Nations Cup in show jumping: Germany is plagued by a series of injuries

Et are the days when Otto Becker spends even more time on the phone than usual. As the national show jumping coach, he knows that. But when the Nations Cup season begins, his coordination skills are needed more than ever. This Friday is the first team competition of the new season in Gorla Minore in northern Italy, followed immediately by the Maimarkt tournament in Mannheim, followed by the big tournaments one after the other.

Which rider should start where with which horse? Who has commitments in the highly paid Global Champions Tour and who is available for the national team? Becker and his co-trainer Marcus Döring, who looks after the teams in Gorla and Mannheim, have to clarify all these questions now at the latest. Because the Nations Cups are important for sifting through the couples who are eligible for the European Championships in Milan at the beginning of September.

“We were hoping for more”

Actually, the national coach could be optimistic, the start of the outdoor season was very successful for the Germans. A German couple has won all three stages of the Global Champions Tour so far: Philipp Weishaupt with Just be Gentle in Doha, Katrin Eckermann with Cala Mandia in Miami Beach and David Will with My Prins in Mexico City. In between, Richard Vogel won the five-star tournament in Wellington, Florida.

Shortly thereafter, the 26-year-old and his horse United Touch finished eighth in his first World Cup final, best German. Will, Eckermann and Vogel are among a number of younger German riders who have established themselves at the highest level, along with Jana Wargers, ninth at the World Championships, Aachen winner Gerrit Nieberg and Christian Kukuk. The national coach is happy about the success, but he knows what counts in the end: “We also had a good World Cup season, but unfortunately the final was a bit disappointing. We had hoped for more.”

“We were lucky”

Although the German show jumping sport has many good couples with good individual successes, “but that is not reflected in the world rankings at the moment. The one ‘excessive pair’ like the Swedes have with Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward is missing.” The world champion and team Olympic champion from Sweden recently won the World Cup final and leads the world rankings. The best German is Daniel Deußer in twelfth place.

In addition to the many phone calls to fill the Nations Cup, the national coach also has to send out numerous get well wishes these days. At the start of the season, the elite of German show jumping is between the podium and the sick bed. In Doha, Ludger Beerbaum fell from his horse and broke his femoral neck. Philipp Weishaupt fell at home and broke his foot. Becker will probably only be able to plan with him again at the Nations Cup in Rome at the end of May.

And now Christian Ahlmann is also out. The 2003 European Champion fell heavily on his horse Solid Gold in Mexico City on Saturday and broke his wrist. He was operated on Sunday night before he could start his journey home on Monday. Even if every accident comes at an inopportune time – this one in particular: “Right now the season should really start,” said Ahlmann of the FAZ

But he also sees the positive: “We were lucky. Solid, thank God, arrived home fit again.” It is not yet clear how long he will not be able to ride. “I expect a six-week break, at best less, at worst more,” said Ahlmann on the way to further examinations. “After that I’ll know more.” He keeps his sights set on the goal of the season – the European Championships.