Longines Luhmühlen Three Day Event nearly always features a couple of Aussie contenders, and this year is no different with five combinations preparing to compete across the CCI4*S and CCI5*L classes.
Samantha Cesnik and the 14-year-old mare Graftango, by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz, are entered in the CCI5*L following their run at Badminton Horse Trials. The combination didn’t finish the three phases there due to a cross country mishap, with Sam later sharing that following the event it was discovered the mare had been suffering from a virus.
“My brave warrior, no temperature, just a bit more sleeping than usual and [she] still tried SO hard out there. I’m grateful to have fallen softly and not have made her keep going until she couldn’t. We have both learnt SO much from Badminton, and the UK has yet to see just how incredible she can be so watch this space!”
Sam has confirmed that Graftango is now fully recovered and ready to go for Luhmühlen. The pair are now all set to put their best hoof forward, alongside fellow Aussie Andrew Cooper riding Sharvalley Thunder, by Valhalla 3.
This will be Thunder’s first competition in the northern hemisphere and a second start at CCI5*L level for the 12-year-old gelding. The pair’s first start was at Adelaide Equestrian Festival, with the combination unfortunately coming unstuck during the cross country phase. Andrew and Thunder have however competed overseas with success previously, placing third in a very competitive CCI4*S field at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings, New Zealand last year in the lead up to the Paris Olympic Games. It will be great to once again see this combination competing on the world stage.
Two rides for Olivia Barton in the four-star
Olivia Barton has two of her horses entered in the CCI4*S: nine-year-old homebred gelding APH Sodoku and Hollyander HG, a 12-year-old mare by Higgins.
Since travelling overseas, Olivia and Sodoku have competed in a CCI3*S at Luhmühlen in March, as well as both Strzegom (April) and Marbach (May) CCI4*S.
Luhmühlen CCI4*S will be Hollyander HG’s first CCI start in the northern hemisphere, as well as her first CCI since coming second in the CCI5*L at Adelaide Equestrian Festival last year. ‘Golly’ and ‘Holly’ have competed overseas previously with success, finishing second in a CCI4*S (just ahead of Andrew and Thunder) in New Zealand last year.
Shane Rose returns to Luhmühlen
Olympian Shane Rose is the fifth Australia in action a the German event, riding 13-year-old mare Easy Turn (Casall Ask x Coriano Z). The pair won their last start in the CCI4*S at Adelaide Equestrian Festival; in fact, they’ve won their last four FEI starts at the level. It will be the mare’s first overseas event, however Shane is of course no stranger to international competition nor Luhmühlen, having last competed there in 2018 with CP Qualified.
