LipiData is proud to be following the journey of German rider Martina Benzinger as she attempts to qualify for the European Championships in Riesenbeck 2023, and eventually the 2024 Paris Paralympics with her Lipizzaner mare, Nautika-74. Martina and Nautika compete together in Para Dressage Grade I, having been a team since 2021. A highlight of the the pair's career occurred in September 2022 when Martina and Nautika were number 3 in the world rankings for Para Dressage Grade I. An exceptionally special mare, Martina says that Nautika fights for them both.

Martina will be providing the LipiData community with a behind the scenes look at what it takes to compete at the top level. We hope you enjoy following Martina and Nautika's road to the 2024 Paralympics.

On 13-14 April, Martina and Nautika made their way to the Deutsche Bank Stadion to compete in the grounds of the Aachen CHIO. The pair came 4th in the Grand Prix B with 70.69% and 3rd in the Freestyle 72.85%.
Next week will bring more challenges as the pair competes in their next Paris qualifer.

We were very excited to see Nautika wearing her LipiData Global High Point Champion rug. What a thrill to see the LipiData logo on the hallowed grounds of Aachen.

photos courtesy of Martina Benzinger

Martina and Nautika flew the Lipizzaner flag with style and achieved incredible results at the 2023 Riesenbeck European Para Dressage Championships. The pair came home with THREE MEDALS -

Para Grand Prix A I - SILVER

Para Grand Prix Freestyle I - BRONZE

Team Classification - SILVER

Congratulations Martina and Nuatika. One step closer to Paris!

photos courtesy of Martina Benzinger

Martina and Nautika had a hugely successful year, closing out the inaugural LipiData Global High Point Competition on 1006 points; enough to land them in second place and secure them the title of the 2022 LipiData Global High Point Reserve Champion.

Some highlights of Martina and Nautika's year was earning the German National Champion Title Para Grade I and countless scores over 75% in CPEDI3* events all over Europe.

Congratulations Martina! We will be eagerly following you and Nautika into 2023.

photo courtesy of Martina Benzinger

Deauville was an extremely successful outing for Martina and Nautika with the pair coming home with scores in the 70s and wins in all three of their tests - the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A Grade I, FEI Para Grand Prix Test B Grade I, and FEI Para Grand Prix Test Freestyle Grade I.

photos courtesy of Martina Benzinger

Martina and Nautika had a very successful competition at the CPEDI3* Randbøl in Denmark, where the pair achieved the top result for the German Para-Dressage team with a total of 146.806 points, and helped the German team take first place in the team event.
Martina and Nautika placed 1st in the Para Grand Prix Test B Grade I with 74.653%, and 2nd in the Para Grand Prix Test A Grade I with 72.153%, and were privileged to be presented their award by Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark (photo below).

photos courtesy of Martina Benzinger