The Final Countdown: Last WEG Selection Trial Looms Ahead

Mighty Nice, Shamwari 4 and Otis Barbotiere in Germany for Luhmühlen. Photo by Lindsey Taylor. Mighty Nice, Shamwari 4 and Otis Barbotiere in Germany for Luhmühlen. Photo by Lindsey Taylor.

With six selection trials behind us, just one remains before the selectors name the long list for the U.S. World Equestrian Games team no later than June 20. And it’s a big one — Luhmühlen CCI4*. After Clark Montgomery announced last week he withdrew Loughan Glen, two riders remain: Phillip Dutton with Mighty Nice and Boyd Martin with Otis Barbotiere and Shamwari 4.

Both riders have been on the last two championship teams for Team USA — and Big Phil has ridden at every Olympics and World Championships for the last 20 years — so it’s going to be a nail-biter right down to the wire as two of Team USA’s best look to nab that ticket to Normandy.

How have Americans fared historically at Luhmühlen? This event added a CCI4* in 2005; since then, numerous Americans have competed, though none have won it. Here’s a look at the best U.S. placings, which I’ve narrowed down to include only combinations that jumped clear on cross country:

2013: Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, 7th

2012: Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz, 16th

2010: Jen Wooten and The Good Witch, 18th

2009: Will Coleman and Twizzel, 5th

2005: Kim Severson and Royal Venture, 4th; Will Coleman and A Second Hope NRW, 16th; Nathalie Pollard and West Farthing 17th; Bonnie Mosser and Jenga, 23rd; Cindy Rawson and Ashdale David’s Way, 27th

So since the inception of the four-star at Luhmühlen in 2005, just nine American horses and riders have jumped clear around the course. Kim Severson and Royal Venture hold the honors as the best-placed U.S. combination, finishing 4th in 2005. Two other American pairs have managed top 10 finishes since then: Will Coleman and Twizzel in 2009 with a 5th-place finish, and Marilyn Little and RF Demeter in 7th place last year.

Though Phillip Dutton has competed at numerous four-stars, World Championships and Olympic Games, he’s never competed at Luhmühlen. Boyd Martin has contested the event one time in 2012 with Ying Yang Yo, though he retired on cross country.

While Phillip has ridden around plenty of Mark Phillips’ courses in his career, he’s never seen this one. Mighty Nice has completed one four-star event in his career — Rolex in 2012 — so it will be a proper challenge for both of them.

Boyd rode six horses at Plantation Field on Saturday before hopping on a plane to fly to Germany that night, so his leg is definitely on the mend now. He has his old partner Otis Barbotiere back in action, though the horse hasn’t attempted a four-star since the London Olympics in 2012.

Shamwari 4 has competed at a four-star as recently as last fall at Pau with former jockey Ludwig Svennerstal, but due to Boyd’s soundness issues since Carolina International, they haven’t done much at all as a pair so far this year.

Both Phillip and Boyd aren’t just looking for good finishes in Germany; they’re looking to make a strong enough statement to land themselves on that long list next week. It’s going to be a hell of a finale for this year’s WEG selection process, and EN will be there to bring you every minute of the action, starting with the first horse inspection on Wednesday afternoon. Go eventing.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments