Houtappels-Bruder continues success with win in Bühl, Germany
Kelly Houtappels-Bruder of Ariss, ON, now a resident of Steensel, NED, drove her way to the win in the CAI 3* Horse Single Division at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Driving Competition – Bühl 2022 event held from June 15 – 19, 2022 over 300 kilometres west of Munich, Germany.
Hosted at the riding and driving club St. Leonhard eV – Bühl that has existed since 1968, Houtappels-Bruder and her partner Flip (Fidertanz x Carprilli), a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, whom she co-owns with her husband Frank Houtappels, finished atop of the leaderboard, out of 35 competitors representing nine countries. “The course designer Michael Mayer from Switzerland had built an extremely challenging and horse friendly course” said Houtappels-Bruder.
Houtappels-Bruder and Flip competing in Bühl, GER
Photo Credit: Brigitte Gfeller
The Canadian pair opened the competition in first place, with an exceptional score of 40.12 penalty points in the dressage phase. After their strong start, they dropped in the standings in the marathon stage to 12th place with a time of 83.91 and a combined score of 124.03 after the two phases. The duo completed the event with six penalties in cones, an overall score of 130.03 to take home the victory ahead of Netherlands’ Marie Schiltz and Frodo, who finished with 131.21 for second place.
“The week went well, Bühl was an extremely welcoming competition, and we were all looked after so well – especially with the extreme heat throughout the week” said Houtappels-Bruder. The dressage phase was super, had a good feeling and getting closer to where we want to be approaching the worlds.”
Houtappels-Bruder and Flip racing to the top of the leaderboard in Bühl, GER
Photo Credit: Brigitte Gfeller
The duo is aiming to represent the maple leaf at the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single horses from September 15-18, 2022 at Le Pin au Haras (FRA).
For more information on the FEI Bühl 2022 driving event, please click here.
Karl Slezak finishes in top 15 in CCI5*-L Luhmühlen Horse Trials
Karl Slezak of Tottenham, ON, and Fernhill Wishes (Chacoa x Gildawn Diamond) cracked the top 15, finishing in 14th place in their second 5* competition at the Luhmühlen 2022 – Longines CCI5*-L event held June 16-19, 2022 in Salzhausen, Germany.
Slezak and Fernhill Wishes focused on their first 5* competition
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman
Held annually in the month of June in Salzhausen, Germany, the Luhmühlen horse trials is one of seven five-star and one of the biggest eventing competitions in the world. The venue has a long history of running horse trials with renowned course designer Mike Etherington-Smith responsible for the track since 2016.
Slezak and the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, whom he co-owns with Kirk Hoppner, began the weekend in 24th after finishing the dressage phase with a 37.9. The pair improved their ranking in cross country moving up to 17th, with their time of 11:49 and 19.6 faults. They would conclude the weekend with a time of 88.35 and knocking over rail eight in show jumping. The Canadian would finish in 14th place with a final score of 63.10, in an event that witnessed Felix Vogg and Colero take home the ribbon, Switzerland’s first 5* victory in over 70 years.
Slezak and Fernhill Wishes competing in the cross country phase
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman
For more information on the Luhmühlen 2022 – Longines CCI5*-L, please click here.
Canadians on the podium at Spruce Meadows ‘National’ CSI 5*/2* Presented by Rolex
Mario Deslauriers and Uris de la Roque clearing a jump in Calgary, AB
Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark Photo
Quebec native Mario Deslauriers took the win in the first of many challenges at the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ CSI 5*/2*, presented by Rolex. Riding his 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding Uris de la Roque (Capital x Quick Star), Deslauriers jumped double clear in a very quick paced ATCO Cup 1.50m in the International Ring on Friday, June 17, 2022, at the world-renowned venue outside Calgary, AB. Only three combinations made it to the jump off, with twenty-eight others having taken down rails in the first round to leave it to the final three to battle it out to the finish. Deslauriers jumped clean in a winning time of 41.65 seconds.
“It was a tough course,” Deslauriers conceded. “You needed a horse with experience and the time allowed was very short. You needed to really take a chance a bit at the double to leave out a stride. Not many people made the time; that was the key there, to try and manage that.”
Having brought several of his star horses with him to Spruce, Deslauriers agreed that Uris was the right partner to take on this course. “He can handle that,” he said. “He jumped the Nations Cup here last year. So, he’s seasoned and he’s very good.”
Erynn Ballard and Gakhir jumping to the selection of the FEI World Championships
Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark Photo
Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON and her partner Gakhir (Spartacus TN x Labor’s VDL Indorado) an 11-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding owned by Esperanza Imports, LLC & Ilan Ferder, took a third place in the RBC Grand Prix of Canada CSI 5*, presented by Rolex 1.60m on Saturday, June 18, 2022. After a clear first, Ballard was one of only three of the six jump-off pairs that jumped a clear second round. The pair finished in 42.04 seconds, good enough to get them into the top three.
With the team selection for the FEI World Championships still open at the time of go, Ballard knew she needed a strong showing. “There was a significant amount of pressure to put in a good performance,” she said. “I think we showed everybody today that we’re ready to move forward and be a part of the team. That’s what I needed to get out of the day. The result was icing on the cake.”
Eric Krawitt pleasing the hometown crowd over the water
Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark Photo
Youngster and hometown rider Eric Krawitt, of Okotoks, AB made a statement with his 5* debut capturing the ATB Cup on Sunday afternoon, June 19, 2022. The final competition of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ weekend suffered a weather delay when a significant storm passed through the area. Aboard his own 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding Cactus de Cosniere (Paddock du Plessis x Flipper d’Elle*HN) Krawitt was one of only a handful of riders that made it to the jump-off. In fact, after the rain, it was down to only he and fellow Canadian rider and three-time Olympian Mario Deslauriers, 40 years his senior. Deslauriers managed a clean round with his 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood Emerson (Eldorado Vd Zeshoek x Berlin) owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC. At just seventeen, Krawitt showed his abilities to competing for the first time at this level with high pressure and went clear in 41.53, clinching the win with a margin of more than 2 and a half seconds. He shared that the event was a special start for him at the 5* level. “Putting in some good rounds earlier this week gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “It’s very special win.”