Top eventers battle it out at Luhmühlen

More than 50 riders from 12 nations have arrived in Luhmühlen, Germany for the CCI 4* horse trials (12-15 June).

World number one

As well as being the penultimate leg of the FEI Classics, the event is the last chance for riders to impress selectors prior to the World Equestrian Games.

World number one William Fox-Pitt, who has won Luhmühlen three times, has a 15-point lead in the series. He is riding Cool Mountain, on whom he won team gold and individual silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Third time lucky

Fresh from his second at Badminton is Oliver Townend, who won the FEI Classics in 2009. He is currently in fourth place and has brought Black Tie ll, who is competing in his first CCI4*.

Australia’s Christopher Burton will also be hoping for a win, as he is in joint second place with Badminton winner Sam Griffiths. Sam isn’t at Luhmühlen, but Christopher is competing Tempranillo, who took him to victory in the CIC3* at Hartpury last year.

Fellow Aussie Lucinda Fredericks is back from a third crack of the title with Flying Finish, who came second in 2012 and 10th last year.

Kiwi stalwart

Last year’s winner Andrew Nicholson is back this year with Quimbo. No doubt he will be hoping to improve upon their performance at Badminton, where the pair retired on the cross-country.

Another Kiwi stalwart in attendance is Mark Todd, who is partnered with Oloa. Mark is on great form, having led the New Zealand team to victory in the third leg of the FEI Nations Cup series at Houghton International last month. He also won Chatsworth CIC3* with a new ride, Amacuzzi.

Another big name to look out for is former Luhmühlen winner and the current Olympic, World and European Champion, Michael Jung.

The action starts today and can follow the results via theLuhmühlen website.