Ros certainly seems to be on a roll at the moment. Just five weeks after lifting the Badminton trophy, she also bagged the five-star at Luhmühlen – this time riding Izilot DHI.
Last to go of 46-strong field, ‘Isaac’ lay in second place after the dressage on a score of 26.0, just 0.6 behind the leaders. On an influential cross-country day the pair jumped clear, adding 2.8 time penalties and retaining the runner-up spot.
On the last day, Ros piled on the pressure with an immaculate clear round. When the first part of the treble fell for the overnight leaders, the win was Ros’.
“Isaac is such a genuine, unique horse. Some people think he’s just a bit naughty but he’s genuinely spooky. I’m so thrilled that we’ve managed to build a relationship to overcome that and show him off to his best.”
This win has laid the ghost of Luhmühlen 2024 to rest, at which Ros and Isaac went into the final day with more than two showjumping fences in hand — only to have two down, plus two time faults.
“Last year I felt I lost the win, so to come back and feel like I really deserved the win was fantastic. I planned things in much more detail; I got a little bit caught out last year by how early everything ran [on the final day]. Normally at Badminton or Burghley if you’re near the top you’ve got until mid afternoon [before you showjumping] — so this time I planned how I wanted the morning to work.”
MHS Seventeen also finished in the top 20, clear show-jumping but with 20 penalties at the influential arena angled fences.
Photo © Hannah Cole