listening and galloping on from his fences with his ears pricked. They’re very neat through the Wave Track at 14ABCD. Quiet and smooth and very impressive.

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5:52

🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo

Dressage Score: 35.1
Place: 23

The gelding stumbles a little on landing coming out of the Longines Water at 5 but then continues on without missing a step. He’s keen and fighting for his head as he comes to the maximum height and spread log pile at 6. Excellently done through the Main Arena, getting two strides between the B and C element at 8. That rode really well done like that.

Meanwhile Tom is coming to the end of the track. This really has been a smooth, confident round. They’re 25 seconds over.

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5:48

🇭🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Balazs Kaizinger and Herr Cooles Classico

Dressage Score: 41.4
Place: 42

Balazs runs into troubles in the Main Arena. They have a run out at the C element at 5, come back round and run out again. They call it a day. A shame for their competition to end so early.

Tom is just perfect through the Wave Track at 14ABCD. Efficient and smooth, great cross country riding. They’re smooth through the LeMieux water at 16ABC. Confident all the way for them. The horse is picking out the flags as he gallops along.

Kitty is nearing home now, close to the time. Will she make it? BANG ON THE OPTIMUM TIME. Kitty King and Vendredi Biats are clear inside the time and go into 2nd.

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5:45

🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Thomas Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard

Dressage Score: 31.6
Place: 10=

A total masterclass happens in the Main Arena. Fabulous through the combination there at 8ABC. Really, it looked like nothing. But it’s so hard and so many people have had penalties there. For Tom, no problem.

Kitty gets the canter perfect for the water at 16ABC to make the stride between the brush corners there.

Cil Dara Dallas is pulling as they come into the final combination at 27. Isabel looks back to check the frangible device after giving the B element a rub but it’s good. They cross the finish line after a really great educational round – clear jumping 8.8 time.

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5:40

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Kitty King and Vendredi Biats

Dressage Score: 31.2
Place: 8

We’re into the final 10 combinations to go.

Kitty has got off to a great start and is straight into a beautiful rhythm with ‘Froggy’. She’s very careful through the Main Arena. She gets him right back between the A and B elements and gets as straight as possible for those acute angles. Beautiful.

Oop, we see Mike have a moment at the ditch combination at 25. He’s popped right out of the saddle over the A element but then El Mundo’s jump over the ditch pops he back into the plate. Good boy. They make it through penalty free.

Meanwhile Isabel is still clear although we’re not seeing her on screen, sadly. Oh, now we are. She looks steady over the combination at 21 as she heads towards home.

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5:35

🇦🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas

Dressage Score: 34
Place: 14

They’re quick into the Main Arena but then Isabel gets the gelding right, right back. They come through the tricky line through 8ABC really carefully. Very clean and precise for them. They’re very neat through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13.

Kirsty crosses the finish line with ‘Rocket’. There’s a flag question for them at 16A and 16B. If they’re judged as OK, it’ll have been a clear for them. If not, it’ll be 15 penalties for each flag. They’ve had 17.2 time.

Meanwhile, Mike is nearing the end of the course but we haven’t really seen him, sorry.

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5:30

🇨🇦 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Michael Winter and El Mundo

Dressage Score: 34.9
Place: 22

We see Mike take on the combination at 8 in the Main Arena and make it through there neat enough. Mike works hard through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13 but El Mundo is responding to him and they continue along the track.

Wow, we see some superb reactive riding from Sam at the Bed and Breakfast fence at 21AB. It’s sticky, but it happens and they’re through and galloping on towards the last part of the course. She’s on track for the time. She’s going to do it! Is she? Not quite. 1 second over. Into the lead as things stand.

Meanwhile, Declan has crossed the finish line with his spotty pony carrying that 20 from the Main Arena and 43.2 time. We didn’t get to see a lot of his round, sorry.

Kirsty is flying with ‘Rocket’. She takes out flags at the water at 16 after a tricky jump at the A element. They look to be good though.

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5:28

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl

Dressage Score: 34.7
Place: 19=

Kirsty gets ‘Rocket’ right back through the Main Arena and then totally commits through the tricky turn between 8B and C. Perfection. Off they gallop.

Sam is great through the Wave Track at 14 – very neat and confident.

Declan takes the Irish Bank at 20 like a pro. Clever trot step from the gelding in the middle and they hunt their way through that combination happily.

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5:24

🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ

Dressage Score: 28.9
Place: 3

In joint-third coming into cross country, Kiwi eventer Sam brings Sooty forward for his second 5*. Malin and Carlitos Quidditch K – who were also in 3rd – went earlier and picked up 11 penalties for breaking a frangible device. They make a superb job of 5ABC in the Main Arena and get their round off to a very confident start.

Seavaghn Ash chips in at the second of the brushes at 14D but Declan sits tight and they continue along the track.

Meanwhile, Piggy and Halo have crossed the finish line. 20 jumping 18.8 time.

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5:19

🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Declan Cullen and Seavaghan Ash

Dressage Score: 38.3
Place: 31

They’re in the Main Arena and Declan makes the turn happen to 8B but then they scoot along the front of the C element. He comes round for another go on a straighter line and make it over.

Janneke is shouting as she makes her way through the ditch combination at 25. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she encourages over each element. She’s having a great time out there. They cross the finish and she’s thrilled, although Lucinda has something to say about riders not keeping a correct hold on the reins, no matter how excited you are. An important lesson from a great horsewoman. Just to be clear, Janneke didn’t drop her reins, just took one hand off for a delighted punch of the air. Clear jumping 13.2 time.

Urgh, Piggy has picked up a 20 at the Messmer water at 12B. Halo’s eye is just not locked on and they scoot by. That’s really a shame after their round was going so well. They continue on for an educational round.

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5:15

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Piggy March and Halo

Dressage Score: 29.9
Place: 7

Halo is the only stallion in the field today. Halo is on springs as he takes on the first water combination at 5. They fly into the Main Arena and Piggy sees a great stride to the A element. Spencer is just saying “Wow, wow, wow” as they make their way through that really difficult combination. Just total perfection. This is a very cool horse. He’s pinging away and looking like 5* is just nothing, on his debut at the level no less.

There’s more lovely partnership on show as Janneke and ‘Special’ make their way through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. They’re working as a team and hunting their way round the course. The mare looks down the trop at 14B and Janneke encourages her with her voice. The clear that combination and head on their way.

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5:12

🇳🇱 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Janneke Boonzaaijer and I’m Special N.O.P

Dressage Score: 38.5
Place: 33

They come into the Main Arena and squirrel the line through the combination at 8. What a sweet horse, she really tried hard for her rider there.

We catch up with Imo grinding to a halt at 14A – the Wave Track. She decides to call it a day there.

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5:08

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Imo Brook and San Solo

Dressage Score: 45.7
Place: 47

Ooo, Imo has an early moment at the corner at 7. Up and down over that, not ideal. They’re steady into the Main Arena and Imo makes it happen between B and C. They get underneath it and Imo’s pitched slightly, but in great balance. Through there clear.

No May Moon is flying round the track. She’s so zippy and keen, really quick thinking. She’s great through the Wave Track at 14. But then things come undone at the water at 16. She twists slightly over the corner in the water at 16B, Allison is unseated but tries to stay on. The mare’s still traveling though and runs into the C element. The fence stops her but Allison slides off onto the top of the table there. Such a shame for them. This is a truly exciting mare with plenty in the future, for sure. We see her being walked round and cooled off. Allison looks to be OK.

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5:04

🇺🇲 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Allison Springer and No May Moon

Dressage Score: 35.6
Place: 25

We see them fly into the Main Arena. They’re really quick to 8A and then just squeak round for B. But then they just don’t make it to C and go out to the side. Such a shame as the mare is actually jumping really well, almost too enthusiastically. They come back round and hop right up over the C element. They gallop on for an educational round after that mistake, giving the mare valuable 5* experience on her debut at the level.

Meanwhile Phoebe Locke is delighted as she crosses the finish line. She’s carrying those 15 penalties from 8C and has added 38 time.

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4:59

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B

Dressage Score: 41
Place: 40

They come to the Main Arena for the combination at 8. They look to be in a good pace. They’re on the line. They’re through there clear. Beautifully ridden, spot on. Oh dear, they run into troubles at the Messmer water – the fence on the island – 12A. The horse just doesn’t lock onto the fence. They come back round and jump through 12AB but then Tom puts his hand up.

Phoebe has been given 15 penalties for a missed flag at 8C. That’ll be reviewed. They have a great ride through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13, really working as a team as they pick their way through there. They nail the line through the Wave Track. Careful and clean – super job. They’re just as good through the water at 16ABC. Very neat and together now after that trouble in the Main Arena.

We’re hearing from Lara. She says Origi twisted a fetlock landing over the final fence. She says it’s something that is very painful initially. He’s now back in his stable and comfortable.

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4:56

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Phoebe Locke and Bellagio Declyange

Dressage Score: 34.8
Place: 21

The horse sets off with ears pricked and flies the first three fences before heading off into the trees for the long galloping stretch. We see them make nothing of the Longines Water at 5. They come into the Main Arena for the combination at 8. She looks to have got a good rhythm and pace. They’re good over A, and B but then C is a heart in mouth moment. They dive across the angled brush. The flags go. Phoebe’s pitched forward. She sits back up. Spencer in the commentary box is questioning whether they were inside the flags – there’s a question mark on the live scoreboard. They continue on.

Benjamin is restarted and looks to get back into a rhythm very quickly. We see them set up for the double of gates at 18AB and take them carefully. The come through the trees and head towards the Irish Bank at 20ABC. The horse has a little look into the ditch coming off the bank but Benjamin keeps his head up and they make their way through there neatly. They jump through the double of corners at 23AB beautifully. The ditch combination at 25ABC is flawless for them. They’ve really got things together after that early mishap and are having a great ride. They’re easy over the last. 20 jumping, 9.2 time penalties.

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4:46

We’re just on hold while Gemma Stevens’ horse Jalapeno is attended to next to the track. Gemma pulled up when she felt the mare wasn’t right. That’s all we know right now. The vets are with them and Jalapeno is being taken care of. We’ll update you as we have more information.

The live blog will continue when the competition restarts.

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4:37

🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Benjamin Massie and Filao de Perle

Dressage Score: 37.4
Place: 28

OK, there’s action in the Main Arena. They have a run out at the C element and then come back round on a very wiggly line. The horse stops, kind of, and then goes. That looked uncomfortable but they’re over and on their way. We then see them make a beautiful job of the Wave Track at 14ABCD. As good as any through there. They’ve been stopped on course.

Gemma’s pulled up with Jalapeno. She jumps off. It looks like the mare has gone lame. We’re seeing them surrounded by people using their water bottles to cool off Jalapeno. The eventing community spirit in real life, right there. The vets are with them. I’ll update you as I have information.

Malin’s now crossed the finish line carrying those unfortunate 11 penalties. It was a quick round with just 1.6 time penalties added. That’s a shame.

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4:33

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno

Dressage Score: 29.4
Place: 5

They come quick into the Main Arena but then Gemma gets the mare right back. Gemma growls into the B element. They’re through clear. Super. Jalapeno is really confident through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. They’re giving this a great crack. They’re very smooth and together through the Wave Track at 14ABCD. Beautiful partnership and a horse and rider thinking as one – lovely to see.

Alice comes to the last and the horse looks full of running. Clear jumping 18 time for them. We didn’t get to see a lot of it but that seemed like a great round for them.

Malin and Quidditch look great over the Irish Bank at 20ABC. They’re not thinking about those 11 penalties now.

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4:27

🇸🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K

Dressage Score: 28.9
Place: 3

Sitting in joint-third place coming into today, Malin and Quidditch are now out on course. Malin gives us a master class in the Main Arena. Beautiful through there. But then, oh no. They break the frangible device going into the Messmer Water at 11. It looked like they just didn’t get high enough and take it with the horse’s belly. That’s a real shame, especially as they were in such a good position. They continue on.

Frankie puts a lovely little trot stride before the triple brush coming out of the Irish Bank combination. Clever pony. That comes up great for them. Frankie’s taking no chances. They’re cruising towards the finish now. She’s about to complete 5* cross country for the first time. She’s been at the level before but this is her first completion. She’s delighted. 20 jumping 33.2 time.

Alice is close to the flag at 14D at the Wave Track but they’re inside and they squirrel through. It’s elbows going to the C element of the water at 16. Really bold cross country riding going on.

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4:22

🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Alice Coppithorne and Fort Arthur Little Dolly

Dressage Score: 44.1
Place: 45

We see them in the Main Arena. They’ve very slow into the A element of 5. They show jump that. They’re slow again to B and then make the turn and clear C. Slow and steady, making sure those turns were there. That worked for them.

“Come on” Frankie says as she makes her way through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. The mare listens and they’re great through there. “Good girl” Frankie says. Very nice job. There’s another “Come on” through the Wave Track. They make a great job of that tricky combination too.

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4:17

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Francesca Reid-Warrilow and Guilty Pleasure

Dressage Score: 34.6
Place: 16=

We see the mare have a sticky jump into the first water at 5 but Frankie sits tight and is in just the right spot to stay in balance. They come into the Main Arena. They’re steady into the A element and make the B element. Frankie’s working hard with her legs to keep the line, but it doesn’t happen. They pick up 20 at 8C. They come round and take it well the second time and continue on.

Halenza has a rub at the rails going into the ditch combination at 25 but it stays up. They make a lovely job at the final combination and then have a nice jump over the final fence. 20 jumping 33.6 time.

We’re hearing that Origi is being assessed by the vets, he’s comfortable and being taken good care of. We’ll update with further information as it comes in.

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4:11

🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Florian Ganneval and Erebor de Fleyres

Dressage Score: 41.5
Place: 43

They’re kind of slow into 5A at the water and Florian is tipped forward as they come to a bit of a stop on landing. He sits up and pushes on and they make it through that combination. They make their way to the Main Arena. They fly the A element, really big. They have to chip in at the second element but make it over. Then the horse says a bit of a no at the C element. He comes back round but it’s a no again. And then a clear no. That’s the end of their competition, I’m afraid.

Oh dear, we pick up Sam tumbling over Gratango’s head down the bank at the ditch combination at 25. The horse stopped at the A element, the frangible device broke, the horse’s head came down and gravity took Sam over the top. She’s straight up on her feet and the horse doesn’t look worried at all as she’s led off course.

Meanwhile, Heidi’s working hard as she comes to the end of the course. The horse isn’t quite in front of her leg but Heidi’s supporting the mare as they head for the finish.

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4:08

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Heidi Coy and Halenza

Dressage Score: 37
Place: 27

We see Heidi come into the Main Arena. They’re quick as they come in but then Heidi takes some of the pace away. Oh. They just don’t make the B element. 20 for them there. They come back round and clear it, then the second brush and continue on their way.

Graftango is much better through the second water than the first, really showing trust in Sam. She’s settling as she continues through her round and is looking more confident. We see them at the Irish Bank at 20. They kind of dive off the bank at B and then really dive through the brush at C. Sam takes a little turn to rebalance before continuing on down the track.

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4:02

🇦🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Samantha Cesnik and Graftango

Dressage Score: 38.6
Place: 34

The mare’s a bit sticky coming into the first water, creeping over the A element at 5. They go through there clear though and gallop away happy. They’re good over the corner at 7 before coming into the Main Arena. They’re quick to the A element, then take the pace right off for the B element before pushing for the angled brush at C. Two strides for them in there and it worked. That was an example of how to ride for the line rather than the stride. Great. Lucinda agrees, that’s how that should be ridden. Don’t panic about the really long stride, give the horse time for the turn. And who are we to argue with Queen Lucinda?

Oh dear, we see Selina grind to a halt on the island at the Messmer Water. Not their day today, sadly. They opt to walk home.

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3:57

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat

Dressage Score: 31.5
Place: 9

The horse is lovely and brave as he pops into the first water at 5. They’re very confident at the start of their round. They come fast into the Main Arena and, oop, another one to pick up penalties. They don’t make it round to the C element. They come back round and continue on.

We see Jesse at the ditch combination at 25 and ugh, the first element is really tricky and the ditch at B is just too close to recover. They have a really awkward jump over there and have no chance to get to the C element. Jesse puts his hand up.

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3:52

🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte

Dressage Score: 43
Place: 44

Jesse has the course to himself as he makes his way through the first water at 5. It’s a little haphazard but the horse has his ears pricked on the flags and they’re through there no worries. But then we see more problems in the Main Arena. He has a run out at the C element. Lucinda says there’s a better route through there. We’ll have to see whether any of the riders are listening. He continues on carrying that 20.

Ooo, we see him at the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. The horse really leaves a leg at the rail going in but Jesse’s got his weight back and they scramble things back together to take 12A on the island. They continue through as though nothing happened. Great work Jesse. All’s back on track as they cruise through the Wave Track at 14. They’re really smooth through the next water at 16.

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3:48

🇺🇲 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jennifer Caras and Sommersby

Dressage Score: 40.1
Place: 39

The horse backs off the water at 5A but Jenni’s sitting up and encouraging him forward. It’s a little sticky through there at the start of their round. They look better over the corner by the sponsor tent at 7. They get a great shot over the A element in the Main Arena at 8. They’re very steady though. It’s sticky at the B element and then they grind to a bit of a halt at the C element. The horse puts his feet into the water tray under that fence. He’s spinning, Jenni’s lost her balance. She tries but sadly is pitched out of the side door. A real shame for them.

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3:43

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Tom Rowland and Quintilius

Dressage Score: 34.6
Place: 16=

Tom has to work hard through the first water at 5ABC. They get deep to the C element but Tom’s sitting back and helping his horse along, encouraging him forward. We see him in the Main Arena and sadly, there’s more trouble in there. The horse didn’t really take him to the B element and it doesn’t happen. He comes back round and the same happens again. He decides to call it a day after those early mistakes.

Nadja and Toblerone are still totally together as they come to the end of their round. We’re seeing an 11 penalties for them at the ditch combination at 25A. They complete with 5.2 time penalties.

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3:39

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Matthew Heath and Askari

Dressage Score: 41.3
Place: 41

Matthew has an interesting jump over 4 before dropping into the water at 5. He really slows up for the Main Arena and get a good shot over the A element, but the turn doesn’t really happen and they go along the face of the fence at B. 20 for them, they come back round and it’s the same story. Matt puts his hand up.

Aaron’s riding sensibly as he nears home. The horse looks a little tired and Aaron’s just supporting him and not pushing at all. He’s still jumping beautifully. They cross the finish line clear with 16.8 time.

We see Nadja and Toblerone jumping away happily as they continue their round. This pair really are a lovely partnership and they look to be having a great time out there. They’re very quick through the water at 16.

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3:35

🇨🇭 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Nadja Minder and Toblerone

Dressage Score: 35.5
Place: 24

They get a huge jump at fence 4, just before the first water. This is a combination who know each other so well, having been together almost forever. They continue on through the combination confidently. They are brilliant through the Main Arena. No questions there.

Aaron’s smooth through the Messmer Water at 11/12AB/13. He’s making this look easy. They’re in a lovely balance and are popping their way over these enormous 5* fences. They’re equally impressive through the Magna Wave at 14. The horse looks really rideable and confident in his job. Lovely to see.

Meanwhile we see Lara and Origi cross the finish line. Origi seems to be pulling up lame. Lara gets straight off and the vet team will be there. We’ll update you with any information as we get it.

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3:32

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon

Dressage Score: 31.6
Place: 10=

They make nothing of the first water at 5ABC and look to be having a great start to their round. Aaron really pushes into the B and C elements of 8 in the Main Arena, going straight over those acute angled brushes. Excellent.

Arne’s making his way towards home now. He makes nothing of the double of corners at 23 and gallops on, perhaps not quite so speedy as earlier in the round.

We catch up with Lara at the Irish Bank at 20ABC. She clicks as the horse looks down the bank and Origi works it out.

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3:28

🇧🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Origi

Dressage Score: 36.5
Place: 26

Last year’s winner, Lara, sets off with Origi. They make a great turn through the Main Arena combination and make it through the B and C element in 2 strides. They gallop on.

Robbie’s still going really well as we see him through the double of corners at 23. They fly the ditch and brush at 26 and are riding for home. This round has been really impressive. Confident and smooth and balanced. They finish just 5 seconds over – 2 time penalties.

Meanwhile Arne’s mare is super keen through the Messmer Water at 11/12/13. Blink and you’ll miss her! They execute the Magna Wave beautifully, Arne bringing the mare back for four strides to give her a chance to look at it.

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3:25

🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Arne Bergendahl and Luthien NRW

Dressage Score: 38.3
Place: 31=

Arne has set out super fast. They absolutely fly through the first water combination. Wow. That was smart. We catch up with him in the Main Arena and Arne really brings the mare back, she sees the line and they push forward. Really straight through there – that was impressive. The horse looks really keen.

Robbie’s really having a beautiful ride. So balanced and confident, really accurate. We see him through the water at 16ABC – so smooth.

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3:20

🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Robbie Kearns and Chance Encounter

Dressage Score: 39.2
Place: 37

Robbie shows us how is should be done in the Main Arena – they’re perfect through there.

We catch up with Wills Oakden having trouble at the Messmer Water. They splash through the water and onto the island but then stop at 12A. They walk home. They had troubles in the Main Arena too. We didn’t see it but Lucinda in the commentary box tells us he came in really, really quick. There’s a question mark at 8B and a run out at the C element. All academic now as they have opted to call it a day.

We see Sebastien pick up a late 20 at the ditch combination at 25. It all looked to come apart a little and they miss the log at C. They comeback round and continue on home. 14.8 time and that 20 for them.

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3:14

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley

Dressage Score: 34.7
Place: 19=

The horse has a little look going into the first water at 5. He listens to Will though and they make it between B and C on one stride.

Ros approaches the Irish Bank at 20 and the pair show some smart footwork making their way through there. She’s took her foot off the gas by the looks of it after that 20 and is giving the horse a really confidence-building round. The cross the finish line 52 seconds over.

Sebastien is quick through Messmer Water at 12/12/13 and the horse looks to be really enjoying himself out there, really relishing it. Sebastien brings him right back for the double of gates at 18 and they’re neat through there.

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3:10

🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Sebastien Cavaillon and Black Pearl Z

Dressage Score: 38.1
Place: 30

We see them come through the first water at 4 and 5ABC. Black Pearl sure looks up for it. The gallop into the Main Arena at blistering speed. They jump the first element and then make it neatly through on one stride.

Ros takes the straight route through the Messmer Water at 11/12AB/13.

Meanwhile Lea has crossed the line clear with 3.2 time penalties.

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3:06

🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen

Dressage Score: 33.5
Place: 12

We see Ros drop into the Longines Water at 5 and she gives us a masterclass in balanced riding. Beautiful through there. Oops, we pick them back up in the Main Arena. They have an up-and-down jump over the B element and then run straight past the C element. That’s 20 for them there.

Hester’s still galloping along as she nears the end of the course. Laura sets up for the Irish Bank at 20ABC and they’re really smooth through there. Hester’s really settled and is trusting Laura. She’s full of run and ears pricked as they gallop away from there. They’re very confident through the ditch combination at 25ABC, great to see after the mare looking a little like she was questioning Laura at the start of the course. They cross the line with just 1.2 time penalties.

We haven’t got to see much of Lea, sadly but she’s clear through fence 21AB.

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3:03

🇦🇹 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line

Dressage Score: 34.4
Place: 15

‘Fighty’ has a bit of a spook as he sets off. This is such a lovely, longtime partnership, Lea’ll soon have him settled into his round.

Laura goes on 4 strides between the drop at 14B and the first of two offset brushes at C. She’s having to really help Hester out at times but the mare is growing in confidence all the time. Lots of pats for her.

Meanwhile Cosby has a moment at the ditch combination at 25 but she sits tight. She crosses the finish line just one second over the time. A great round from them.

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2:59

🇬🇧 THIRD COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Laura Collett and Hester

Dressage Score: 33.9
Place: 13

We pick Laura up at the first water at 4 and 5ABC. She works hard to give Hester confidence and they gallop on through. We see them in the Main Arena and Laura really brings the mare back to make the turn. Laura makes it happen. Big pats as they gallop out of the ring.

We see Cosby make absolutely nothing of the Wave Track at 14ABCD. The horse really locked on through there. They have a bit of a rub at one of the gates at 18, which is frangible, but no damage done. They continue on.

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2:54

🇺🇲 SECOND COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Cosby Green and Jos UFO de Quidam

Dressage Score: 39
Place: 36

We see Cosby get a great shot over the table at 2 and then head out to the first water after jumping the brush oxer at 3. We get to see her really take no chances to be sure to make the turn at the combination in the Main Arena. Great job.

Meanwhile Aimee has cleared the new Irish Bank complex at 20 with no troubles. We see her through the ditch combination at 25ABC. She encourages the mare with a little click coming in and they make it through there perfectly. Nearly home now. They clear the last carrying that 20 with 16 time.

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2:45

🇬🇧 FIRST COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Aimee Penny and PSH Encore

Dressage Score: 39.4
Place: 38

And we’re off!

They gallop out of the start box and over the first. The mare looks well up for it as she flies the table at 2 and then they bop the brush oxer at 3 and head to the first water.

They get a smooth ride through the Longines water at 4/5ABC. A great, confident start for them.

Ears are pricked and they’re in a great rhythm as they come into the Main Arena for the combination at 8. They get a great shot over the A element and then the second but sadly drive straight by the second of the angled brushes at C. It’s a really acute angle to that one and I suspect it’s not the only 20 we’ll see there today.

We pick them back up at the Messmer Water at 11/12AB/13. They take the straight route through there, navigating the island and back into the water really smoothly. The crowds sure have turned out in Germany, despite the early hour – it’s packed up at that water.

They make a great job of the Wave Track at 14ABCD – they’re careful off the drop at B and find the line through the offset brushes really efficiently.

The mare stills looks full of run as Aimee brings her back for the double of gates at 18.

Despite that 20 this round is really confident so far.

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Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

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Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jun 14, 2025 12:01 am -

We’re once more flush with events this weekend, and over on the US Equestrian Open of Eventing side of things we have a qualifier running at gorgeous Aspen Farms in Yelm, WA. Tommy Greengard has taken the lead in the 4*-S qualifier division with Joshuay MBF and will look to maintain that margin today on cross country. There is no live feed from Aspen this weekend, but you can follow along with live scoring here. We’ll have more coming your way from Aspen Farms via press releases sent out by the team on the ground as the weekend continues.

Major International Events

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Petit Bromont (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Aspen Farm H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (MD): [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Spring H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Golden Spike H.T. (UT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm June H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Links & Reading

The Myth of Instant Feedback: Social Media’s Impact on Equestrian Media

Piggy March: ‘Harry Meade deserves to be world number one’

Lauren Nicholson Solidifies Her Partnership With Larcot Z To Win Bromont

The Value of Working Students in Equestrian Programs

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

In this unique 1% More interview from World Equestrian Brands, Rebecca Brown shares how using numbers has helped her stay consistent and gradually improve every movement and jump. Watch the full video below:

Video Break

Have a nice blast from the past and watch early-days La Biosthetique Same and Michael Jung debut at the 5* level at Luhmühlen in 2009. This would prove to be a springboard to success that’s yet to be matched, as Michael and “Sam” would go on to clinch the world title the following year in Kentucky.

A Brand New Bank and Angles for Days: Take a Look at Luhmühlen’s Key Combinations

By on Jun 13, 2025 6:20 pm -

Fence 1.

Tomorrow’s cross-country course at the Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* has got everyone talking, with several riders reckoning the 11:08 optimum time will be near-on impossible to catch, even with just 28 numbered fences — and that comes down to its intensity and technicality, “like an eleven-minute CCI4*-S,” as Ros Canter aptly put it earlier today. It’s another sterling effort from long-time course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, who’s added some new features this year, including an Irish bank that’s got a few of our German friends feeling a little bit weak at the knees.

First of all, let’s get some real pet-peeve housekeeping out of the way. 

There are a few common blanket statements that I hear time and time again in the eventing world, and one of those that makes me roll my eyes so far back into my head that I can see into Australia is this: Luhmühlen is a soft five-star. 

Is there any such thing, really? No, you won’t come to Luhmühlen and find yourself gulping at the take-off side of the fences, unable to comprehend how anyone can find enough velocity or, indeed, cajones to make it to the other side. It’s not a dimensionally colossal five-star. It’s not Burghley. 

But what it does do very well is make riders think. It’s a very European, very academic track, with plenty of washing machine turnbacks and exacting angles that’ll lead to harmless — but expensive — runouts if riders or horses take their eye off the ball for even a moment. 

This year’s course switches directions from the last couple of years’ tracks – the last time we saw it run in this direction was 2022. In real-world, practical terms, that means that the always very influential Longines water complex in the woods comes up so early that it’s actually the first combination our competitors will meet, and they’ll approach it off a steep downhill run – so from very early on, we’ll expect to see a barometer of each partnership’s ‘readiness’ for this level. 

The first three fences are familiar, friendly ones: there’s the stalwart Luhmühlen flowerbox to get our competitors underway, followed by a table at 2 and a brush spread fence heading into the woods at 3. As at any event, the purpose of these early fences is straightforward: simply, they’re there to allow horses to settle into a cruising rhythm and have confidence-building experiences leaving the ground and meeting the crowds. 

After the third fence, they’ll head into the venue’s peaceful woodland for a surprisingly long gallop stretch – and that, in and of itself, presents one of this competition’s first challenges. The wooded areas on course are hemmed by very tall, slim tree trunks, which create an interesting optical illusion: because they’re so numerous and so slim, they zoom by in the riders’ peripheral vision, creating an idea of high speed that isn’t necessarily backed up by their meters per minute. If a rider doesn’t keep a close eye on their minute markers here, they could be lured into thinking they’re moving much faster than they really are, all the while losing valuable seconds that they’ll struggle to catch up later. But if they’re militant in monitoring their speed, they can make up ground that they’ll be grateful for later on. 

Here’s a look at some of the fences that could play a major role in how tomorrow’s competition plays out — and some that just look very impressive (we’re looking at you, ditch-and-brush).

Fence 4, with the Longines Water beyond.

The Longines Water at 5ABC.

Fence 7.

Fence 8A, which is followed by the B and C elements on a 90 degree right-handed turn.

Fences 8B and C.

Fence 9.

Fence 10AB.

Fences 11 and 12AB.

Fence 12AB and 13.

Here’s a little breather to meet Sam Lissington’s dog.

One of Luhmühlen’s deceptive wooded gallop tracks.

Up the mound to fence 14A…

…and down over the drop (14B) to two angled brushes at 14CD.

Here’s a look at that drop from the side.

The far water at 16ABC.

Fences 18AB.

The brand new Irish bank at 20ABC.

The BC elements of the Irish bank complex at 20.

Fence 21AB.

The corner complex at 23AB.

The coffin at 25AB.

The ditch-and-brush at 26.

Fence 27AB.

The finale at fence 28.

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Let’s Twist Again: Riders React to Longines Luhmühlen Cross Country

By on Jun 13, 2025 4:24 pm -

No time for a nap. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Alliteration and repetition are the name of the game when discussions are had about the track at Luhmühlen. Twisty. Turny. Twists and turns. Piggy March elaborates: “Twisty, twisty, twisty all the way ‘til the end”.

So it’s twisty then.

In honor of the consensus that the Luhmühlen cross country course is indeed twisty, a musical interlude will now commence. Feel free to join, bathing suit / cocktail dress optional:

With that out of our system (for now), and before we enter the tumble dryer that is the cross country experience through the Luhmühlen trees, let’s hear from the riders who’ll be willingly tossing themselves into said tumble drier tomorrow when they take on this year’s offering at Longines Luhmühlen:

🇬🇧 Laura Collett – London 52 (1st) – Hester (13th)

Laura Collett and Hester. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sadly [because she’s in the lead] I don’t think it’s going to be a dressage competition!

It’s very, very intense. I don’t think the time’s gettable. I think it’s going to be a real whirlwind. I just hope that they stay switched on from start to finish.

It’s beautifully built, he does a great, great job. There’s a bit of everything, a real variety of questions. I think horse and rider have got to be really on their A game from start to end.

I think the minute and a half galloping with nothing to do at the beginning lulls you into thinking you’re just going for a nice canter, but then it really hits you and it doesn’t really stop ‘til the end.

I think it’ll be a real challenge.

🇬🇧 Ros Canter – Izilot DHI (2nd) – MHS Seventeen – (12th)

Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I think it’s going to be fast, fast, fast all the way.

I think it’s going to be like riding a short-format but eleven minutes long.

It’ll be really interesting to see how switched on the horses stay all the way round.

I think each individual fence is very jumpable but put them all together and it’s intense.

🇩🇪 Malin Hansen-Hotopp – Carlitos Quidditch K (3rd=)

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I walked it the first time and I was like, it’s a really, really nice course. I was a little bit like, oh the tables, they’re not too big like Kentucky!

But I think the technical stuff is tough enough for five-star – it’s a real five-star.

I have a really good feeling. I was just walking the course like, oh, cool, it’s good.

🇳🇿 Sam Lissington – Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ (3rd=)

Sam Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The more I walk it the more I’m like, I’ve got to watch out for this, I’ve got to watch out for that, so I think he’s [course designer Mike Etherington-Smith] been quite clever in a few places.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a variety of problems around the course as a whole as opposed to one particular combination or fence.

[The time] It’s tight. We wheeled it using the app and we finished 250 meters wrong, so half a minute wrong.

🇬🇧 Piggy March – Halo (7th)

Piggy March and Halo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Track’s good. It’s perfect for a horse starting five-star like mine.

There’s plenty of questions, technical questions.

It’s not Badminton or Burghley, you don’t get the beefy fences, but it’s twisty. Twisty, twisty, twisty all the way ‘til the end.

It’s more of a decent four-short but over eleven minutes and that’s where it’s very clever.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a few good waters, there’s really good skinnies and lines.

🇬🇧 Selina Milnes – Cooley Snapchat (9th)

Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I just think it’s very intense – combination after combination and they’re just not going to get a breather. I’d like there to be just a few more galloping fences where you can just say, that was good, well done.

That one in the arena [8ABC] – it looks a hell of a long way in one stride! I think you’ve just got to jump the parallel first and then just jump them separately and give yourself time and then go. It just looks a long way.

🇬🇧 Aaron Millar – KEC Deakon (10th=)

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s twisty.

It’s a good test. There’s a lot of combinations where you’re going to have to think quick about where you’re going, where you’re turning. There’s a lot of acute angles and things.

It’s going to keep us working and keep us thinking.

The angles in the Arena (8ABC) – it’s right in front of them, it’s committed, there’s quite an acute angle.

There’s a lot of questions, a lot of combinations.

🇨🇦 Mike Winter – El Mundo (22nd)

Mike Winter and El Mundo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’ve rolled the dice coming here instead of Badminton. He can be a really strong horse on big open parkland, so we’ve rolled the dice hoping that the twisty turny type of track with things coming at you off the turns might make him a little bit more rideable.

🇺🇲 Allison Springer – No May Moon (25th)

Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Sally Spickard.

I have to memorize the turns just as much as I have to memorize the jumps!

I like the course. I think it’s a definite five-star course.

There’s a million things that could go wrong and things will happen pretty quickly, but I think it’s fair and I think it’s a good course.

I just have to ride my best and trust in the training that I have and the partnership that I have with my horse. I feel good about trying it on her [the mare is making her 5* debut] we’re going to hope for the best.

So there you have it, straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Take a look at the fences here.

Let’s twist again, and go eventing!

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Friday at Luhmühlen: An Existential Crisis and a Laura Collett Lead (Again!)

By on Jun 13, 2025 3:53 pm -

Yesterday’s first dressage day at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials was notable mostly for its harsh judging, with nobody across either the CCI4*-S or the feature CCI5* breaking into the 20s (and plenty, to their dismay, flirting – or entering into a committed relationship with – the 40s). 

Today was more of the same, which in a funny sort of way is a good thing: the only thing more demoralising than judges who love the 6.5 button is judges who suddenly see the appeal of the 8 and 9 buttons on Friday afternoon, leaving everyone with an early draw languishing somewhere in the bottom half of the pack despite the actual merits of their performances. 

Just one test in this morning’s CCI4*-S broke us out of our deep existential slump. That was the effort of last year’s Aachen and Boekelo champions (and German Olympic team members) Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel. Her 25.3 is the only sub-30 in the whole class, and puts her some 5-and-change points in the lead – a distance that can only really be summed up by this text that my friend got from her cheating ex-boyfriend after he abortively tried to FaceTime her ten times in a row last night:

Julia Krajewski to the rest of the field, everyone CCed in. (Name redacted to protect the deeply silly.)

Julia and Nickel will head into tomorrow’s cross-country effectively in their own separate class, though a super effort from New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man (30.5 and second overnight) came close to challenging her several times through the course of his test. 

Her eleven-year-old stable star, Julia tells us, is only getting better and better. 

“He felt he’s gotten quite a lot stronger since last year. Again, like every year, I think, ‘okay, maybe that’s the limit’. And the next time, he comes out and is 10% better,” she says. “Last year I couldn’t work him in dressage three days in a row because he would feel too weak in his back. And this year it’s possible to do more work without him getting tired in the top line. I think that’s a really good sign that you finally get the horse stronger, because he’s the most willing horse – he always tries to do well – and maybe he would try more than he could physically actually hold up to.”

Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“That’s why I’m really trying to protect him a bit and not go with his mind, but rather try to go with his body,” she continues. “Because the reason he’s done so much is because he’s got such a good mind, but he’s still a little bit weak-ish, body-wise. It’s why I’m not pushing too much. But I’m just so proud of him – he goes in and he just delivers, and then it’s about tiny things. I think I could have done a bit more here, a bit more there, but overall, if you know you can go into a dressage arena and produce something between very good and very, very good, what more can you ask for?”

Julia with Nickel and Bernd Heicke. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the change in Nickel’s name – formerly Nickel 21, he’s now Uelzener’s Nickel, which has prompted some murmurings about whether he might have been sold. But while Julia is delighted to welcome supporter’s Uelzener to her team – and it really does take a huge team of supporters to make competing at the top levels work out – she still rides the gelding for Prof. Bernd Heicke, who secured him for her after the Paris Olympics, when he was put on the market. And for Julia and Bernd alike, this is a special week: at 90 years old, the longtime supporter of Germany’s up-and-coming eventing riders has never yet been able to support his horse at a show, and today, it was plainly apparent that he was having the nicest day of anyone at Luhmühlen. 

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This afternoon’s CCI5* dressage saw slightly more competitors break the 30 barrier, but none would rival Julia’s morning effort – not even the extraordinarily reliable Laura Collett and London 52, who produced a typically smart, expressive test but could only coax a 25.4 out of the ground jury. 

“Only,” I hear you sigh. And hey: I’m with you on this. I once burst into tears because I got a 29. It never happened for me again. But for Laura and the sixteen-year-old ‘Dan’, it feels like a rather significant departure from the sub-20 scores they’ve received at the Paris Olympics, the 2022 World Championships, and very nearly right here at Luhmühlen, when they finished on their 20.3 dressage score to win in 2023. 

When you’re working with such hard-to-impress judges, though, it’s all relative – and that 25.4 is still enough to put the pair firmly into the lead going into tomorrow’s cross-country. 

“Look, he’s an absolute dream to ride, and he knows what he’s doing now, so it’s all about trusting the process and not getting too caught up in working too much,” says Laura. “I rode him this morning and he was very, very fresh, but I just trusted that he’s old enough to know what he’s doing now.”

He was, she admits, “on edge in there” – an extra bit of buzz and pizzazz that no doubt came from the ring announcers Beatlesmania-style introduction of the pair, which elicited enormous cheers of welcome from the crowd and had a gaggle of tiny German girls nearly in tears as they squeaked out wishes of good luck at their hero. 

For many horses, that would have been game over, but even though Laura felt the Holsteiner absorb the energy, she was grinning as she made her entrance at A – because, she says, “it was quite an atmosphere, but he loves an atmosphere.” 

While we didn’t see, perhaps, the very pinnacle of the pair’s expressiveness in the ring, it was inarguably the performance of the day, and thrusts Laura right back into prime position as she aims to regain her title. If she can, it’ll mean that Dan continues a remarkable streak that has seen him win every five-star he’s started: Pau in 2020, Badminton in 2022, and, of course, their last go at the level here two years ago.

But does Laura still feel the pressure, even with such an enviable record behind her?

“I’d love to say no, but yeah,” she says. “I came into this year saying that after last year, with the pressure [of the Olympics] that I just wanted to enjoy him and enjoy having him around and not having the pressure. But the closer we got to here, I was definitely feeling it, mainly just because I didn’t want to let him down. He deserves to win every event he goes to, so it’s my job to allow him to do that.”

“Obviously in Paris, he was perfect, so comparing it to perfection [is hard], but he still felt pretty good to me,” continues Laura, who only schools the gelding on the flat once a month in a dressage lesson these days. “Even when he’s on edge now, he remembers to listen and I know I can trust him – a few years ago, he wouldn’t have coped with being that on edge. It was a fine line. But now he knows to go in and do his job, so it makes my life a lot easier and I can just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Laura also sits 13th going into cross-country with yesterday’s ride Hester, with whom she scored a 33.9. 

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Also double-handed in this class is Ros Canter, who piloted last year’s dressage leader Izilot DHI to second place overnight and a score of 26. 

Like Laura and Dan, Ros explains that she now feels more able to trust the process – and her horse – in the ring, something that’s particularly notable with the historically spooky and sharp ‘Isaac’. 

“I feel like we’re much more secure with each other; he’s twelve years old now, and we’ve been together a long time, and so I think he’s trusting me a bit more – and I’m certainly trusting him a lot more,” she says. “I know his quirks inside out now, and I don’t let them bother me anymore, so I think it’s always about building that relationship.”

The numbers on the board aside – Isaac, too, is not a stranger to sub-20 scores in friendlier climes – Ros was pleased with the work she got from the gelding. But, she says, getting it right with him isn’t always something she can work out entirely by feel. 

“I think the work was on a par for him, but he’s got quite a tricky neck to gauge, so I always have to rely on people watching me to tell me how it feels,” she says. “Sometimes he feels elastic and sometimes he doesn’t, and so [I don’t always know] until I go back and watch it. I knew the neck was good because they told me it was good! Sometimes it doesn’t feel that good – I’d love to have him a little bit lower and a little bit rounder, but when you have him in the place where you’d have another horse, he always looks overbent. So with him, I have to just have him a little bit more up and out than I maybe feel comfortable with.”

There were, Ros feels, some tiny marginal gains she could have eked out in the ring for a smattering of extra marks. 

“I think I could always get more elasticity in the canter, and that’s kind of his weakness. He’s very comfortable in trot, and that’s quite unusual for the eventers – most horses do their best work in canter, and he’s more comfortable in trot. He’s much more elastic that way. So I think it’s just always getting that little bit more elasticity in the canter. At the moment, when I get that at home, it’s incredible, but sometimes I make a few mistakes, so today I kept it a bit safer in there.”

Ros’s first horse, the less experienced MHS Seventeen, sits twelfth on 33.5, making the match race between her and her teammate Laura a multilayered one this week. 

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Third place at this early stage goes to one of the most popular competitors of the day, and the first in the ring in today’s five-star competition. That was Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K, who are tackling their second five-star start after finishing fourth at Kentucky last spring. 

“I just have this horse for five-star, and he’s thirteen now,” says Malin of her decision to contest this class, rather than the German National Championship CCI4*-S, en route to a bid for Europeans selection. “I was like, ‘the press is right – the Germans always ride at the Europeans or the Worlds, and they don’t ride five-star’. And then I thought, ‘he’s a five-star horse, and I want to ride that.’ I don’t know if I’ll ever get another horse like this again, and so for me, it was important to ride the five-star here, because I’ve never done it before. And if it’s a good enough result, then it’s good enough for [the Europeans]; if not, I’ll go to Maryland or to Kentucky or Badminton next year.”

They’re certainly off to a fine start: they put a 28.9 on the board to give us our first sub-30 in the competition. 

“He was just awesome,” beams Malin. “I think he always needs a little bit of a crowd to be ‘on’, and now that he’s older I can really prepare something out of that so he’s just a bit more scopey [in his movement]. It was easy today to just leave him a little bit in front – he was perfect. He came in and was like ‘ooooooh!’ and I knew that if I just stayed cool and rode him, and kept my hands up in front so he could get up, that it would be a perfect feeling.”

Sam Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sitting equal third with Malin is New Zealand’s Sam Lissington, who comes to Luhmühlen off the back of a history making 1-2-3 in the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump in France. This week, she rides the fourteen-year-old Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, with whom she finished twelfth at Pau last year on his debut at the level. 

Their score today sees them add just a tenth of a penalty to the score they received on that occasion. 

“He’s just so obedient and so easy to ride – like, you come out here and you don’t have a lot to do in the prep because he knows his job so well, and I know him so well,” says Sam. “So it’s more just making sure we’re both sharp enough, which is tricky finding that balance, isn’t it? You want them rideable enough, but then quick enough to be on your aids for the changes, particularly at that tricky point at A, so that was the thing that I was constantly playing with. I want him relaxed and easy and rideable, but not too rideable that I miss a change.”

Over and over again today, all of us on site kept having the same conversation: is scoring like this actually good for the sport? One rider I spoke with this afternoon made an interesting point about the scoring in sports like figure skating: something that keeps it buzzy and exciting and compelling for spectators is that when true greatness happens, nobody’s afraid to hand out a 10, and that means that aiming for perfection is actually achievable, whereas in our sport, we see a score of 20 as something of a pinnacle. But, the rider continued, a 20 is only an 8 – and an 8, in individual marking terms, is only ‘good’. Is ‘good’ the best we can offer our competitors and our spectators? 

Sam – who wasn’t the aforementioned rider, for what it’s worth, agreed that the harsh and oftentimes inconsistent scores across the judges is “disheartening. I know I’ve watched some other tests that I think didn’t get the scores they probably deserved, and I think that’s tough on the riders. It’s tough on the owners, and it’s tough on the event as well.”

Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Fifth-placed Gemma Stevens was one rider who was hit hard by the numbers on the board. She and the very experienced – and often low-20s scoring – Jalapeno produced a very likable test, but the broad smile of pride in her horse disappeared from her face when she heard the announcement of her 29.4. 

“It was honestly the best test she’s ever done,” says Gemma. “I’m thrilled with her, but I don’t know what we’re supposed to do. It’s her best work, and she’s earned 22s before. Her changes were on the button; she was soft over her back, up in the frame, her transitions were amazing. She didn’t make a mistake. She’s normally in the low 20s, and I don’t know what they’re trying to achieve [with the low marking]. What are they looking for in a horse?”

Piggy March and Halo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Her compatriot – and her lorrymate this week – Piggy March delivered her test just a few rides later with the smart little stallion Halo, and was similarly baffled to receive a 29.9, which slots her into seventh place overnight behind Austria’s Lea Siegl and Van Helsing P, on a 29.8. 

“I’ve got no idea how they’re marking. I’ve seen Gemma’s work all morning and it’s been very, very smart, so it’s quite demotivating,” she says. “It’s nice when the judges see something good and give it a mark – there should be an 8 if something’s good. I know [the scores] will stay close this week, and that’s fine, but I’ve said it before: what are you training towards? What’s the standard? It inspires riders [if they understand the standard]. I’ve spoken to ground juries before to try to understand it, but I suppose dressage is marmite – they either like it or they don’t, but at this level, [the inconsistency between judges] isn’t good enough.”

With Halo, though, she was delighted: “I’ve got a cute little horse,” she says with a smile, “and I’m really interested to try and learn from the week. I’m really proud of him today; he felt cute, his brain was with me, and he tried really, really hard. There’s little bits where he’s certainly not the finished article, and in two years time, I think he’ll be another horse again – he’s definitely a championship horse. But he’s a little bit long, so he can trot very nicely, but he can push away with his hind leg out behind, so it’s about getting the hind leg under him and also not getting him too high [in the neck]. He’s so trainable, I can put the neck wherever I want to put the neck, and I think in the past I’ve sometimes had it too high, so we’re finding the balance.”

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats were awarded a similarly confusing 31.2 to sit eighth overnight, ahead of day one leaders Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat and yesterday’s runners-up Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon. 

Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Cosby Green leads the way for the small but mighty North American contingent after a smart test with her second ride, the fifteen-year-old Highly Suspicious. They sit sixteenth on a 34.6, while her first ride, Jos UFO de Quidam, is 36th on a 39, and I promise you I will actually get a debrief with Cosby herself into one of these reports this week! I’m not ignoring you, Cosby, girl, you just need to stop doing tests right before Laura Collett, okay? 

Mike Winter and El Mundo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Canada’s Mike Winter trended in the top ten for much of his test but ultimately stacked up just outside the top twenty in 22nd on 34.9 with El Mundo. 

“In places I could have executed a little bit better, but he was there for me to give him the correct aids,” says Mike. “I think he was always on side the whole way; at the Olympics, he was a tiny bit tight going in, and maybe I was a bit tight going in as well, but I felt relaxed today and like we were in harmony.”

The experience of Paris and its enormous atmosphere was a useful education for the now-sixteen-year-old, he says.

“I think the more times he gets in front of bigger crowds, instead of shrinking into himself or maybe me doing the same, we start sort of puffing our chests out and trying to show off a little bit. This wouldn’t be, historically, my strongest phase. I’ve not had horses as talented as this one in this phase, and probably it’s about learning to make the most of a horse that I think essentially finds this phase easy. I love riding him – I love riding all horses, that’s why we do this, but he’s special.”

Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Allison Springer and No May Moon sit 25th on a 35.6 in the little mare’s five-star debut – a score that sits smack in the middle of the range of scores she’s tended to deliver at four-star, but Allison admits she’d hoped for something lower today. 

“I didn’t realise I’d entered the arena late,” she laments of her costly early mistake. “And then I made an error in the medium canter, so I left some things on the table – but she did not. She did everything I asked her to do, and I’m super pleased with her. We’re nowhere near where we will be one day in the dressage arena, but I think she loves to compete, and she’s just top. I love her. She was quite spooky to begin with, but then she didn’t get more flustered when the crowd clapped – she just got to work, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Allison had actually intended for Kentucky to be the mare’s five-star debut, but a broken hand put her off games for long enough that qualifications became an issue, and they ultimately ran the CCI4*-S there instead, finishing fifth and securing the MER they needed to step up. 

“I thought I’d do Kentucky five-star, and when they told me I wasn’t qualified, I didn’t want to chase for the qualification and add to her schedule,” she says. “I never really think about the next thing until I know she’s really ready and feels good, and actually, it was good for her to do the four-star there, because it’s a tough course. She felt so great there that we thought, ‘well, we might as well strike while the iron’s hot!’ I feel good about trying this on her – it’s a twisty course where you need a dirt bike of a horse.” 

Tomorrow’s cross-country will start quite bruisingly early at 8.45 a.m. local time (7.45 a.m. BST/2.45 a.m. EST), and this time, it’s the CCI5* that kicks off proceedings. First out of the box will be Britain’s Aimee Penny and PSH Encore (38th on a 39.4), while the CCI4*-S will start with Ireland’s Patrick Whelan and Altitu (37th on 41.2) at 13.20 local time/12.20 BST/7.20 a.m. EST. As always, you can watch all the action on Horse&Country TV, and keep it locked onto EN for all the details of the day’s juiciest stories. Until then, you can find me at the beer tent, turning myself into a 90% pilsner cocktail. Auf wiedersehen!

The top ten after dressage in the CCI5*.

The top ten after dressage in the CCI4*-S.

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Great Britain Announces Team for CHIO Aachen

By on Jun 13, 2025 11:25 am -

Caroline Harris and D. Day. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The team traveling to Germany to represent Great Britain at CHIO Aachen (happening July 4 and 5 for the eventers) has been announced! The following combinations have been selected:

  • Laura Collett with the 16-year-old gelding Dacapo owned by Gillian Morris-Adams, Diana Chappell, Carolyn Taylor and Mr Michael and Mrs Alison Smedley.
  • Caroline Harris with the 11-year-old gelding D Day owned by Fiona Oliver, Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle.
  • Tom McEwen from with the 16-year-old gelding Brookfield Quality owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry.
  • Bubby Upton with the 18-year-old gelding Cannavaro owned by Rachel Upton
  • Gemma Stevens with the 13-year-old gelding Flash Cooley owned by Pru Dawes.

The team will be accompanied by Chef d’Equipe Sarah Verney.

You can view more of EN’s Aachen coverage here, and you can also view the full program, schedule, and buy tickets here.

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Jun 13, 2025 12:25 am -

Mark your calendars for another fun riding camp aimed at adult amateurs, coming your way in southern California at Copper Meadows! This camp, scheduled for July 9-12, will include lessons across all three phases with a great selection of pros, as well as group activities, informational seminars and dinners. The cost of this camp is $650 and includes your lessons and activities. Here’s a look at the provisional camp schedule:

Wednesday, July 9
Getting to Know You Show Jumping lesson with Taren Hoffos
Afternoon talk with Performance Equine Maintenance: Stretches and Maintenance for Your Horse
Welcome party: margaritas and Mexican food taco bar at Lavender and Olive

Thursday, July 10
Cross-country lesson with Olivia Putrino
Afternoon yoga
Girl Dinner: Appetizers, BYOB, and painting craft at Lavender and Olive

Friday, July 11
Dressage lesson with Tiffany Silverman
Afternoon talk: What Dressage Judges Look for in Test Riding: a talk with Tiffany Silverman and example test ride
You Made It! Pizza making and friendship bracelet making at Lavender and Olive

Saturday, July 12
Look B4 You Leap cross-country clinic with Taren Hoffos or Auburn Excell

On-site accommodations are available, as are entries to Copper Meadows’ one-day schooling show happening that weekend (additional costs apply for housing and schooling show entry). For more information and to sign up, email Taren Hoffos at [email protected].

Major International Events

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Petit Bromont (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Aspen Farm H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (MD): [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Spring H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Golden Spike H.T. (UT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm June H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

The first winner of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, Nick Larkin, has struck out with a new idea: Cross Country Equestrian. It’s a hybrid format of eventing that is based on the elements of cross country riding. There’s no dressage or show jumping involved with Cross Country Equestrian, and the courses feature jumps that can be passed up or jumped across levels. Nick says he designed this new sport with the root of eventing in mind, and wants to encourage riders to have fun and learn safely. Read a piece penned by Nick here.

Horse Sport Ireland has just been awarded funding for their forthcoming project “Breaking Barriers,” designed to facilitate stronger pathways for women to carve out a path in FEI course design. “A competitive selection process will identify a small group of women aged 20–50 who are already involved in course design and who demonstrate potential to progress to international level,” the announcement reads. “These participants will complete a structured development pathway that includes formal training aligned with FEI standards, placements at international competitions, expert-led national workshops, one-to-one mentorship, and a national showcase event to raise visibility and celebrate achievement.” The program is set to roll out this fall, with further information on applications and selection process to come. Watch this space for more.

What does great instruction actually look like? It’s an important question to think about, because coaches work to shape the future of the sport. Beyond simply teaching technical skills in the saddle, the big picture of coaching requires thoughtfulness. The USEA’s Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) is a certification program available to eventing coaches that includes a comprehensive curriculum of truly holistic coaching. Read more about the ingredients of great instruction here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

Follow along for a day in the life with Stable View EMS Rene Robertson:

Video Break

Catch up with fitness coach Tony Sandoval on the latest episode of The Jon & Rick Show:

Day One at Longines Luhmühlen: The 6.5 Reigns Supreme

By on Jun 12, 2025 2:06 pm -

The eventing overlords giveth, and the eventing overlords taketh away: such is the feeling on day one of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, anyway, where we were given so much – blazing sunshine, a sterling entry list, a free bar that stayed open late into the night yesterday, and Bruce Springsteen soundtracks every time an American rider so much as looked at the main arena. Delightful! 

But then there was the day of sport itself. Across this morning’s CCI4*-S and this afternoon’s CCI5*, the ground juries were just… well, this:

We’ve seen 45 tests across the classes over the course of the day, and not a single one of them has broken the sub-30 barrier. The 40 barrier, though? Oh, we’re well acquainted at this point. 

So is it excessively harsh judging, or is it a surprisingly poor standard of dressage? The truth, as it tends to, lies somewhere in the middle: no, we didn’t see any knock-your-socks-off, weep-over-the-extended-trot magic moments today, but we did see a lot of very pleasant, perfectly likeable efforts in the ring. Generally, I tend to think that if a score hits the 40s, one of two things has happened – there’s either been a disastrous mistake at some point, or the work throughout the test has been consistently marred by issues in the contact, the connection, the harmony. Today, though, I’d find myself watching a test that was, by any standards, fine – not a 25, but a low-to-mid-30s all day long, and then I’d glance at the scoreboard and see that it was trending on a 42. So whatever it is that the judges want, they’ve not yet seen it. 

Of course, while tough marking can be demoralising in the moment, it’s at the end of the day – and even more so, at the end of the phase – that it can really be contextualised. A 31 on another day in another competition might mean that a horse and rider are miles off the pace early on; here, it would be the leading score. If the standard of scoring remains the same throughout tomorrow’s competition, then fine – it’s all relative, and while everyone might be wincing their way to a personal worst, they could still be just seconds away from taking the top spot. If it changes, and we see 20s being thrown at tomorrow’s competitors willy-nilly, that’s a very different kettle of fish.

Does this mean we need to sit on our hands and hope that Laura Collett and London 52 will somehow get a 32 tomorrow? Not at all, of course. This week’s draw has ensured that all our double-handed riders bring forward their top horses tomorrow, and many of our very competitive single-horse riders have also been put into the Friday mix, so it’s likely that we will see an uptick in the marking, and then it becomes a game of nuance, analysis, and arguing with each other in the judging breaks while we pull up Rechenstelle and make judging discrepancies into trump cards. 

Laura Collett’s not-at-all impending 33 and all of our friendship-ruining arguments about dressage feel a bit like tomorrow’s problem, though. Today, we’ve finished the day with a leaderboard, even if nobody quite likes the numbers on it, and that means we’ve also finished the day with leaders. 

Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sitting pretty in first place overnight is – can you believe it? – a British combination, who heads up a very near clean-sweep of the top ten for eventing’s most dominant nation. That’s Selina Milnes and the eleven-year-old Cooley Snapchat, who put a 31.5 on the board to move into prime position near the close of competition. That 31.5 isn’t actually wildly off the pace of the rangy gelding’s normal scores – at four-star, he’s often, though not always, a high-20s horse, and while we saw him put a 27.1 on the board in his five-star debut at Pau, he popped into the low-30s a couple of times at the level below last season. 

But the work that the 2023 Bramham CCI4*-S winner produced today, Selina feels, perhaps warranted a slightly more generous number on the board. Her first indicator of her score was the final tally given by Katrin Eichinger-Kniely, the president of the ground jury, who awarded her a 35.2, significantly higher than the 29.1 given by the judge at M and 30.3 given by the judge at E.

Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“That’s what I was disappointed with – C is marked first, and I thought, ‘oh no’ – but obviously the other two liked it,” she continues. “I actually thought I’d get into the 20s. He didn’t really do too much wrong – [Team GB Performance Manager] Dickie [Waygood] said his quarters were slightly to the right on my first centre line, but other than that, I thought he was on the button and really good.”

Time and time again, we saw fresh, fit horses bubble over in the busy atmosphere of the ring – but that proved to be a help, rather than a hindrance, for Cooley Snapchat.

“He’s a super horse, and he always stays really relaxed so you can ride him in there,” says Selina. “He actually needs a little bit of buzz to spark him up a bit. He was really good; I don’t think he missed a beat today.”

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Compatriot Aaron Millar made a big effort to break that sub-30 barrier, and trended around 28 for the first half of his test – but an uptick in 6.5s and a couple of 5s in the canter work meant that he had to settle for a 31.6 with the 15-year-old Chacoa son KEC Deakon. 

After his test, he rued the marks he felt he’d left on the table by slightly overshooting his horse’s preparation today. 

“He was good, but I slightly overworked him – he doesn’t need much before he goes in, and that meant that he just dropped a bit in the poll,” laments Aaron. “Normally, his trot work would be better. I only gave him 25 minutes of work down here, but I’d worked him this morning. When he came down here [to the collecting ring], that was probably his best work.”

But, he explains, “he had a year off last year [with injury], so he hasn’t been in this atmosphere for a bit, and it’s probably better to have him a bit underpowered, perhaps, rather than squealing and bucking! He’s a performer, and he goes in there and he wants to do a good job, which is a massive help.”

Aaron hopes that a Badminton run could be in the horse’s not-too-distant future – but for now, Luhmühlen’s flatter, uniquely technical and twisty track is exactly what he needs en route to that goal.

“I think it’s a good test. There’s a lot of combinations where you’re going to have to think quick about where you’re going, where you’re turning – there’s a lot of acute angles and things. So it’s going to keep us working and keep us thinking.”

Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Third place is held overnight by Ros Canter and the first of her two rides, the twelve-year-old five-star sophomore MHS Seventeen, who put a 33.5 on the board. 

“I’m over the moon with him, actually. He’s a horse that really hates to be by himself, so going into the main arena has historically been quite a difficult experience with him,” she says. “He tends to get quite tense and whinnies.”

Ros and her team, she continues, “have worked quite hard to develop a system in the run-up to an event, and while we’re here, and I’m just so pleased that the system worked. He came out happy and relaxed, and he went in happy and relaxed.”

“He’s come out quite a few times since he’s been here, but never for too long – he’s come out, done a bit of work, and then gone back [to the stables],” she explains. “And the same today: he’s come out a few times, but never to where he gets tired or frustrated. What we’ve been doing is actually practicing the trot work of the test over and over again. Yesterday, he probably went through it twelve times, and today we went through it three times, and I haven’t done anything with him that he wouldn’t be experiencing in the test this week.” 

The aim of that approach, she says, is “not to confuse him. He gets better and better when he knows what he’s doing, and he gains in confidence.”

Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

One of her efforts en route to that confidence was doing the guinea pig test at Bramham last week – a test that, she says, “wasn’t productive on the day, but was extremely useful in that I learned about what I need to do coming here. It’s always just trying to work out his brain: he knows all this stuff now, and he’s well-trained, but he goes in there and sometimes he completely loses concentration and my aids are at the back of his mind, not the forefront. Today, he was definitely listening to me.”

But, like so many other riders, she admits: “I think it was a bit harshly-marked, to be honest – I was delighted with [the test], but that’s the way it goes when you’re at the beginning.”

Fourth place is held by Laura Collett and the first of her own two rides, Hester, on a score of 33.9, while fifth place goes the way of Austrian Olympians Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line, who posted a 34.4. Franky Reid-Warrilow and Guilty Pleasure (34.6) Tom Rowland and Quintilius (34.6) and Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley (34.7) add to the British flags on the board in sixth, seventh, and eighth places, respectively, while young Swiss talent Nadja Minder sits ninth on a 34.7 with Toblerone. The top ten is rounded out by last year’s winner, Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who piloted an initially explosive and subsequently very expressive Origi, her Paris Olympics partner, to a surprisingly harshly-marked 36.5. 

Cosby Green and Jos UFO de Quidam. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British-based Cosby Green leads the way for the small but exciting North American contingent at this stage, sitting fifteenth overnight on a 39 with the seventeen-year-old Jos UFO de Quidam, while Jenny Caras and Sommersby were rather terrorised in their test by a flock of birds, who zoomed into the arena en masse to investigate some droppings and then flew up into the horse’s face. Jenny did a tactful job of keeping the thirteen-year-old debutant as contained as she could, but had to settle for a 40.1 to take eighteenth overnight. 

Mia Farley and Invictus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Over in the CCI4*-S class, Germany’s Nina Schultes leads the way with the veteran Grand Prix iWest on a score of 30.6, followed by fellow countrymen Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS on 34.1 and Antonia Baumgart and Ris de Talm on 34.5. USEF European Development Tour participants Mia Farley and Invictus sit fifth overnight on 34.9. 

“He felt very secure in his work, and mature in his frame and everything, so I was happy with his consistency in that test,” says Mia. “I think he will be a mid 20s horse eventually, but right now we’re up and down with the scores. With him as a nine year old doing this level, it’s just all about having him feel confident in the work and showing him what he’s capable of.”

Tomorrow takes us into day two of dressage, which once again begins with the CCI4*-S class from 9.15 a.m. local time/8.15 a.m. BST/3.15 a.m. EST with Nicolai Aldinger and Palm Beach first in the ring. The CCI5* will commence from 13.15 local time/12.15 BST/7.15 a.m. EST, starting with German team partnership Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K. We’ll be bringing you a full report of the day’s activities at the close of play. Until then: go reacquaint yourself with the numbers 8, 9, and 10. We’ve missed them. 

The top ten in the CCI5* after day on at Luhmühlen.

The top ten in the CCI4*-S after day one of dressage. 

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Thursday News & Notes from Virginia Horse Center Foundation

By on Jun 12, 2025 12:01 am -

Sorry not sorry, but “boomers” attempting to use Gen-Z slang will never not be funny (and we say this without any Gen Z card carriers on our team – yet!). Boyd Martin was the latest victim, but really, he did quite well and could possibly pass for a Gen Z-er if he just practices a bit more…

Major International Events

Longines Luhmühlen CCI5* (Germany): [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Petit Bromont (Canada): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Aspen Farm H.T. (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (MD): [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Spring H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Golden Spike H.T. (UT): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm June H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

In this week’s Thoroughbred Logic column, Aubrey Graham of Kivu Sport Horses dives into the shifting economics of the Thoroughbred market — and the hard realities of running a sales and training program in today’s climate. From rising prices at the track to razor-thin margins in second careers, she’s laying it all bare with honesty, frustration, and a fierce loyalty to the breed she refuses to walk away from. Read on for a must-read dose of realism, resilience, and Thoroughbred love here.

Whether you love it, fear it, or just wish it would stop flooding your feed with deepfakes, AI is already trotting into the horse world—and it might just help us take better care of our horses. This week, we’re exploring how equestrian AI is making waves in lameness detection, wearable health tech, smart saddles, and even data-driven breeding. Used wisely, these tools could mean earlier intervention, more accessible care, and safer rides—but not without questions around cost, privacy, and the limits of technology. Read more on The Plaid Horse here.

Equestrian sport has everything it needs to captivate a global audience: heart-pounding action, once-in-a-lifetime partnerships, and dramatic storylines. So why isn’t it filling primetime slots? A new feature explores how equestrian disciplines can grow beyond niche status by borrowing strategies from mainstream sports like Formula 1 and the NFL. From grassroots access and storytelling to tech-savvy media partnerships and more inclusive fan experiences, the roadmap to a bigger, bolder future is right in front of us. Don’t miss this think piece.

Sponsor Corner: Virginia Horse Center Foundation

The VHC Youth Equestrian Festival, a newer event at the Virginia Horse Center that celebrates young riders with an exciting mix of competition, education, and fun, is now open for entries! This multi-discipline festival is all about creating unforgettable memories—and friendships—that will last long after the ribbons are packed away.

Featuring Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Pony Club, Bit-n-Bridle, and more, this event promises a weekend full of learning, laughter, and connection. Don’t miss the “Fairy Tail Trails” Prom Night and exciting opening ceremonies that are sure to make this a standout experience for every young equestrian.

📅 Mark your calendars for July 15-21 and get those entries in! Let’s celebrate the future of our sport—one ride, one smile, and one magical night at a time. You can find more information here.

Video Break

Improve your balance, connection and forwardness at the center with the help of Amelia Newcomb: