In a short talk in Madrid the Style master looks back at his successful year. "Even if I was not able to compete at the Olympic Games, I still had an amazing outdoor season. But concerning everything else, I have had quite a few good results. However, my most favourable moment to look back at is the win at the Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona."
Together with Comme Il Faut 5 (by Cornet Obolensky and Ratina Z by Ramiro Z) Ehning won the Grand Prix CSI5* in Vienna, CSI3* in Paderborn. Ehning has been competing the horse for two years now at an CSI5* level. "He has been more and more consistent and has been getting really good results. I am very happy to have him in my stables. He’s undoubtedly an excellent horse. That being said, today a high-level rider can’t just depend on one top horse! We have to rely on a large group of quality horses to hope to be competitive every weekend."
Without a doubt Comme Il Faut 5 has a splendid pedigree. However for Marcus Ehning his lineage doesn' mean much. As abreeder however the lineage is important and makes Ehning happy to see the German lines continue to deliver successful horses.
"For me breeding is more a hobby than an actual activity, nevertheless I really enjoy it. I slowely started breeding a few years ago because we had kept a brood mare which I had ridden in the past. We only have three or four foals born each year, which isn’t a lot. The mares and their foals are with us all year. I still am still lucky enough today to ride good stallions, and I take advantage of that to make my own breeding crosses, which I think is pretty cool (smiles)."
While talking about Comme Il Faut an other top mount of Ehning pops in mind; Singular La Silla (by Fergar Mail). Between July and November Singular was out because of an injury. But Ehning confirms he is doing very well. "This year, he has had his ups and downs. I have big hopes for him as his potential is really phenomenal."
In August the Olympic Games were the main sportive event, for Ehning this turned out to be a disaster as Cornado NRW got injured. Ehning didn't really train for this event. "Speaking from a sports perspective, it’s a championship like any other, so I didn’t change anything. I just targeted my competitions and gradually refined my work so that Cornado could attain his peak form at the right time. We were completely prepared and eager to get out on the course."
Unfortunately at the warm-up the night before the opening class, Ehning felt something was wrong. "The following morning, when I took him out to unwind him, everything went well for five minutes, but when we really began to work, I felt that something was bothering him. After doing the first checks with the team veterinarian, we made the decision to not take to the course."
But the most happy moment followed shortely on the Olympic Games, in the beginning of September, Ehning and his wife welcomed their fourth child. "Lyas is doing very well, just like Nadia ! They are living at the house in Germany. Having children is really the most beautiful thing that can happen in life. My family is essential for me."
To conclude ... Ehning's opinion about the new FEI rule for the Olympic teams;
"I am totally opposed! I find this idea to be useless and absurd. I don’t understand why the FEI wishes to modify a format which has never caused a problem to anyone in the past." continuing his statement; "I think it’s very bad for our sport. In Rio, we saw very well that teams reduced to three riders were competing with ten times more pressure. Just being at the Olympics is already a very heavy load to bear."
