September 26, 2016 
You could it call it the German team’s retirement gift to Ludger Beerbaum. Or perhaps his to them.
Team Germany took home the trophy in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping 2016 Final at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) on Saturday. It was the last team competition for Germany’s veteran anchor rider and a thrilling cap on a storied career.
“Life has been good to me and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to do the sport,” said the four-time Olympic gold medalist.
“I am grateful in many areas, my family, my owners, the people who trusted in me. Now is the time for me to be aware of this and thank everyone for what is important. I’m happy with the decision, it wasn’t taken over the last few days or weeks, it was made some months before Rio and I have no regrets.”
Eight teams qualified from Thursday’s first round, all starting on zero for Saturday’s Final. In the end, it came down to Britain and Germany.
With clear rounds from Nick Skelton and his Olympic gold-medal-winning ride Big, Michael Whitaker and Viking, and anchor rider Scott Brash and Ursula, Britain posted the first zero team total on the leader’s board.
Germany’s Christian Ahlmann aboard Taloubet Z and Janne Friederike Meyer on Goya followed suit. Last to go, Beerbaum had to produce a clear to force a jump off.
With a trademark foot-perfect performance, the 53-year-old rider delivered.
“Everyone could feel it when Ludger went in and everybody knew this man had to go clear to keep the chance of winning. Every single fence, everybody jumped with him and then he was clear and everyone went crazy!” recalled Meyer.
In the jump off, Skelton’s careful clear didn’t hold up. Ehning shaved more than two seconds off his time to clinch the victory for Germany.
“I watched him go and I knew I could be faster than him. I was really under pressure—I wanted this win for Ludger as it was his last Nations Cup,” said Ehning.
©FEI/Dirk Caremans
It was a sentiment echoed by his teammates. As Beerbaum’s final curtain call, the Germans were determined to give him a deserving send-off.
“We have had a lot of very strong teams over the last couple of years and the last couple of months but in the end we were always missing a little bit of luck, one fault too many. At the Olympic Games we were really happy, we had a great fight and finished with the bronze medal…but somehow the last, last big win was still missing,” said Daniel Deusser.
With Deusser’s horse falling ill on the weekend, reserve rider Meyer subbed in—a rule unique to the Furusiyya Final.
“All five of us worked together and the dream really came true, that we won Ludger’s last Nations Cup, it couldn’t be better!” said Deusser.
Concurred Meyer, “I can still remember my first Nations Cup with Ludger in Rotterdam, he has always been a great idol for my generation and I was so proud to be with him again in his last Nations Cup…There are some special days and today was one of them.”
It was a touching tribute for the former world number one. And on the grounds where he won individual gold medal victory with Classic Touch at 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, no less.
“The way they expressed their thoughts, their feelings, their emotions about our performances in the past months, the good luck, the bad luck, the good moments but also the disappointing moments that says it all,” said Beerbaum. “They were really fighting for me today and it’s unbelievable to have this support. For me it couldn’t be a nicer end.”
While his team career has come to a fitting end, Beerbaum will continue to compete as an individual.
Britain finished in second in the Furusiyya Final. Team USA claimed the third step of the podium with just four faults on the board.
