Monday 25th of March 2024
Eventing

Four star ride at Luhmühlen for Wiltshire’s Coral Keen

Wiltshire-based event rider Coral Keen is one of nine British riders who will contest Luhmühlen CCI4*, the equivalent of playing at Wimbledon or the US Masters, this weekend riding her 12-year-old gelding Wellshead Fare Opposition.

Coral and Derby

Coral and Wellshead Fare Opposition. © Malcolm Snegrove.

It is the second time Coral, 28, has ridden at the competition, which takes place in Germany, having attained a top 20 finish last year.

Preparations for the world class event have included a place on the British FEI Nations Cup team at Houghton International last month where the team finished fourth. Coral said:

“It was the perfect run up, Derby (Wellshead Fare Opposition) did a super dressage test and then went clear showjumping. He was very fresh across country, so I didn’t let the handbrake off as much as I could have done, which led to a few time penalties, but he jumped a beautiful clear and felt fantastic. I’m hopeful we can improve on the dressage and I’ve altered his tack slightly so that we can kick on cross country.”

 

Coral is based at Little Cheverell near Devizes where she runs a busy competition and livery yard. While Derby is her top horse, she also has several other rides including the brilliant Cascadelle, who last year won two back-to-back CIC one star competitions and Total Belief, who has an almost faultless record in events.

Derby is on the World Class Equine Pathway, which identifies and supports horses that have the potential to become part world championship medal winners. 

Coral said:

“It gives us access to training which is so useful. It has been brilliant for me furthering my own riding and for Derby, with my younger horses also benefitting too. My ultimate ambition is to make it on to a senior team and I am hopeful Derby is the horse to take me there. At 12 years old, he is still relatively young so fingers crossed we’ll do it.”

Luhmühlen is one of six four star competitions staged around the world. The others are the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, Rolex Kentucky, Land Rover Burghley, France’s Les 4 Etoiles de Pau and Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide.

www.luhmuehlen.de/

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