German & Dutch Olympic teams announced

There's more announcements for the Olympic equestrian teams. Some great horses and riders are going to be out in Rio!

There have been two more big announcements about who will be competing at the Rio Olympics, with the Dutch and the Germans both confirming their teams.

Germany must be going in as hot favourites (again) for all three team medals, such is the strength of their riders in each discipline.

In eventing, there are no surprises, with Michael Jung and Takinou, Sandra Auffath and Opgun Louvo, Ingrid Klimke and Hale Bob, and Andreas Osthold and So Is Et making up the four. Julia Krajewski is the travelling reserve with Samourai du Thot.

Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo showed why she is the current world champion in the CIC3* (Image: Libby Law)
Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo, the current world champion (Image: Libby Law)

The jumping team is an all-male affair, with Christian Ahlmann (Taloubet Z), Ludger Beerbaum (Casello), Daniel Deusser (First Class van Eeckelghem) and Marcus Ehning (Cornado NRW) getting the nod. Ludger’s sister-in-law, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, is travelling reserve with Fibonacci.

Christian Ahlmann on Taloubet Z (Image: GCL / Stefano Grasso)
Christian Ahlmann on Taloubet Z (Image: GCL / Stefano Grasso)

And the dressage team, by contrast, is all women and is stacked with 80% combinations. It’s headed by world number-one Kristina Bröring-Sprehe with Desperados FRH (De Niro/Wie Musik v Wolkenstein II). Making a bid to add to her current Olympic medal haul of eight is Isabell Werth with Weihegold OLD (Don Schufro/Sandro Hit). And joining them are Dorothee Schneider on Showtime FRH (Sandro Hit/Rotspon), and Sönke Rothenberger on Cosmo (Van Gogh/Landjonker). Hubertus Schmidt and Imperio are travelling reserves.

Isabell Werth at the World Cup Final (Image: FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)
Isabell Werth at the World Cup Final (Image: FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)

The Netherlands is looking very strong in jumping, and is a likely pick for the bronze in dressage. The eventing team is more of an outside chance for a podium finish, but as we well know, anything can happen.

The jumping team is Jeroen Dubbeldam and SFN Zenith, Harrie Smolders and Emerald, Maikel can der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi TN, and Jur Vrieling with VDL Zirocco Blue. Travelling reserve is Gerco Schröder with London.

Jeroen Dubbeldam (image: © Hippo Foto Team - Dirk Caremans)
Jeroen Dubbeldam and Zenith (image: © Hippo Foto Team – Dirk Caremans)

On the dressage team, Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival will be joined by Edward Gal and Voice, Hans Peter Minderhoud with Johnson, and Diederik Van Silfhout with Arlando. Madeleine Witte-Vrees and Cennin are reserves.

Adeline Cornelissen and Jericho Parzival (Image: Roland Thunholm)
Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival (Image: Roland Thunholm)

And the Dutch eventing team is Merel Blom with Rumour Has It, Tim Lips with Vayro, Alice Naber-Lozeman with Peter Parker, and Theo van de Vendel with Zindane.

Not long to go now!

 

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