Luhmuhlen Horse Trials

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Luhmühlen Horse Trials is one of seven five-star events in the world, the others being Badminton and Burghley in Britain, Kentucky and Maryland in the USA, Pau in France and Adelaide in Australia. It is held annually in Salzhausen, Germany, in June.

The venue has a long history of running horse trials and upgraded to the top level in 2005 (at that time the showcase class was a four-star, but it is now designated a five-star in line with the star levels being changed across international eventing). A CCI4*-S runs alongside the feature class.

Captain Mark Phillips was the cross-country course-designer here for the top class until 2016. Mike Etherington-Smith took over for the 2017 event and remains the current designer.

Betting Hoy scored her first four-star win here at the inaugural four-star, riding Ringwood Cockatoo.

Michael Jung became the first person to take the Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star title twice when he added victory in 2012 on Leopin FST to his triumph in 2009 with La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. Since then two riders have joined him in that honour – Tim Price won the event in 2014 (Wesko) and 2019 (Ascona M) and Andreas Dibowski was victorious in 2011 (FRH Butts Leon) and 2016 (It’s Me xx).

There have been five British winners in the showcase class at Luhmühlen, Ruth Edge (Two Thyme) in 2007, William Fox-Pitt (Macchiato) in 2008, Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town) in 2010, Mollie Summerland (Charly Van Ter Heiden) in 2021 and Laura Collett (London 52) in 2023.

In 2019, Luhmühlen hosted the European Eventing Championships for the sixth time. Germany won the team gold, with Britain in silver and Sweden taking the bronze.

The individual gold went to the home side’s Ingrid Klimke (SAP Hale Bob OLD) with her compatriot Michael Jung collecting silver on FischerChipmunk FRH). Ireland’s Cathal Daniels picked up the bronze, his first senior individual medal.