Klimke Leads Aachen Eventing; Burnett Lies In Sixth For The United States

PUBLISHED

July 21, 2017
2:48 pm

WORDS BY

Molly Sorge

Aachen, Germany–July 21

In the CICO*** eventing at Aachen, hometown heroes Ingrid Klimke, Michael Jong and Sandra Auffarth are 1-2-3 in the lead after dressage and show jumping, but U.S. rider Hannah Sue Burnett is in striking position in sixth aboard RF Demeter.

Auffarth took the lead after dressage with an incredible score of 31.8 aboard Opgun Louvo, trailed by Klimke on Horseware Hale Bob and Jung on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, both solidly in the low 30s.

Burnett and Demeter were ninth after the dressage (39.3), but moved up to sixth after a clean jumping round. “The dressage was definitely the best I’ve had on her. She gets a little bit wound up and I’m working on figuring out how to ride through that,” said Burnett. “At Barbury, she was up and I had trouble trying to push forward. I talked to Marilyn Little about her; she’s helped me a lot. Today I put her in the double bridle and that made a big difference; I could push a bit more.”

Hannah Sue Burnett on RF Demeter. Photo by Shannon Brinkman

Auffarth had a rail in the jumping with Opgun Louvo, dropping her to third and giving Klimke the lead.

Fellow U.S. rider Lauren Kieffer lies in 13^th. She had a solid dressage test that put her eighth (38.9) then collected 6 faults in the jumping.

“I love Aachen; this is my third year here. It’s such a special place,” said Kieffer. “We’re thrilled to be here thanks to USEF and Team Rebecca. Her dressage test was really good; she’s gotten to be such a professional. I’ve actually had trouble with her at the horse trials because she doesn’t seem to care, but she knows the big events and she goes in and is such a professional about it. It’s taken us a few years but we’re finally getting in the 30s, so I’m thrilled.”

Lauren Kieffer on Veronica. Photo by Shannon Brinkman

Burnett took over the ride on RF Demeter this spring; the mare is a former rider of Marilyn Little and has five four-star completions on her resume. “She’s obviously very experienced and knows her job,” Burnett said. “It’s just a pleasure to ride her every day, especially at this venue, which is very special and so grand. I was here last year with Harbor Pilot, to I’ve gotten to experience the intensity and the crowds.

“I’m looking forward to a good weekend. I’m hoping to really go for it with Demeter. I feel pretty good about our partnership; it’s coming along.”

Hannah Sue Burnett and RF Demeter in the iconic Aachen stadium. Photo by Shannon Brinkman

And what about the cross-country course? Burnett said: “It’s harder than last year! That’s my first impression. And I thought it was pretty hard last year. The first water–the drop is just huge, so it’s a lot to look at. There are some combinations where it’s five fences in a row. She’s always looking for the jumps; it’s like she’s got radar or her ears are satellite dishes, so I’m happy to be riding her. And she knows her job.”

See full results of the CICO*** after dressage and show jumping.