Luhmühlen CCI4* Cross-Country Course Photo Gallery

Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton and David O'Connor discuss the line to 27bc. Photo by Jenni Autry. Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton and David O'Connor discuss the line to 27bc. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Guten tag from Luhmühlen! Chinch and I landed in Hamburg early this morning and came straight to the event to hit the ground running on covering the final selection trial before the U.S. selectors name the World Equestrian Games team. Riders were just finishing up the morning ring familiarization when we rolled in, so I set out to walk the course before the first horse inspection this afternoon. I ran into Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin — our two Americans competing here this weekend — at fence 7 walking with Coach David O’Connor, and they were gracious enough to let me tag along to walk the rest of the way to hear their thoughts.

Talking through distances at the second water. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Talking through distances at the second water. Photo by Jenni Autry.

This is my first trip to Luhmühlen, and my initial impression of the course is it’s beautifully presented. The galloping lanes are immaculately manicured, and Boyd said the turf has come a long way even since 2012 when he was last here with Ying Yang Yo. It’s clear the officials are working hard to make this a serious four-star, and I have to commend Capt. Mark Phillips and the course builders for their handiwork. The course also benefits from beautiful scenery, and many parts of the course leave you feeling like you just stepped into a storybook. While the trees create a lovely setting, some have been removed since last year to improve visibility on certain parts of the course, particularly at the second water complex.

Looking off the galloping lane about a third of the way into the course. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Looking off the galloping lane about a third of the way into the course. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The going is very flat in this part of Germany, and Capt. Phillips counters the lack of terrain with big fences. We saw max table after max table, and the big questions keep coming right up until the end of the course. Like last year, the first water comes early on at fence 4 and serves as the first major challenge. It’s been softened this year after numerous horses had problems there last year and should ride smoothly as a result, helping to get horses on their toes for the rest of the course. Riders spend a lot of time in the main stadium for fences 9 and 10, zig zagging and looping their way around. The combinations in the main arena also caused trouble last year and have been adjusted accordingly, but it’s still a proper question that will require riders to be very accurate to their lines.

Which way to 'Murica? Photo by Jenni Autry.

Which way to ‘Murica? Photo by Jenni Autry.

The next water comes at fence 13, where riders will bounce out over a big brush. This is one of several combinations that walks between strides, giving riders the option to either sit down and kick or hold for the add. Boyd and Phillip also spent quite a bit of time walking the line at the third water at 18ab, where riders have the option of doing two or three strides. David predicted horses will jump awkwardly in to the water over the skinny brush at 18a, and pushing for the two will be tricky as a result. In this case, holding for the three has a better chance of guaranteeing a smooth trip through the combination, and both Boyd and Phillip are planning on that.

Team Toddy at the second water. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Team Toddy at the third water. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Fence 21 is a big combination with two large, open oxers set with frangible pins followed by a serious corner. And questions like that — combining big jumping efforts with accuracy questions — come two more times before the end of the course, with a coffin at fence 26 and a big ditch and brush wall combination at fence 27. This is a proper four-star course that keeps horses and riders on their toes right out of the starting box, and the stage is set for a very exciting day of cross country on Saturday. With the sandy base of the footing making for perfect going, conditions should be ideal for Boyd and Phillip to lay it all on the table as they look to show the selectors they deserve a ticket to Normandy.

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