Karl Slezak of Tottenham, ON, and Fernhill Wishes (Chacoa x Gildawn Diamond) finished in 14th place in their first appearance at the Luhmühlen CCI5*-L event held June 16-19, 2022 in Salzhausen, Germany.
Luhmühlen Horse Trials is one of seven five-star events in the world. Renowned course designer Mike Etherington-Smith has set the tracks at this venue since 2016.
Slezak and the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding affectionately known as ‘Chocy’, which he co-owns with Kirk Hoppner, began the weekend in 24th after finishing the dressage phase with 37.9 pp. The pair improved their ranking with a solid cross-country round with no jumping and 19.6 time faults to move up to 17th place. The pair had one rail and 1.6 time faults to finish the weekend in 14th place with a final score of 63.10. Swiss rider Felix Vogg and Colero topped the podium, crusing through on their dressage score of 29.0.
Slezak commented on his Facebook page, “Another 5* in the books – what an amazing experience! Hopefully we’ll be back again some day, Chocy is back in England, happy as can be, resting in a paddock at Kirsty Chabert’s … [he] will have a few week’s vacation at Wayfarer Eventing UK and then it’s back to work!”
For Luhmühlen 2022 CCI5*-L results, please click here.
~ with files from Equestrian Canada