Ludger Beerbaum and Checker
Olympic champion represents Olympic champion in the saddle of Olympic champion at CSI Riesenbeck
from Dominique Wehrmann 
Checker with his real rider Christian Kukuk. Photo: Sportfotos-lafrentz.de On Thursday, a 1.30 meter time trial was on the program in the CSI1* tour of Riesenbeck. There are two Olympic champions on the ranking list: Ludger Beerbaum and Checker.
The fact that Ludger Beerbaum occasionally competes at home despite his retirement from the big sport is nothing unusual. He has never given that up. But the fact that he rides Checker, who is actually Christian Kukuk ‘s horse, was surprising. Especially in view of the fact that Kukuk left his long-standing base in Riesenbeck at the beginning of the year to continue his career on his own two feet and is currently in the USA. This raised the question of whether he would continue to ride Checker, who had carried him to the greatest of all sporting titles in Paris almost two years ago.
Representation in the saddle
But this is not the case, as Riesenbeck International Managing Director Karsten Lütteken assured EQUI PAGES. “Just like last year, Checker was not supposed to take part in the American Tour. Ludger keeps him fit here and that’s why he rode a show to keep him going.”
The plan is for Christian Kukuk to take over the reins of the now 16-year-old Comme il faut son again after his return to Europe. And then there is the big event on the agenda in the summer, the World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2026, which is of course also a topic for the two Olympic champions.
Incidentally, Checker delivered a confident clear round with his “substitute Olympic champion” in the saddle. Victory went to another Riesenbeck rider, Ireland’s Ciaran Nallon on Ogana Sitte Sr.
You can find all the results here.
