Fairytale woodland, accuracy questions and beefy water complexes: take a peek at Luhmühlen’s five-star cross-country course

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country course has been reversed for 2023. Cross-country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s track takes combinations out into the open, before looping back through the woodland on this 6,350m course.

Competitors will face 28 numbered fences, with 46 jumping efforts. The Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 8 seconds.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course: take a look at the fences on the five-star track

Fence 1: Auftakt der Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude

Fence 2: Niemann-Laes Tisch

Fence 3: Sport-Physio Bank

Fence 4: Tisch.

This is the first frangible fence on course

Fence 5abc: Busch-Oxer Kombination

Fence 5: Holztisch

Fence 7ab: Kennels

Fence 8: Holzstoß

Fence 9ab: Busch-Ecken

Fence 10: Grabensprung

Fence 11abc: heimWatt Kombination

Fence 12: Oxer

Fence 13abcd: LeMieux Lagune

This is the first water fence on the course. Riders have options here, and the direct route is over the drop fence into water, followed by a tight turn to a corner and then up a bank to a house fence.

Alternative route

Fence 14: Reiterbar

Fence 15abc: LVM Wellenbahn

Fences 16 and 17: Trakehner to Meßmer Teich

Alternative route

Fence 18: Holzstoß

Fence 19: Manzke Ecke

Fence 20abc: Longines Kombination

Fence 21: Lotto Vogel

Fence 22: Gärtnerei Wrede’s Rennbahnsprung

Fence 23ab: Trainingsplatz Kombination

Fence 24abc: Longines Wasser

Fence 25: 25 Rathaus

Fence 26: Gestüt

Fence 27ab: Voltaire Oxers

Fence 28: Longines Final Jump

You might also be interested in:

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials on TV

‘The golden rule is to keep having fun’: Pippa Funnell continues Bramham momentum to scoop Luhmühlen lead

‘I hope the sat-nav works!’: Laura Collett, Boyd Martin and others on Luhmühlen’s twisty new-look cross-country course

Brilliant Brits and tough marking headline bumper opening dressage day at Luhmühlen

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Lucy Elder

H&H senior news writer

Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.