United States Eventing Association

Jonelle Price (NZL) and Faerie Dianimo (28.30) are the 2018 Luhmühlen CCI4* winners! Laura Collett (GBR) with Mr Bass (29.90) and Rosalind Canter (GBR) with Zenshera (29.90) follow in second and third.

This year’s Badminton winner has done it again! Jonelle Price takes home the 2018 Luhmühlen CCI4* title on her little but very feisty grey mare Faerie Dianimo. “This mare can be a little crazy at times – she can be difficult in dressage, very strong in cross­-country and jumps like she is huge – but this is what makes her as good as she is!” Price continued by saying she never ever thought earlier in the year, when she tried to get back to full fitness after having had her little boy last August, that she would be winning two four-­star competitions in a row. She thanked Julia Otto and the whole team at Luhmühlen for the fantastic organization and hospitality and said that she is already looking forward to coming back next year!

Places two and three were decided by the faster cross­-country time. Although Laura Collett and Rosalind Canter finished on the same score, Collett stayed within the optimum time, which gave her the edge over her team colleague. Collett said, “I am so incredibly happy with my horse, who came to me as an unbroken 4-year-­old. This makes it so much more special! We work so hard with our horses and there are definitely more lows than highs in our sport, so we really enjoy moments like this. Mr Bass tried his heart out for me this week, he knew when it mattered most – I am so proud!”

According to Canter, Zenshera was a real super star from start to finish. “He really gave it his all in dressage, ran as fast as he could in yesterday’s cross­-country and jumped incredible today – especially because show jumping is normally his weakest phase. I really could not have asked for more!”

Boyd Martin (USA), overnight leader after the cross­-country, withdrew The Shamwari 4 Syndicate's 16­-year-­old Hanoverian gelding Shamwari 4 (Star Regent xx x Donnice) before this morning’s trot­-up, as he is thought to have strained a tendon. Martin released the following statement on his Facebook page earlier this morning:

"Unfortunately I have decided to withdraw Shamwari from today’s show jumping. When I finished the cross­-country yesterday he looked sore in his hind leg. A number of the top vets here at the competition all agreed that he has strained his hind tendon, and it would not be right to try to present him for the trot­-up. It is a very rare injury."

"Shamwari has been in good health and had a wonderful preparation towards this year's Luhmühlen CCI4*. He has been closely monitored Dr. Kevin Keane, Dr. Susan Johns, and Dr. Dean Richardson through his whole preparation and through this event. He had no pre­existing issue coming into this event and were looking forward to a great result."

"Being a 16­-year-­old horse, this will most likely be the end of Shamwari competing at the top of the sport. It has been an absolute privilege to ride him. He is one of the best horses I have ever ridden, and it was sad that he never won a four­-star. I truly thought that this weekend was his. I would like to thank his owners in the Shamwari Syndicate, Silva and Nox, coach Erik Duvander, his groom Mike Pen, and my vet Kev Keane. I look forward to get Shammie back to the promised land for him to heal up."

Liz Halliday­-Sharp and Deniro Z. Shannon Brinkman Photo.

Liz Halliday­-Sharp and Deniro Z (Zapatero VDL x Zonne­-Trend), the Deniro Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties' 10­-year-­old KWPN gelding, were the sole finishers for the United States in the CCI4*, dropping two rails in today's show jumping competition to finish in 8th place on a final score of 42.2.

Alec van den Abeele, chef d’equipe for team Belgium, thanked TGL Event Manager Julia Otto and her entire team on his and Chloe Raty’s behalf for the support and help she and her horse Axel Z received after yesterday’s devastating accident. Raty has travelled home but wanted to express her gratitude for all the care and attention they received from beginning to end.

Final scores for the CCI4* are available here.

Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot Win Wire-­to­-Wire in the Meßmer Trophy CIC3*

Julia Krajewski and Samurai du Thot not only won the Meßmer Trophy CIC3* competition but also the National Championship! They held onto their dressage score of 19.90 throughout the week. In second is Ingrid Klimke (GER) and SAP Hale Bob OLD (25.90) followed by Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN) with The Duke Of Cavan (26.90) in third. Klimke also finished second in the German National Championship while Bettina Hoy (GER) finished third.

Krajewski is over the moon to have won again, this time not only the class but also, for the first time, the national title. “The pressure was definitely on when we came into the final phase today. Although Sam is a very good show jumper, who rarely makes a mistake, I did feel a little nervous. Having one fence in hand helped me stay calm and focused though.” As Krajewski only just got back from competing her second horse at Bramham in England, she had to leave Sam in the capable hands of her team, who prepared him just right. “Because I have been away, I really did not expect this. I feel immensely proud!”

Klimke, who had one fence down in the final show jumping, feels this might be a good omen for the rest of the season, as last year’s only mistake was here too and she won the European title later in Strzegom. “Bobby was fit and fresh today. He jumped his heart out and a pole down can happen anytime. In the end, a clear round would not have made a difference for the end result.”

For Oiwa and The Duke Of Cavan, this third place felt particularly special. “To be up here in such a strong class feels absolutely amazing! My horse is usually very strong and can get a little hot in dressage. But this week he seemed proud to be performing in the stadium. Because he gets so strong in cross­-country I made some minor changes, which seemed to have done the trick. He was listening, which helped with this technical course. In the show jumping again, he can get very strong but he did not seem to mind the atmosphere and jumped even better than he normally does.”

Hoy, last year’s National Champion, is ecstatic to be up on the podium again. “This was my first outing with Designer this year, because I have been so busy with the Dutch team. Therefore I am even happier to have won a medal again. Designer is a very experienced horse at this level now, so I trusted him to do well. To come fourth in the CIC3* behind one of my former pupils makes me particularly proud!”

Hans Melzer, Germany’s chef d’equipe, announced the long­list for the World Equestrian Games, taking place in Tryon, North Carolina (USA) later this year: Andreas Dibowski, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke, Julia Krajewski and Kai Rüder are the top five. Reserve riders are Sandra Auffarth, Jörg Kurbel, Josefa Sommer, Felix Etzel, Andreas Ostholt and Claas Herrmann Romeike. All riders will be competing at CHIO in Aachen, Germany or in Strzegom, Poland later in the year as a final test before a decision is made who is going to represent Germany in Tryon.

Click here for final results from the CIC3*.