TWENTY-two-year-old Jennifer Kuehnle’s has moved up to second place after cross-country at the five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials in Germany, on her debut at the level.
Riding her father Hans’ 16-year-old Polly Blue Eyes, the pair were one of four to make the time over the five-star course built by Mike Etherington-Smith, moving up 20th places to stay on their dressage score of 35.5 to sit behind British European champion Ros Canter with the event favourite Izilot DHI, who has a big cushion of a lead on 26.9.
Speaking to media afterwards, Kuehnle said: “My horse is just great. I’ve had her for six years and we’ve worked our way up the levels. She’s just the best horse I could ever wish for, she’s just amazing!”
Canter commented: “I’m absolutely delighted, Izilot felt so grown up today. He’s brave and he’s genuine, sometimes he gets a little spooky, and he was at the beginning but then he really settled down and he gave me b ride. He was fantastic all the way around, absolutely on point today.”
Germany’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who only added four time penalties to her dressage score, worked her way up the leaderboard into third place. Ireland’s Ian Cassells, another five-star debutant put in an impressive clear, adding just 10-time penalties to their dressage score to leave them in 10th overnight. Kuehnle also produced a clear jumping round with her second mount, Sammy Davis Junior, adding 14-time penalties to sit in 12th place.
The final show jumping phase takes place tomorrow (Sunday).