WILTSHIRE eventer Jesse Campbell will ride two horses at Luhmuhlen, Germany’s most prestigious three-day event, this week.

New Zealander Campbell, 25, will ride Kaapachino and Amsterdam at the trials, one of just six four-star competitions staged around the world which was getting under way today (Thursday).

Campbell is one of an eight-strong team representing New Zealand with world number three Jonelle Price and husband Tim, based at Mildenhall, Marlborough's Andrew Nicholson, Badgerstown's Sir Mark Todd and Broad Hinton's Lizzie Brown among the other Kiwi riders there.

Kaapachino’s initial target was Badminton Horse Trials in May but a setback meant he was rerouted to Luhmuhlen which will be his first four-star competition. Amsterdam will run in the CIC3* three star. Maizey Maizey Manor-based Campbell said: “We were all geared up to go to Badminton and it was really disappointing when Kappy (Kaapachino) suffered a setback which meant we couldn’t go.

"But luckily he made a fairly quick recovery and I’m really excited to be taking him to Luhmuhlen. He’s a gorgeous horse and very good across country so I can’t wait to ride him.”

Amsterdam is being campaigned with global honours in mind, including Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Canada and a fine result at Houghton International, which saw him post a double clear, was the perfect warm up.

Campbell added: “He’s a very exciting horse with an enormous amount of ability. He is a brilliant jumper and also superb on the flat. We’ve been working on his accuracy in his dressage and ensuring all the foundations are very well established. As soon as we start to ask for power in his tests he will be outstanding.”

A member of the New Zealand High Performance Squad, Campbell moved to England in 2010 with Kaapachino to take a position with Todd and then spent time with Marlborough-based Andrew Nicholson before setting up on is own at Maizey Manor Farm.

He said: “There is nowhere like the UK for eventing both in terms of the quality of the competitions and the calibre of the riders here. I always think there is a sense of desperation among us New Zealand-bred riders once we move here, as we are so hungry for success, and will go that extra mile to gain it.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to riding at Luhmuhlen and fingers crossed it al goes to plan.”

Jesse had the perfect warm-up with Jamaica winning a BE100 section at Wychwood under Ascott recently and Falco IV finishing seventh.

Other Wiltshire-based riders at Luhmuhlen include Mildenhall's Rebecca Howard, of Canada, while Little Cheverell's Coral Keen and Badgerstown's Tom McEwen go for Great Britain.