Animal put to rest following incident at German Equ equestrian championship
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The emotional tension at the Luhmühlen Eventing Championships has reached new heights following the tragic loss of a horse. Chiquita, a 13-year-old Polish mare, and her rider, Maj-Jonna Ziebell, experienced a devastating fall during the cross-country competition. The impact was so severe that Chiquita broke her shoulder.
The fall occurred at the final stretch before the water jump, a challenging brush fence. Ziebell managed to get up, but Chiquita couldn't. The distraught rider commented, "My horse was something very special. Anyone who had the chance to know Chiquita better – which she always chose - fell in love with the horse. I've lost my best friend, and I'm incredibly sad."[1]
Organizers of the event announced in the evening that after a veterinary examination, the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize the mare was made. With over 20,000 spectators attending the traditional event near Hamburg, the tragedy cast a somber tone over the weekend's competition.
Krajewski Maintains Lead
Amidst the sadness, the event continues, with Julia Krajewski still leading the rankings. The 36-year-old Olympic champion, riding the 11-year-old Nickel, incurred only 2.4 penalty points due to a time overrun in the cross-country. A confident Krajewski expressed her satisfaction with her round, stating, "I had a few points buffer, so I said to myself: Okay, if it doesn't work out with the last second, then that's also a good, very safe round. I'm totally satisfied."[2]
Emma Brüssau sits in second place, having moved up from fifth after a strong showing with Dark Desire. The decisive final show jumping competition will take place on Sunday, 13:00 CET/NDR.
Source: ntv.de, ara/dpa
- Equestrian Sports
[1] Ziebell mourns the loss of her dear friend, "Chiquita." (2025, June 8). Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www. equestriansportsdaily.com/ziebell-mourns-the-loss-of-her-dear-friend-chiquita/
[2] Krajewski remains in the lead after cross-country phase at Luhmühlen Eventing Championships. (2025, June 8). Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www. equestriansportsdaily.com/krajewski-remains-in-the-lead-after-cross-country-phase-at-luhmuehlen-eventing-championships/
Despite the emotional turmoil following Chiquita's tragic accident during the Luhmühlen Equestrian Sports championships, racing continues with Julia Krajewski maintaining her lead in horse-racing. The heartbreaking incident occurred during the cross-country competition, causing the organizers to make the difficult decision to euthanize the 13-year-old Polish mare.
