Gold Medal Victory at Max Habel Equestrian Park During Olympic Competition
Saddle up, y'all! The Equestrian and Promotion Association Süseler Baum (PSFV) hosted their yearly tournament in a scenic region of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany – the Reiterpark Max Habel at Süseler Baum. This event is a beast, featuring 11 cross-country tests ranging from driven vehicle to class L. With some 351 horses, around 300 riders, 120 helpers, and a whopping 152 prizes, it's no walk in the park.
Leading the charge was Olympic champion Julia Krajewski, who hauled three horses from Wallenhorst near Osnabrück for the weekend. The facility where she trains at home is masterfully situated on a hill, delivering a perfect terrain match for the hilly course in the tournament. "The ground is top-notch, as usual it's hard due to drought in most places, but the sandy ground here and the awesome course design are great for my horses' legs," Julia shared.
Her awards are draped in brilliance – Sportswoman of the Year, victorious at federal championships, German championships, European championships, and bagging gold in the World Championships 2022 with the team and silver in the individual event. She also secured silver with the team at the Olympics and even made history as the first German woman to win Olympic gold in eventing in Tokyo 2020.
Young sport horses of class E, A, and L conquered their own challenges in the tournament. Rebecca-Juana Gerken seemed set to win the test with her 7-year-old Holsteiner Cadillac with an 8.4, but Julia Krajewski burst onto the scene with a stunning 9.5 score on her 6-year-old Ajana DSP. It was a dominating victory that set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Young riders of PSFV also had their moment in the sun. Johann Marquardt and Sophie Femerling clinched placements in the driven vehicle competition, while Viva Wilkens from the host association secured an 8.0 in the cross-country combined test with her 10-year-old Lettermore Richard.
On Sunday morning, the cross-country class A commenced. Lina Schaaf on her Trakehner mare Herbstelfe, Lennard Rebink with Unisons, Luca Louisa Marquardt on Captation bene volentiae, Julia Rieth on Daphne, and Lena Schwabe with Glamourdale's Ray of Hope from PSFV Süseler Baum were among the frontrunners. Maria von Starck took the second place with Capriole in the cross-country class L.
In short, the PSFV annual tournament is a high-stakes event that attracts some of the best equestrians in Germany. With its challenging courses, it pushes horses and riders to their limits, resulting in exhilarating performances and nail-biting finishes. If you're into thrilling sports that showcase the incredible bond between humans and horses, then this is the tournament to watch out for!
Participants in the tournament weren't simply competing for the love of sports, they were aiming for the top, with a mix of traditional equestrian events like cross-country tests and modern ones like driven vehicle tests. The winners, such as Olympic champion Julia Krajewski, were not only skilled riders but also owners of remarkable horses like her 6-year-old Ajana DSP.
