Ocala, Fla.—March 20

Germany’s Christian Kukuk has been partnered with Just Be Gentle for about two years after taking over the ride from fellow German rider Philipp Weishaupt, but as with most horses he rides, she was for sale.

“At that point, the whole world wanted to buy her, and I was in a lucky situation that I had an owner who wanted to keep the horse for me,” he said. “It’s not just gambling—we always have to work really hard for our success. I’m in a lucky situation that I have a few people believing in me and trusting me and supporting me.”

In the past year, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Tyson—Be Gentle, Ticallux Verte), who’s owned by Ludger Beerbaum Stables and Stal Knijnenburg BV, has started to pick up some solid five-star results, and Kukuk brought her to the World Equestrian Center-Ocala this week to ride on the German team for the Longines League of Nations.

Tonight, she and Kukuk got off to a good start, winning the $350,000 Lugano Grand Prix after besting eight other pairs in the jump-off.

“I’m really happy,” said Kukuk, who was the 2024 Paris Olympic individual show jumping champion on Checker 47. “We know each now for quite a time, but she’s still only 11.”

Kukuk was second in a four-star grand prix at WEC Ocala, then competed in a five-star grand prix in Wellington, Florida, under the lights, but retired on course after some trouble. He dropped the mare down a level before heading back to WEC this week.

“Last week I felt ready to come back here and ask her to do the grand prix and Nations Cup,” he said. “She did a great job today. She’s naturally a very fast horse. I was first to go—it’s always quite difficult in a jump-off. I really tried, I have to say, and I probably added one or two too many to the last jump because I flew a little bit to the second to last and didn’t see one honestly. In the end, you always need a little bit of luck.”

The pair were second in big grand prix classes in London and Rotterdam (the Netherlands) last year, so tonight’s win was extra special.

“She’s a fighter,” said Kukuk. “She’s a very sharp horse. There are days where she’s sometimes losing the concentration because she is so focused on everything around, but if you find the key, then everything is possible in the right moment. Today I felt like that—she wants to go fast, and the more you ask of her, the more ability she gets. I’m very happy to have her in my stable, and I’m really excited to look forward.”

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor slid into second place behind Kukuk on Karlswood Partners’ 12-year-old Zangersheide Iron Man (Charisma Z—Dindy-Blue, Mr. Blue).

He’s had the ride on the gelding for about six months.

“It took a while for the partnership to develop,” he said. “He goes differently to some of my other horses. At the start we were OK in smaller classes, and then when I moved up, I found it a little bit difficult. Over the last number of weeks, he’s really clicked in. He was fifth in a 1.50-meter; he was double-clear last week in a four-star in Wellington [Florida]. I just feel he’s really coming up nicely. I was so pleased because it was the first time I went a little bit more against the clock on him. Christian’s obviously who is he—the Olympic champion—and his horse is very quick. I was just happy with my round.”

O’Connor, who’ll be competing in the League of Nations as well on Saturday, said he’s learned a lot from riding Iron Man, who’s a reminder that every horse should be treated as an individual.

“We have to meet these horses in the middle—we can’t just get up and ride them all one way,” he said. “He’s taught me that he wants to be ridden in a very different way than I want to ride naturally. For example, at a tall vertical, I like to give room and time. He doesn’t like that; he likes to be close to it. It’s a funny feeling because you think you’re going to knock it down.”

O’Connor was perhaps the rider in the top 3 with the most familiarity for Irish course designer Alan Wade’s track, and he appreciated the challenge.

“I think Alan has a lot of feel, and he understands the horses, and he understands the riders,” he said. “He knows that when he builds a course tonight, he doesn’t really make the combinations too tricky. He has plenty of width, so if you make a mistake, you’re going to have a back pole. The verticals are tall. But he got the right amount of clears. He’s very clever. I’d say the League of Nations, maybe there’s some more experienced horses in that, moreso than tonight, so I’d say it will be a little bit harder than today.”

Rounding out the top three was France’s Nina Mallevaey on Nikka Vd Bisschop, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Emerald—Havanna Vd Bisschop, Nabab De Reve) owned by Tara Dow-Rein and the Rein Family LLC.

“I’m over the moon tonight to just be near these riders,” the 25-year-old said. “I’ve been dreaming to be on the podium in these classes. I’m lucky to have a horse like ‘Nikka’ who makes me do well.”

She’d shown the mare for about six months in 2021 before Canada’s Beth Underhill took on the ride. Canadian Erynn Ballard then competed her in 2024 and went to the Paris Olympics before Mallevaey got the ride again this year. She’ll be riding on the French team for the League of Nations and hopes to be selected for the FEI European Show Jumping Championships (Spain) this summer.

“She’s a really scopey horse, really sweet and careful,” she said. “She always wants to try her best to please you. I feel really lucky to have her and to ride her.”

For full results, click here.

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