Newly crowned world no.1 Tim Price spearheads a strong contingent of Kiwis heading to the Longines Luhmuhlen Horse Trials CCI5*-L in Germany this week. A two-time Luhmuhlen winner Tim lines up with 14-year-old Happy Boy who placed fourth in his last 5* start at Pau last year.

Also on the start card is world no.7 Samantha Lissington aboard her 5* debutant Delarado, Jonelle Price with Capitaine De Hus Z and her Pau 5* winner Grappa Nera, Abby Jones aboard Henton Audacious, Vicky Browne-Cole with her 5* first timer Cutting Edge and James Avery with his 5* deb Dallas 13.

Jonelle is the last Kiwi to have won the 5* at Luhmuhlen, when she rode Faerie Dianimo to victory in 2018.

Tim, who says he would love to add a 5* victory to his 2026 CV, has plenty of faith in 14-year-old Happy Boy. “He is a very talented horse, who can be a bit cheeky at times, but I am looking forward to trying to get the best out of him at Luhmuhlen.” His 4*-S partner Jarillo, with whom he won Pau 5* last year, is one of his main contenders for his World Champs bid, so he’s hoping for “a good spin” with him too.

Abby Jones is chasing her first 5* completion with her New Zealand Hanoverian Henton Audacious. “She has had several good prep runs and is feeling very much on form,” says Abby. “We picked Luhmuhlen because it is slightly further back in the calendar and gave us time to prepare well. “For now, I am most looking forward to just getting there. It is another long drive navigating borders and driving on the other side of the road but it will be an adventure!”

James Avery has taken his time with his 5* debutant, 12-year-old Dallas 13. “It’s been on the cards for a while to step him up to 5* but has taken a bit longer than expected,” he said. James was off for a fair bit last year with an unfortunate injury, but he says both are now fit and ready and looking forward to the event. “He really loves his job and I think we have given ourselves our best possibly chance of putting in a good performance at Luhmuhlen rather than just getting around.”

Vicky Browne-Cole feels she too has her 5* debutant Cutting Edge primed and ready for the big event. “She is feeling very well and had a great spin around the 4*-S at Bicton a few weeks ago. We are very excited to finally be tackling our first 5*.” Vicky has had the thoroughbred mare since she was a four-year-old. “She is very, very special to me. While she is not always the easiest, she just has such a huge heart, so we are hoping for a good week.”

While there have been some high profile late withdrawals from the now 21-strong field, Luhmuhlen will surely deliver some top-flight competition.

New Zealand also has five combinations on the CCI4*-S start card. Hollie Field has entered aboard Ballycoskerry Regal Diamond, Samantha Lissington has Lucas Stone, Tim Price is in on Jarillo and Daniel Jocelyn will start aboard Blackthorn Cruise.

The first horse inspection for the CCI5* was held overnight and followed by two days of dressage, the Mike Etherington-Smith-designed cross country on Saturday, culminating with the showjumping on Sunday.

Luhmuhlen has now been running for more than 60 years. It started as a local event and has grown into one of just six 5* events in the world. The CCI4*-S MeBmer Trophy is the German championship and is always hotly contested by some of the best German combinations in the world.

Previous New Zealand winners include Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo (2018), Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control (2013), Tim Price and Wesko (2014) and Tim with Ascona (2019) all feature on the honours board.

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THE HORSE DETAILS

Horse

Breeding

Owners

Ballycoskerry Regal Diamond

Gentle Diamond x Rolling Star (Sire. High Roller)

The Hendrix Syndicate

Blackthorn Cruise

Vancouver x Ms Cruize (Sire. Cruising)

Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn

Capitaine De Hus Z

Cosinhus x France de Hus (Sire. Fergar Mail)

David and Karie Thomson

Cutting Edge

Guillotine x Que La Vera

Vicky Browne-Cole

Dallas 13

Dimaggio x Pippa

David and Karie Thomson

Delarado

Diarado x Belle Amie (Sire. Handsome Stranger)

Kate Maitland, Rachel Bessell, Samantha and Brayden Lissington

Happy Boy

Indoctro x W. Amelusina 17 (Sire. Odermus)

Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and Tim Price

Henton Audacious

Amamour x Distancia (Sire. Distelfink

Abigail Long

Jarillo

Dantos x Fiorilla (Sire. Alicante)

Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, James and Rachel Good

Grappa Nera

Karandasj x Cetonette (Sire. Babalouba)

The Grape Syndicate and Jonelle Price

Lucas Stone

Concreto x Zinnia

Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, Davi Taylor, Brayden and Samantha Lissington

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ