It’s a small but mighty field for the 2026 Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*, the final event at this level we’ll see before Defender Burghley later this summer. We’ve got quite a few first-timer horses and riders in this field, along with some supremely experienced pairs and more than one former 5* winner. Will someone repeat their past success this weekend? Come out of nowhere to surprise us all? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.
Below, you’ll find a quick write-up on each pair in the 5* field’s recent form leading up to this weekend. If you click here, you can also view much more on each and every horse in the field if you really want to dig in. This way, you can still view the Form Guide somewhat in it’s traditional form, but if you’re a real rabbit hole diver, the opportunity is there.
The entries are listed in Draw Order (you can view ALL entries and their ride times here). The entries are current as of publication, but should we have any more withdrawals ahead of the start of dressage, we’ll be sure to notate next to that entry here.
As always, we really appreciate your feedback on our Form Guides as we continue to work to improve them! You can always send us your thoughts [email protected].
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Want to see more stats on the field? Be sure to check out the EquiRatings Prediction Center here, and you can also play Eventing Manager this week here. Use code PCTD to join the EN league — it’s free!
The Luhmühlen action begins on Thursday starting at 8:00 am CEST / 2:00 am EST with the CCI4*-S. For more scheduling information, view our Ultimate Guide here. The H&C+ live stream will be on all weekend for both divisions, and you can access the stream here.
Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [FEI Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]
#1: Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera
Jonelle Price brings forward her 2022 Pau 5* champion Grappa Nera for a seventh start at the level and a first at Luhmühlen this week. They haven’t quite been able to replicate that winning form in their efforts since, but this mare is a consistent one who’s certainly capable of another big weekend (and of course when you’ve got Jonelle in the irons, truly anything is possible). This is a pair that will be tasked with climbing after putting in a 30s effort on the flat, but they’re quite consistent on Saturdays. If they can go quickly, they’ll be in a good position on Sunday and while Grappa Nera does have show jumping rails fairly consistently in FEI competition, she’ll have Jonelle there every step of the way to give her the best ride possible. If you’re snapping up Eventing Manager pairs, this one is a well-priced pick to round out your team.
#2: Emma Thomas and The Buzz Factor
British rider Emma Thomas debuts a new horse this weekend in The Buzz Factor, who is 15 this year. Many the eventing fan will be familiar with Emma for her 5* performances with Icarus, and now The Buzz Factor steps in as a future star, having won the U25 CCI4*-L at Bramham two years back. He’s historically been a bit touch and go at the 4* level to date, but he’s also collected plenty of strong finishes free of penalties to send him off to this debut. This weekend will be all about confirming the horse at the level. We can anticipate a 30s mark for them to start on, and if he can jump confidently then time should be the only limiting factor on Saturday – though he’s shown he can get close to the optimum in the past. He’s been a fairly consistent show jumping in FEI competition over the last couple of seasons, so Emma stands in a good position to have a great debut weekend with this horse whom she’s produced for the entirety of his international career.
#3: Sian Coleman and Carrowgar Je Taime Max
This weekend marks a return to the 5* level for the first time since 2018 for Ireland’s Sian Coleman, who was born in Great Britain but through a series of chance encounters discovered eventing and wound up flying the flag for Ireland as a competitor. She’s produced multiple horses to compete at Le Lion d’Angers’ prolific Young Horse World Championships and initially started off with Carrowgar Je Taime Max in the jumper arena. After competing through the CSI2* level, the pair made the swap to eventing full-time and encountering success along the way. This includes a podium finish at the 3*-L level and a top-10 finish at Ballindenisk’s 4*-L last year. While their dressage isn’t quite at the point where they’ll be competitive on the first days, they’ve come to be a fairly consistent pair on cross country. Like the other rookie horses and/or riders in the field, this weekend will primarily be about confirmation, education and experience. They may lower a pole on Sunday but a strong showing here would be a clear cross country with some time and a good finish on the final day to build from.
#4: Stephen Heal and Hagonda
This weekend marks a second 5* start for both Stephen Heal and Hagonda, who finished 30th in their debut together at Pau last October. They’ve had an intentional lead-up to this weekend, running just three times since the start of the season. This 14-year-old mare has shown herself capable of jumping clear around a 5*, but show jumping will be more of the question mark this weekend; the pair lowered five rails at Pau last year and haven’t yet produced a clear round after a long-format cross country. If they can jump clear and add zero or just one pole down on Sunday, it’ll be a great addition to their experience together and hey, every 5* completed is a building block in its own right.
#5: Katharina Meyer and Aspen T
While many German riders typically target the Meßmer German Championship trophy, Katharina Meyer instead debuts at the 5* level this weekend with the 16-year-old Aspen T. Like Heike Jahncke and Mighty Spring FRH, this pair has extensive experience at the 4* level, having first competed at the level in 2019. They’ve finished in the top 10 five times at 4*, including a handful of podium finishes, and will be well-prepared for this move up on home soil. Dressage will put them well out of the mix after the first phase, but they have a strong cross country record that will help them make some headway up the board. They can also get quite close to the time and jump well on Sunday, so this could be a competitive debut weekend for Katharina.
<strong>#6: Vicky Brown-Cole and Cutting Edge
Shortly after winning her first 4*-S at Taupo in her home country of New Zealand, Vicky Brown-Cole made the leap many of her countrymen have made and moved to continental Europe to continue on with her eventing career. Now, she stands on the cusp of her 5* debut with the very special Thoroughbred mare, Cutting Edge. Cutting Edge has ticked up the levels successfully, with just a couple of blips on their record in terms of cross country penalties. Their dressage marks swing a bit within the 30s range, and they can have a pole or two down come Sunday (though truthfully, just one of the poles on their record comes after a long cross country, so that’s a good data point) but they’ve demonstrated their capabilities to jump clear and strong and if they can do that in this debut they’ll be riding high on Sunday.
#7: Dominic Furnell and Ivanhoe
Dominic Furnell last competed at the 5* level in 2024 (and prior to that, 2017) and brings forward Ivanhoe for a second start after seeing his weekend at Pau two years ago truncated by a parting of ways on cross country. They’ve spent the better part of the intervening months back at the 3* and 4* levels and this year have come out strong, most recently finishing 11th in the 4*-S at Millstreet. This will be another weekend of experience building for both horse and rider at the 5* level, and while their record doesn’t indicate an all-out competitive finish, they are capable of finishing well on a mid-30s or so dressage mark. Clear jumping efforts will go a long way to help this pair set sail for future success.
#8: Hallie Coon and Kapriccio
It’s a bit of a toss-up as to which Hallie Coon ride might have the edge for potential World Championships selection, but Kapriccio’s already won a 4* this year which sets him up well for this 5* debut. After winning the 4*-S at Oudkarspel in the Netherlands in April, Kapriccio followed it up with a fourth in the 4*-S at Royal Jump in France as his final big prep for this weekend. Hallie took over the ride on this 11-year-old from Zimbabwe’s Julie Norman last year, so this is a newer partnership but the results they’ve had so far prove how well they’ve been able to firm up a bond in a short amount of time. Kapriccio won’t quite catch the leaders in the first phase, but he’s quick-footed on cross country and is capable of jumping clear on the final day. Hallie could well wind up with two horses in the top 10 or better for her home country this weekend.
#9: Tim Price and Happy Boy
Every time Happy Boy comes up on an entry list, that TikTok audio about happy dogs buzzes through my brain (honestly, there are worse earworms, so no complaints here). This 14-year-old had a couple stutter starts to his 5* career – he debuted here at Luhmühlen in 2023 but was withdrawn before he could go down centerline. Since then, though, he’s traveled to and completed at Kentucky and also finished fourth at Pau last fall to really cement himself at the level. They did have some trouble on cross country at Kronenberg earlier this month, but aside from that blip they’ve had some competitive results that could translate into a big weekend in Germany. They’ll be right in the mix with a mid- or even low-20s effort in the first phase and can turn it on for a quick, clear cross country. This horse also has a stellar show jumping record, so if they come into Sunday near their dressage score, they’ll be very much in the victory parade on Sunday afternoon and could even be another dark horse pick for the overall win.
#10: Harry Horton and Cooley with Ambition
Another one of our debut horse and rider pairs this week is Harry Horton and the 11-year-old Cooley with Ambition, who boasts a jump penalty-free record in both cross country and show jumping at FEI competitions. To cap off their 2025 season, the pair finished 15th in the 4*-S at Lignières in France and this spring have kept it to National levels as they prep for this step up. Speed is one limiting factor for this pair, though of course it’s important to note that a record on paper is only part of the story. They haven’t managed to catch the optimum time in all but one FEI competition and typically run up into the double digits. I wouldn’t expect this weekend to be all that different, given the context of it being the pair’s first 5*, but if time penalties are all that are added to what we anticipate to be a mid- or high-30s dressage mark, it’ll be a solid debut that can only go up from here.
#11: Benjamin Massie and Guess Star
French rider Ben Massie is something of a young horse producer, as are many of his countrymen. This 10-year-old Anglo-Arab mare is one of the latest to step all the way up to the CCI5* level. If her build-up FEI experience is taken into account, this stands to be a strong debut and potentially a future horse in the stable for upcoming Championships for Ben. Guess Star has already finished on her dressage score several times, including as an 8-year-old at Le Lion d’Angers CCI3*-L for the FEI WFSBH Young Horse World Breeding Championships in 2023 as well as most recently at the 4*-S level in Germany at Marbach. Ben hasn’t overcampaigned the mare, who’s done just 12 FEI competitions to date, and while of course a five-star is another type of beast, she’s been well and intentionally prepared for this moment. Dressage is still a work in progress – a low-30s score in the first phase this weekend would be a win at this stage of her career, but she’s also been known to dip into the higher 30s and low 40s in the past. If she brings some cool-headedness to this effort, she’ll be in a good spot to make some moves in the standings and could also deliver a clear round come Sunday.
#12: Caroline Harris and D Day
Another 5* winner graces the entry list this weekend in Britain’s Caroline Harris and D. Day, who won the very muddy Pau that still lives in our brains in 2024. They were 12th in their last trip to Luhmühlen in 2024 (which was also both of their first CCI5*, no biggie) and have since shown nothing but growth and improvement across phases, making them a great shout for your Eventing Manager team and a podium finish this weekend. They’ve flashed some real brilliance on the flat and could earn their first sub-30 score at this level this weekend, and they’ve proven many times over they can finish on that starting mark. It won’t be a surprise at all to see them in the victory gallop on Sunday.
#13: Abby Jones and Henton Audacious
After seeing their 5* debut end early at Pau last fall, Kiwi pair Abby Jones and Henton Audacious are back for another crack and a new venue this weekend. This is another pair who made the big leap to move from New Zealand, moving right around the same time as compatriot Vicky Brown-Cole. The most prominent feather in their cap came at Scone Palace’s 4*-L last year, where they finished fourth and very nearly on their dressage score. They jumped all the things at Pau last year on cross country and have demonstrated an ability to leave the rails up on Sunday, and while their dressage marks have swung from the high 20s to the low 50s, they’re likely good for at least a mid-30s mark this weekend and stand a strong chance of finishing on that mark.
#14: Sam Gillespie and But Not Till Now
Sam Gillespie took his time stepping up the now-15-year-old But Not Till Now (an appropriate name in this context) to the 5* level. The mare of unknown breeding origins earned a top-30 finish in her debut at Pau last October. They’ve not had the most solid of seasons leading up to this, finding themselves eliminated with a fall at Belsay’s CCI4*-S last month, but three strong efforts at National levels, including an Intermediate run after the Belsay elimination, will have them on a good track for this weekend’s efforts. But Not Till Now ran a clear cross country with a decent amount of time at Pau and finished up the weekend with two poles down. This run at Luhmühlen will be all about building off that run. Cross country jumping penalties and show jump rails dot their record, and so a clear effort in all three phases will be a great building block for the future.
#15: Heike Jahncke and Mighty Spring FRH
It’s a 5* debut for both Heike Jahncke and Mighty Spring FRH, who’ve been partnered together for a decade. They’re coming into this debut with a ton of 4* experience – they first competed at the level in 2020, and have won three times at the level so far. So this 5* move-up feels like a very natural step for them, and while they can have the odd blip on cross country, when they’re on they’re quick and capable of moving up off of what we anticipate to be about a mid-30s dressage score. Show jumping is a bit of kryptonite for them, and they haven’t historically jumped too well on Sundays following a long cross country, but that’s just on paper – records matter, yes, but a fairytale weekend could still be a possibility for this pair who certainly know each other like the back of hand and hoof.
#16: Emily King and Valmy Biats
Valmy Biats makes his 13th CCI5* start this week, making him the most experienced horse in the field. He and Emily King are coming off a Badminton finish that left plenty on the table, and that’s been a bit of the story with this horse, who is all-out brilliant on his best weekends but has a few of those “just missed it” type outings as well. You can anticipate this pair being on or very close to the lead after dressage with their prowess on the flat, and if they can go quick and clear on Saturday they’re also a good shout to leave the poles up come Sunday and finish very competitively. This is actually their first start at Luhmühlen – they’ve primarily patronized the British 5*s and also have made a trip or two to Pau. They’ve finished in the top 10 or top 5 three times in their career, and this weekend could very well add another to the collection.
#17: James Avery and Dallas 13
After taking his time at the 4* level with the 12-year-old Dallas 13, Kiwi rider James Avery is ready to step the horse up to the next level and makes a first trip to contest Luhmühlen’s flagship division this weekend. Dallas 13 has spent the last three seasons at the 4* level, proving to be a consistently strong cross country jumper, though poles on Sunday do look to be his weaker point on paper. He is coming off a clear round in the 4*-S at Royal Jump in France last month; after a long cross country he does tend to have a pole down. Dallas 13 is capable of scoring well on the flat on his day; he’s dipped below 30 in the past and we could see him do a 30 this week if the cards fall right. If he and James can finish close to that starting mark, it’ll be a successful weekend for this 5* debutant.
#18: Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley
US Equestrian Open champion Boyd Martin brings forward his fourth-place Open finisher Shanroe Cooley for a first 5* effort this week. Boyd frequents these European 5* events with his rookie horses, favoring them as a set-up run for future efforts at the level. “Dallas” came to Boyd through the unfortunate circumstances of Liz Halliday’s accident that took her out of the sport in 2024, though she’s doing her own riding still and aiming for a start in para dressage in the coming months. She’ll likely be glued to the H&C+ live stream all week cheering on her former ride, who’s also capable of delivering a big result for the USA. Cross country time will be the biggest factor for this pair, but Shanroe Cooley really doesn’t hang about in this phase and likely hasn’t even yet been asked for his top effort at this stage. He’ll be good for a sub-30 score, low 30s on the higher side, and he’s a heck of a show jumper. Boyd’ll have his not-so-secret weapon, Peter Wylde, with him for this trip, so if they can stay near their dressage score they could pull out a big finish at the end of the week.
#19: Sam Ecroyd and Mister Big Ears
Before we go ANY FURTHER in this write-up, we must confirm that yes, in fact, Mister Big Ears does own a pair of very large, very adorable ears. This is another of our 5* debut horses, making his first start at 11 years of age. A smart campaign trail has led up to the cusp of this first start at the top level, and his top results include a podium finish at the inaugural Scone Palace CCI4*-L in Scotland last year. That was a finish on dressage score performance, and while we may not see that effort replicated in this first 5*, that feather in Mister Big Ears’ cap should give Sam a good shot of confidence to build into this weekend. This is another pair that won’t be a threat to the first-phase leaders, with a 33.9 being the best of his 13 FEI starting scores to date. If they can get close to that mark this weekend, they’ll find themselves mid-pack and have shown every ability to finish much closer to the top few finishers if the jumping cards are played correctly.
#20: Bill Levett – RSH Tom Tom R
This will be a sophomore CCI5* effort for Bill Levett and the 12-year-old RSH Tom Tom R, who scored a top-25 finish in his debut at Pau last fall. This is a competitive cross country horse, with just one jumping penalty in this phase marking his FEI record to date, and he’s quite capable of delivering a strong first-phase performance, too. He won’t threaten the likes of Ros Canter on the flat, but his 33.9 at Pau stands to come in a few marks lower with another season of growth under his belt. A lower-30s or even a high-20s performance will put him onto firm ground from which to make a climb through the standings. He’s had a few poles down on Sundays; he had two down at Pau but has also jumped double clear at the 4*-L level, with Bramham in 2023 standing out as a particularly strong showing that saw him add only time on cross country to his eventual finishing score.
#21: Jonelle Price and Capitaine de Hus Z
The 14-year-old Capitaine de Hus Z is a relatively new ride for Jonelle, who took over the ride after the 2024 season from fellow Kiwi Ginny Thomasen. They gelled quickly, taking home the inaugural Scone Palace 4*-L win in Scotland last summer and running two strong 4*-S since then. Capitaine de Hus Z did start at the 5* level with Ginny but retired on cross country at Pau last October, so a completion here will be the first for this 14-year-old gelding. This could be a real sleeper type of pick for your Eventing Manager team – he’s capable of doing a sub-30 on day one and while Jonelle may not be overly concerned with the clock on Saturday, he stands a good chance of also delivering a clear on Sunday to finish strong and well up in the standings. And hey, I might be making just a bit of a reach for a somewhat newer partnership, but this could also be something of a dark horse to take it all.
Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [FEI Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [H&C+ Live Stream] [EN’s Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]
