Richard Vogel has achieved the greatest success of his career so far. The show jumper won the World Cup qualification at the international indoor horse show in Stuttgart. With his horse United Touch he completed the jump-off in by far the fastest time. The two galloped across the finish line in 35.35 seconds. Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat were equally fast and shared second place with a time of 36.80 seconds.
The 25-year-old bird, who was born in Baden-Württemberg and works in a tournament and trading stable near Marburg, won a test at this international top level for the first time. In addition to Guerdat, the 2012 Olympic champion, the reigning world champion from Sweden, Henrik von Eckermann, was also at the start in Stuttgart. He finished fourth with his mare Iliana (37.03 seconds).
Inspired by the audience
Vogel managed to navigate his powerful, dark bay stallion with the tightest turns and shortest routes through the jump-off course with eight obstacles. The horse didn’t need to be asked twice and raced across the sand in great leaps. “I think there are few horses with even more jumping ability and his canter is simply tremendous,” said Vogel after the award ceremony.
Steve Guerdat was amazed when he recalled his first encounter with United Touch some time ago at a tournament in Riesenbeck: “When I saw him there, I thought this is the horse with the biggest stride I have ever seen. But I also thought: This is the slowest horse I have ever seen.”
The surprise winner felt inspired by the support of the audience, but also by his friends and family, who cheered for him in the hall, and took full risks in the jump-off: “It’s an incredibly good feeling. I would be lying if I said I had already come to terms with this experience.”
A total of 13 of the 39 starters completed the first round without making any mistakes and thus reached the jump-off, including three other Germans, Jana Wargers, Marcus Ehning and Hans-Dieter Dreher. Wargers and Dreher also didn’t drop their horses in the jump-off, but their times weren’t good enough for a top-five finish. Ehning recorded four penalty points.
For the German show jumpers, it was a successful return to the Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart after a two-year break caused by the pandemic. On Friday evening Philipp Weishaupt won the title “German Master” with his horse Krokant. Richard Vogel’s partner Sophie Hinners finished second with the mare Graphik. There was only one moment of shock when the former team world champion Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann fell off her horse in the World Cup show-jumping, but quickly got back on her feet.
The international indoor horse show “Stuttgart German Masters” is one of 14 qualifying tournaments for the World Cup finals, which will take place in the USA at Easter 2023. In dressage, Ingrid Klimke from Münster and Franziskus surprisingly won the World Cup freestyle on Saturday evening in Stuttgart.
