World renowned Luhmühlen showgrounds – home of the CCI5* Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials – has added another fixture to its busy event calendar. The venue hosted an August Eventing competition, featuring classes from CCI1* to CCI4*, bringing hundreds of competitors – from grassroots to international top level – to this iconic German location in the ‘Lüneburger Heide’ one more time in 2025.
“Luhmühlen has always been a special event for me – ever since my first start here at the 1982 World Championships,” said Andrew Hoy. “I have been competing at many places around the world – but Luhmühlen always holds a very special place in my heart.
“The conditions are fabulous for horses and competitors – so when I heard they added another fixture to their calendar I wanted to come and support it. To leave with a ‘double’ in the CCI4*S is just incredible – I am so very proud of my horses Vassily de Lassos and Gulliver des Lones.”
Vassily de Lassos (Jaguar Mail x Jalienny) produced a strong dressage test to score 29.8 and sit second after the first phase. Although the gelding lowered two uncharacteristic rails in the show jumping, he delivered one of the fastest cross country rounds of the day, incurring just six time penalties to finish on a total of 43.8. It was his first CCI4* start since September 2024. After making his competition return in July this year at a CCI3*S in France, Luhmühlen marked an exciting step back up to CCI4* level.
“Vassily, at 16 years old, is in the shape of his life and I am so happy he could make his mark on a very challenging cross country day,” said Andrew.
Eighth after the dressage on 33.1, nine-year-old grey gelding Gulliver des Lones (Upsilon x Hoggar Mail) show jumped clear and posted just 12 cross country time faults – a remarkable feat around his first CCI4* track – to finish on 45.1.
Andrew was understandably thrilled with the young horse’s performance. “Gulliver has stepped up to CCI4* for a very first time at Luhmühlen – and was incredible from start to finish. The future is bright!”
Natasha Moody claims CCI1* win
Fellow Australian Natasha Moody also enjoyed success at the event, winning one of the CCI1* divisions with Holsteiner mare Milla de Cadi (Casall Ask x Diarado). The pair led from start to finish on their dressage score of 27.5.
Natasha moved to Europe two-and-a-half years ago and is currently based in Germany with eventer Sophie Leube. Speaking to Equestrian Life earlier this month, Natasha explained that the mare is in her first season of eventing and has taken to it like she’s been doing it her whole life.
You can read more about Natasha in the August issue of Equestrian Life here.
