Luhmühlen, Germany—June 17

Jonelle Price never expected 2018 to be her year. After taking a sixth-month break for the birth of her son Otis Price, Jonelle thought this season would be primarily about getting back to full fitness. But she did more than that. After winning the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** (England) this spring on Classic Moet, Price followed it up with a win at Luhmühlen CCI**** with Faerie Dianimo.

“This mare can be a little crazy at times—she can be difficult in dressage, very strong in cross- country and jumps like she is huge—but this is what makes her as good as she is!” the rider from New Zealand said.

Jonelle Price won her second four-star this year, this time with Faerie Dianimo. Photo courtesy of Luhmühlen.

Price sat less than a point behind overnight leaders Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4, but that pair withdrew before the first horse inspection.

“Unfortunately I have decided to withdraw Shamwari from today’s showjumping,” Martin wrote on his Facebook page. “When I finished the cross country yesterday he looked sore in his hind leg. A number of the top vets here at the competition all agreed that he has strained his hind tendon, and it would not be right to try to present him for the trot up. It is a very rare injury.”

Jonelle Price was thrilled with Faerie Dianimo’s performance at Luhmühlen CCI****. Photo courtesy of Luhmühlen.

Price described “Maggie May” as the princess of the yard in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. The 13-year-old British Sport Horse (Dimaggio—Faerie Dazzler VII, Catherston Dazzler), bred by owner Trisha Rickards, has been in Price’s program since 2011. “She is small, feisty, funny and has scope which belies her tiny frame,” reads her description on Price’s website. The mare is 16 hands.

Second and third finished on the same score of 29.9, but because Great Britain’s Laura Collett and Mr Bass finished within the time on cross-country yesterday, second went to them.

“I am so incredibly happy with my horse, who came to me as an unbroken 4-year old,” said Collett. “This makes it so much more special! We work so hard with our horses and there are definitely more lows than highs in our sport, so we really enjoy moments like this. Mr. Bass tried his heart out for me this week; he knew when it mattered most. I am so proud!”

The top three at Luhmühlen CCI**** (from left) second-place Laura Collett, winner Jonelle Price and third-place Ros Canter. Photo courtesy of Luhmühlen.

Ros Canter, also from Great Britain, took home third-placed honors on Zenshera.

“He really gave it his all in dressage, ran as fast as he could in yesterday’s cross-country and jumped incredible today; especially because show jumping is normally his weakest phase,” said Canter. “I really could not have asked for more!”

U.S. rider Liz Halliday-Sharp had two rails down with Deniro Z to finish eighth in that horse’s first four-star.

In the CIC*** Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai Du Thot held onto their lead to win on their dressage score of 19.9. U.S. rider Woods Baughman finished 41^st.

Full results are available on the Luhmühlen website.

To watch the cross-country action, visit Horse & Country TV.