United States Eventing Association

Michael Jung is Back to His Record-Breaking Ways in the Bluegrass at Defender Kentucky

Lexington, Ky.—April 24— Germany’s Michael Jung hasn’t competed in a five-star since the last time he won the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022 with his longtime partner fischerChipmunk FRH, but his love for the bluegrass and his horse’s readiness compelled him to return this year and break an all-time record for lowest dressage score at this event (which they set at that 2022 event with a score of 20.1) at the same time. They lead the five-star field with a nearly 10-point lead on a score of 18.6. Jung is looking for his fifth Kentucky win this weekend, which would be another record.

“I'm very happy to be here again,” shared Jung. “I really love this place and this show. Everything is like you wish to have it in a competition. I think it's a very good [venue] to prepare your horses. You have space to longe, to ride, to jump, to gallop. It's really a great place, and everything works like I wished in the preparation and also the test. I had a great feeling with fischerChipmunk. Everything went really well.”

Their preparation in the lead up to Kentucky was a bit unconventional by many eventer’s standards. Jung and “Chipmunk’s” last time around a cross-country track was at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and since then, the duo have spent the spring in the show jumping ring in Italy.

“For sure, I did something different," said Jung. "Normally, I have some other competitions before to prepare the horses, but there was nothing really good for me around my place, and we had a really dry spring, so I just tried to prepare him at a few training places and do the galloping at home. I really trust my horse—I believe in him—and I think he does not really need special competitions to prepare him, so I think he's ready.”

Jung has been partnered together with Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Joachim Jung, and DOKR’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Contendro I x Havanna) since 2019 and has cherished their partnership every step of the way.

“Chipmunk is a dream horse—so talented in dressage; relaxed and easy to ride. On cross-country, he’s very fast with a huge stride, and in show jumping, he has a lot of scope. He’s really a complete horse,” he said.

As he looks back on his years in the sport, Jung shared his reasoning for always returning to eventing even when he dabbles in straight show jumping from time to time.

“It’s a passion. The sport suits horses—galloping, jumping, dressage—it’s everything. And I still feel lucky to do it," he said.

Two New Zealand pairs sit tied for second on a score of 28.4—Clarke Johnstone, who hasn’t been to Kentucky since the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and Menlo Park, whom he co-owns with Jean and Rob Johnstone, and Tim Price and Jarillo.

“I think of myself to be quite young, but 15 years ago seems a very long time that I was here at the World Championships in 2010 and I've really wanted to come back ever since,” shared Johnstone. “As Miki said, everything is just as you'd like it to be. It’s the most beautiful setting and venue, and the people are all so welcoming and wonderful. It's just a real privilege to be back here after all these years.”

His partnership with the 15-year-old British Sport Horse gelding “Jacko” (Berlin x Faerie Queen) might only be four years long, but the pair have accomplished quite a lot together, representing New Zealand at both the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy, and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“I bought him from a very good friend in Australia when I was still living in New Zealand at the time," Johnstone said. "He came to live with me in New Zealand, and then we both moved together to England, so we've been all over the world together, and now we're in America, so he’s very well-traveled. He's just a lovely guy. He's a really friendly, happy horse. He loves traveling and people, so he’s already fun to take away to events like this.”

The pair attempted their first five-star at Pau (France) last fall, but retired on cross-country during a very wet and muddy day, however, Johnstone feels Jacko’s experience at Paris prepared the horse for this trip to the U.S. for Kentucky.

“I was pleased with Paris overall—great dressage and cross-country, though I had a rail in show jumping," he said. "Since then, I did a month of show jumping in Spain and had a couple of Intermediate runs and a CCI4*-S in England. It’s been a dry spring, which suits my horse—he prefers firm ground. He’s not the fastest but has good stamina, so I’ve focused on getting him as fit as possible for Saturday’s long, hilly cross-country.”

Reflecting on Derek di Grazia’s five-star cross-country track, Johnstone shared: “It’s definitely the biggest track I’ve jumped in a while. It’s beautiful but demanding. My horse is a great jumper and easy to ride, so I’m hopeful we’ll handle it well.”

Price is no stranger to success on U.S. soil, having earned top-3 placings both here in the bluegrass and at the MARS Maryland 5 Star which takes place in Elkton, Maryland, in the fall. This year, he brought three horses over to compete in the five-star, and after day 1, not only is he tied for second aboard Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, and James and Rachel Good’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Jarillo (Dantos x Fiorilla), but he also sits in fourth aboard Happy Boy (Indoctro x W.Amelusina), the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding whom he co-owns with Susan Lamb and Therese Miller. His final of his three entries, his 2024 Paris Olympic Games partner Falco, will compete on Friday.

“I’m lucky to have three horses here. Jarillo is very talented and mentally sharp, but he’s still learning to focus in the arena. He’s a bit of a fiddle to ride and needs his hand held, but I think he has the world in front of him,” noted Price. “Happy Boy is smaller and unassuming, but he’s a fighter. He’s done everything because I’ve believed in him, and he’s believed in himself. I just want to give both a good, confidence-building ride on Saturday.”

Jarillo finished in the top 10 at Pau this past fall in his first five-star appearance, but Happy Boy will be looking for his first five-star completion after withdrawing from Luhmühlen (Germany) and Pau in 2023.

“I’m a little nervous about the weekend, but today went well. Both [horses are] a bit of an unknown at this level," he said. "Happy Boy tried really hard and nearly produced a mistake-free test. You always hope they do their best—and both of mine did that today. I’m proud of them.”

The final half of the dressage phase for the CCI5*-L will get underway at 1:00 p.m. EST tomorrow.

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