Happy Fathers Day Eventing Nation! We’ll have much more on that in a few minutes, but first we have the business of Luhmuhlen at hand. Like competitions of beer and bad food, it was German a domination at Luhmuhlen. Overnight leader CCI4* Piggy French and Flying Machine dropped two rails late on the course to give up he lead and drop to 4th. Andreas Dibowski and Euroridings Butts Leon jumped clear to move up from third to take the Luhmuhlen victory. Fellow Germans Sandra Auffarth and Frank Ostholt finished second and third with a rail each.
As for the US pairs, Will and Pawlow had 8 jumping penalties along with two time penalties to finish Luhmuhlen in 22nd place. That result is a long way away from where I’m sure Will wanted to be, but to put things in perspective, 42 of Europe’s best riders started the competition. Julian Stiller and Chapel Amble finished in 24th place.
The British trio of Oliver, William, and Mary moved up from 20th, 14th, and 15th respectively after the dressage to finish in 7th, 8th, and 9th–they added just 20 points total to their dressage score for the weekend.
CCI4* Results:
1. Andreas Dibowski (GER) and Euroridings Butts Leon +0 39.8
2. Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Opgun Louvo +4 43.0
3. Frank Ostholt (GER) and Little Paint +4 46.1
4. Piggy French (GBR) and Flying Machine +8 46.4
5. Clayton Fredericks (AUS) and Dunges Laurent Rose +0 47.2
…
22. Will Faudree and Pawlow +10 88.2
24. Julian Stiller and Chapel Amble +14 98.4
German Domination was the same story in the CIC3*. Kai Ruder gave the win up to his countryman Andreas Ostholt by pulling two rails. All told, Germany finished 7 riders in the top 10 of the CIC3*.
Will Faudree had the lone great result for the USA of the weekend, finishing the CIC3* in 11th place. They moved up from 18th to 14th on the cross-country with a double-clear and then up to 11th in the show jumping with a double-clear. Will told me after the dressage that they had room for improvement, but aside from those marks, Missie showed that she has a ton of potential this weekend.
CIC3* results:
1. Andreas Ostholt (GER) and Franco Jeas +0 39.3
2. Kai Ruder (GER) and Leprince des Bois +8 39.5
3. Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) and Wega +0 39.8
…
11. Will Faudree (USA) and Andromaque +0 47.1
I suppose the Germans are expected to do really well at their home event and they did save many of their best horses for Luhmuhlen. But, after watching this weekend, it’s hard not to put Germany in the top 3 international teams right now along with Great Britan and then perhaps New Zealand.
Bonus video: Clayton’s dressage test with Dunges Laurent Rose via Ecogold
Go eventing.
