MILDENHALL-based Jonelle Price came within the narrowest of margins of claiming her first four-star equestrian win at the Luhmuhlen International Horse Trials in Germany last weekend.

A personal best in the dressage, followed by clear rounds in the cross-country and the show jumping, were not enough to clinch the title for the world number five, on Faerie Dianimo, as they finished just 0.1 penalty points behind Ingrid Klimke.

However, with the 10-year-old mare competing in only her second four-star event, Price had plenty to be pleased about and knows her first crown is not far away.

“You could say I lost by 0.1, which is such a small margin to lose a four-star on, but at the same time I couldn’t be at all unhappy about my three stages and you can only do what you can do,” she said.

“I went out there optimistic that we could produce a decent result.

“The standard was going to be very hot and it certainly was.

“I was delighted to produce a personal best in the dressage and finish on it.

“She is extremely talented, and always has been, but she is never the most straight-forward horse, she is tricky.

“I have always been optimistic that we would one day do it, I just wasn’t sure if it was quite yet.

“It is just a matter of being relaxed and on side, and we obviously managed to do that and it was a very good result.

“I had finished with an extremely good score of 32.8, and that would have won you a four-star anywhere in the world on any other given day.

“It just depends on the competition and the way it unfolds.

“As long as I can keep being amongst the mix then sooner or later it will happen.”

It was also a good weekend for the Kiwi in the three-star class as she finished fifth on Cloud Dance, having led going into the show jumping, and Price is optimistic about their chances in the future.

“It was very much an educational trip for him and he was the only eight-year-old in the class and he looks a really promising horse,” she added.

“It was nice that he went out and held his own amongst some very good company.

“We’ll just take it one step at a time because he is only just breaking into that level.”

Meanwhile, Badgerstown-based Mark Todd finished fifth on Campino, while Marlborough-based German Niklas Bschorer finished in ninth, one place ahead of fellow Marlborough-based rider Rebecca Howard.

Price will be competing at the Barbury Horse Trials, which takes place from July 9-12.

Tickets are available at barburyhorsetrials.co.uk or by calling 01672 516125.