Cross-Country Luhmühlen: The Countdown is on
Luhmühlen (fn-press). There is less than a week to go until the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials with the German Championships (June 17-20). Especially for the German pairs the start in the Westergellerser Heide is a last big milestone before the Olympic Games. This is also where it will be decided who will make it from the longlist to the shortlist for the trip to Tokyo.
Exceptional rider Michael Jung (Horb), for whom it is all about defending his title if he starts in Tokyo, will be bringing two horses to the start: "I will be coming to Luhmühlen with two horses. With fischerChipmunk, a start in the four-star test and thus at the German Championships is planned. For fischerWild Wave, the premiere in the CCI5* is on the agenda. He has given me the feeling of being ready for this step and of course I am very happy to be able to gain experience at this top level with the horse I trained myself. Luhmühlen has always been a special tournament for me, and this year, so close to the Olympic Games, it takes on a special significance once again, also in terms of performance testing."
Tim and Jonelle Price are taking on a much longer and more complicated journey than Michael Jung to compete in both tests with several horses - including their CCI5* winners Faerie Dianimo and Ascona M. "Covid is truly not making it easy for us to travel to Luhmühlen. But we are determined to compete at this top event. We are in the lucky situation to have some five-star horses under saddle - and we want to make it possible for these horses to compete at Luhmühlen. My goal is to start the final jumping competition with four fit horses in good starting positions - and then, of course, to do nice clear rounds," explains Tim Price.
Most of the riders from Great Britain did not make the journey, which was made difficult by the current pandemic-related entry regulations. British Team Performance Coach Chris Bartle sums up the disappointment of the circumstances as follows: "It is such a shame for the British eventers who wanted to take part in the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials. Due to the pandemic travel restrictions, most of them will not be able to make the trip. I was so looking forward to this great event."
To date, the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy with German Championship confirms an exciting, large field of starters, in which many nations can already compete against each other in a direct comparison, before they meet again shortly either at the Olympic Games or the European Championships, which will take place in the fall. In addition to the strong field of participants from Germany - with Julia Krajewski, Michael Jung, Sandra Auffarth, Andreas Dibowski, Anna Siemer, Christoph Wahler and Nicolai Aldinger - unfortunately without Ingrid Klimke due to injury - Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Holland and Switzerland, among others, have entered.
The latest changes to the list of participants and updates to the schedule can be followed at tgl.luhmuehlen.de . The broadcast times of the NDR and Horse & Country can also be viewed on the website. Spectators are not permitted at the event. TGL/Hb
