Reunited - Gerrit Nieberg presents Blues d'Aveline in Balve

In 2023, Gerrit Nieberg and Blues d’Aveline won the World Cup show jumping competition in Leipzig. They came second in Helsinki, fourth in the Aachen Prize of Europe, etc. In 2023, they represented Germany at the World Cup Final. National coach Otto Becker put them up for five-star Nations’ Cups several times. In short: the pair was highly successful.

Blues d’Aveline’s owner is Austrian. At the beginning of 2024, he decided to give the then twelve-year-old gray to Max Kühner, who also competes under the Austrian flag. However, the pair were denied any major successes. In recent seasons, the pair have achieved top ten, but not a single top three placing at international level. They last competed at the Saut Hermès in March.

Comeback with Nieberg

Now Blues d’Aveline jumped in Balve with Gerrit Nieberg. He told EQUI PAGES: “It was unexpected, I hadn’t expected it either. But the owner called and asked if I would ride him again.” Nieberg didn’t have to be asked twice. “I don’t have many better horses at the moment,” he admitted. The arrangement is still “a bit on trial”. But Nieberg emphasized: “It feels very good! I am very confident that we can make a small comeback.”

The start was certainly promising. In their very first competition together, a 1.45-metre jumping competition in the international tour in Balve, the pair were already clear and placed fourth.