German team pathfinder Libussa Lübbeke has made a great start on her senior team debut, taking an early lead in the dressage phase at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (GB).
She scored 28.3 penalties on her family’s home-bred Caramia 34, to put her 0.7 ahead of Great Britain’s first team rider, Yasmin Ingham on Rehy DJ.
“It is like a dream,” said Libussa. “We bred this mare, my brother rode her and then I won medals on her at Young Rider level, but we never thought she would be a five-star or a championship horse, so we are just enjoying it. It was always an ambition to ride for Germany at senior level, which is a big step up.”
Yasmin, the reigning world champion, was also riding her Young Rider medal-winning team horse, the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse Rehy DJ, known as “Piglet”.
“It is so exciting to be here at Blenheim, a real honour,” said Yasmin, a member of the winning team at the 2023 Europeans in France.
“I am delighted with his test, he was fabulous. He tried so hard and was so accurate and his flying changes were amazing. We’re a great partnership – I have been riding him since he was six. He is Piglet by name and piglet by nature!”
Switzerland’s Nadja Minder had the daunting role of championship pathfinder and, although she was disappointed that her horse, Toblerone, was lit up by the atmosphere, she said: “There is no better horse to go first. It is fun and an honour. I think the cross-country terrain will suit him and it won’t be a dressage competition this year!”
Nations’ second team members will perform their dressage tests this afternoon, starting at 2:30pm.
In the GFS Saddles 8 & 9 Year Old CCI4*-S, Australian rider Kevin McNab has taken an early lead on Sofia Von Moltke’s Wilfred Lancer, scoring 29.4. He leads New Zealander Samantha Lissington, riding Lucas Stone by just 0.1 of a penalty.
Tom Jackson was the highest-placed British rider, third on United 36 on 30.2.
