Benjamin Winter (GER) suffered a fatal accident while competing at the CCI4* in Luhmühlen. The Club IJRC would like to express its most sincere condolences to Benjamin Winter's family and friends.



15 June - The eventing world is in a state of shock following the death of the Germany’s rider Benjamin Winter at Luhmühlen Horse Trials this weekend.

The Club IJRC would like to express its most sincere condolences to Benjamin Winter's family and his friends on the Eventing circuit.

Our thoughts go to his family and to the German Equestrian Federation.

Benjamin was on his 2nd ride in the CCI4*, Ispo when they suffered a rotational fall at fence number 20, a table. The 10-year-old gelding was not injured. The German rider had already completed the course clear inside the time on his first ride, Wild Thing Z.

Benjamin Winter, 25 years old,  was a member of Germany’s gold medal winning team at the 2006 European Junior Championships, and had also won two team silver medals and one bronze at European Young Rider Championships. At senior level, he was 13th in Luhmühlen at the 2011 Europeans and 18th last year in Malmö (SWE). Together with Ispo, he won the CIC2* at Luhmühlen in April this year.

In the commemoration ceremony this morning, the president of the German Equestrian Federation, Breido Graf zu Rantzau, as well as the Team Trainer Chris Bartle, found some moving words in honour of Benjamin Winter. The competing riders collectively wore a black armband to mark their respect for Benjamin in the final show-jumping class.
Image: Benjamin Winter and Wild Thing Z at the first horse inspection. Photo by Jenni Autry