Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden are on top of the CCI4* leaderboard before cross-country day with a dressage score of 24.8. Julia Krajewski (GER) with Nickel are in second on 26.7, and Ingrid Klimke (GER) and EQUISTROs Siena Just Do It are currently in third on 28.3.
Mollie Summerland, Longines CCI5*-L winner in 2021, was full of praise for Charly: “He was brilliant. He feels so at home in that arena. All week it’s been different to any other show. We’ve really not given him much work at all. He’s had about half an hour of work each day and lots of grazing. He’s just so relaxed here. When everybody clapped when we went in, he just loved it, it didn’t unsettle him at all. It’s lovely to be back. Everyone has worked so hard on the ground to create perfect conditions. It’s very much appreciated.”
Julia Krajewski was very happy with her horse’s performance: “I’m very proud of Nickel. He’s not that experienced yet and really went above and beyond today. We had some little mistakes, so there’s still room for improvement, but it’s so exciting to have such brilliant up and coming youngsters. Nickel’s extended trot and canter were amazing today. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Ingrid Klimke was also pleased with her mare’s dressage test: “I’m very happy. Siena did not get overexcited by the atmosphere but stayed focused and with me througout the test. There were some lovely highlights during the trot and canter phases. I took her to Balve and Wiesbaden specifically to prepare her for Luhmühlen, and it really paid off today.”
Thoughts from riders about the CCI4*-S cross-country course:
Andreas Dibowski: “The four-star course is incredible: fair with clear lines and tasks. Visual effects have been used and it really tests the horses’ and riders’ skills. It is technically demanding, but very motivating at the same time.”
Peter Thomsen: “The course is outstanding, worthy of a German Championship. It is technically demanding but not overdone. The ground preparation is absolutely perfect – both on the tracks and in the water complexes. The horses get off to a good canter due to the inviting start of the course and only then do the technical tasks follow. I think we will see great sport. It will be an exciting cross-country day.”
Ingrid Klimke: “It is a great cross-country course – of course there are technical tasks and you have to concentrate all the way round, but it’s very friendly and fair.”
How to watch: Horse & Country+ are live streaming both competitions with German and English commentary https://horseandcountry.tv
Start times and result lists can be found here: www.luhmuehlen.de
Images: TGL/Annette Dölger
