Solihull Festival of Para Dressage and highlights
Sarah Davies lands the grade VI championship with a new ride, a grade II horse comes back from injury to win, and two gypsy cobs top their classes
Solihull RC Festival of Para Dressage, including Bronze & Silver Championships, West Mids DESPITE having only completed six tests together, grade VI rider Sarah Davies and 17-year-old gelding Hundon Lodger became grade IV champions after scoring 70.17%.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Sarah only took on the ride of
Tim Bartlett’s Medoc son after Christmas last year.
“We’ve been working hard on the trot because once I have done my first centre line and the first movement, fatigue sets in and keeping the trot engaged is difficult,” said Sarah, who trains with Tim’s wife, Kate. “My aim was to get a seven for my trot, but we managed eights which I was really impressed with.”
Due to her condition, Sarah doesn’t have much strength in her right leg or hand.
“It took a while for Hundon
Lodger to adapt — his canter transitions were the hardest because I only have one leg with which to ask for canter, but he’s improved quickly. I can’t thank Tim and Kate enough — they not only allow me to ride their lovely horse, but they also take him everywhere for me and act as my grooms at shows.”
Anna-Mae Cole rode the gigantic 18hh former showjumping gelding Dancing For Gold to a convincing grade II championship win with 70.32%.
Anna-Mae, who was born with muscular dystrophy (CMT) and cherubism, bought the gelding last December.
“Solihull is one of my favourite venues — they’re so accommodating,” said Anna-Mae. “We’ve had a few inconsistent moments recently, but here, he went in and was really consistent. Our eight-metre circles have always been a bit tricky because he is so big to turn, but he floated through both of them.”
Kent-based Katherine Mannion and her 18-year-old British sport horse gelding Littledale Hallmark were crowned grade I champions.
Katherine has owned the dun gelding by Catherston Liberator for five years.
“I love competing him as he really is a gentleman,” said Katherine, who is based at Arrow Riding Centre in Dartford. “I was overjoyed to win as often we are just pipped to the post, but he is going really well at the moment and the hard work is paying off.”
THIS COB CAN
TRADITIONAL gypsy cob Bailey W held his own to land the grade V intro championship for his owner and rider Nikkie Morgan.
Nikkie, who was born with hip dysplasia and has had two hip replacements, bought Bailey after suffering bad falls and wanting “something safe” to continue riding.
“This is our first championship win and I am so proud of Bailey, who tries his heart out,” said Nikkie, who trains with Janet Horswill, Jill Day and Jennifer Manning. “I know I can enter any arena and he will take me safely around a test, enabling me to ride him confidently for every mark, and that is what makes him so special.”
Another victorious gypsy cob was Victoria Smith’s Louis VII who headed the grade III bronze intro championship.
Victoria has been riding 11-year-old “Lulu” for two years, and this is their first year competing in para dressage.
“I had to train her to my specific aids with the help of my trainer Kelly Lessel and the Cotswold RDA,” said Victoria, who was born with cerebral palsy. “We have been working on our centre lines, which were greatly improved today.”
Katie Radzik stormed to victory in the hotly-contested grade V championship riding her trainer Joyce Wood’s 14-year-old Oldenburg mare Lollipop.
Katie, who has cerebral palsy ataxia and suffers from severe short-term memory loss, began