High temperatures added another layer of difficulty to an already challenging CCI4*-S cross country track at Luhmühlen Horse Trials on Saturday, where five Australian combinations were in action.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos finished the day as the highest placed Australian combination, jumping clear and adding just 4.8 time faults to their dressage score for a total of 37.5.
On a day where no one went under time in the CCI4*-S, it was a certainly a strong performance. The duo is now placed tenth ahead of the show jumping phase, 10.6 penalties adrift from the leaders, Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel (26.9). However, with the second-placed combination of Lara de Liedekerke-Meyer and Kiarado d’Arville on 31.3 and just 6.2 penalties clear of Andrew and Vassily, the door is certainly open for an Australian podium finish on Sunday if the stars align.
Olympian Kevin McNab is the next best placed Australian, rising from 47th after the dressage to 23rd place. He and Faro Imp added just 7.6 time faults to their scorecard, for a total of 47.1.
Best placed after the dressage, Isabel English and Cil Dara Bombay S jumped clear, however 18 time faults saw them slip from 14th to 27th on a total of 50.4. Isabel withdrew her second ride, Cil Dara Dallas, prior to the cross country.
Grace Kay and Bluefields For Cello were also clear, adding 20 time penalties to their score for a total of 54.9 and 35th place. Hannah Klep and Tulara Chicouve picked up 20 jump penalties at 14b, however still only accrued 16.8 time faults for a total of 72.1 and 39th place at what will be one of their biggest events to date after only being based in Europe for a short time.
The CCI4*-S show jumping begins at 2.10pm local time on Sunday (10.10pm AEST), with the starting order set to be released following the second horse inspection.
Julia Krajewski and Uelzener’s Nickel on course in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy
Olympic champion Julia Krajewski has stayed in the lead and is yet again on course for the German Championship title. Riding her experienced Holsteiner gelding Uelzener’s Nickel, Krajewski heads into the show jumping phase at the top of the leaderboard on 26.9 penalties.
Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meyer and Kiarado d’Arville currently occupy second place on 31.3 penalties, while Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K sit third on 33.8.
Krajewski also remains well in contention with her second ride, Tullabeg Platinum, who is fourth on 34.4 penalties and currently holds the bronze medal position in the German National Championship. She was particularly pleased with her long-time partner Uelzener’s Nickel, who delivered a fast and confident round over the challenging cross country track.
“It was an intense day, but both horses made me very, very proud today and produced great rounds. Nickel was like he was on rails. He is not the fastest galloping horse, so I really have to keep my rhythm. Nowadays he is a real professional – super honest, always on his line, and when he knows the task, he just does it.”
Tullabeg Platinum also impressed with his first appearance at Luhmühlen. Despite his relative lack of experience at this level, the gelding coped admirably with the atmosphere, making his rider proud: “He’s a very, very cool horse, still quite inexperienced and competing in Luhmühlen for the first time. I wasn’t quite sure how he would handle the atmosphere, but he did it brilliantly.”
The high temperatures added another layer of difficulty throughout the day, but Krajewski felt the horses had been well prepared for the conditions. “The horses coped really well with the heat. There is a great cool-down area in the shade here. The footing was excellent as well.”
Lara de Liedekerke-Meyer also enjoyed an excellent day across country. Riding Kiarado d’Arville, the Belgian produced a controlled and fault-free round to move into second place ahead of the final phase. “I’m really, really happy. He has done a lot already but never been to a show like Luhmühlen, so yesterday he was a little joyful when he saw the crowd. The dressage was really nice, and today he was a little more quiet in the warm-up so I didn’t warm him up too much. I didn’t take a risk, but he gave me a super round and to me that feels like a victory.”
Malin Hansen-Hotopp was equally delighted with Carlitos Quidditch K, who tackled the demanding course with focus and confidence. The experienced gelding used his powerful stride to good effect while remaining adjustable throughout the track, leaving the pair in a strong third place. “I’m very happy. Both horses were absolutely fantastic. Quidditch has a very big gallop and thanks to his experience he is now very adjustable. It was really fun.”
Caroline Harris of Great Britain and D. Day take the lead in the Longines CCI5*-L
Great Britain’s Caroline Harris will head into Sunday’s decisive show jumping phase as the leader of the Longines CCI5*-L after a superb cross country performance aboard D. Day.
The British combination delivered one of the standout rounds of the day, making Mike Etherington-Smith’s influential five-star track appear remarkably straightforward. They completed the course without adding to their dressage score and now lead the competition on 31.1 penalties.
Reflecting on her round, Harris admitted she had felt some nerves before setting out across country: “I was actually pretty nervous because Mike eased us into it until fence ten and then it was intense the whole way home. But I just had my trainer’s voice in my head and really tied to ride each fence as they’d told me.”
Harris praised her experienced partner, highlighting the trust they have developed over years of competing together. “We know each other inside out,” Harris said. “He always gives me everything.”
Fellow Briton Emily King produced another impressive performance with Valmy Biats to move into second place on 33.8 penalties. King was full of praise for her horse after negotiating the demanding track. “Ultimately, he gave me a super ride. He was so straight, he was so quick with his legs, He really listened to me and fought to the end. He’s an amazingly brave horse which can sometimes make him quite hard to ride. Today, this crazy lion that I normally have to navigate round the course was suddenly not so ‘liony’. Basically, I had to adapt a little bit. But he was super, so good on the fences, straight, super fit and his heart rate was excellent after the cross country. So I couldn’t be happier.”
American rider Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley occupy third place on 38.1 penalties after another remarkable five-star performance. Martin described the gelding as an exceptionally talented and experienced horse, whose cross country ability continues to impress. While acknowledging that the dressage phase remains an area for improvement, Martin spoke of his confidence in Shanroe Cooley and his admiration for the horse’s consistency, determination and professionalism.
He also paid tribute to Liz Halliday, who originally produced the gelding, describing Shanroe Cooley as a horse that reflects her outstanding horsemanship and championship qualities.
With just the final horse inspection and show jumping phase remaining, the battle for the 2026 Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials title remains wide open. Harris will enter the final day holding a narrow advantage, but with several world-class combinations in close pursuit, an exciting finale is guaranteed.
Source: Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen press release, edited by Equestrian Life
