SCOTLAND

Fountain Dressage, Aberdeen | Mundole, Ross-shire | Cabin EC, Aberdeen

A horse recovering from surgery for kissing spines won a qualifying novice gold on his first outing since.

Jennifer Johnston-Harman’s talented five-year-old by Sir Caprimond, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, scored 73.5% at Mundole and also enjoyed a pair of victories

at the Cabin.

“He started getting a bit tight last year, so I had his back X-rayed and the vets found some vertebrae pressing against each other,” explained Jennifer.

“He had surgery in January and also some vertebrae shortened. It’s been a long recovery. He loves his jumping and could easily be an eventer. He felt arena-green, but he’s generous and not spooky. It’s nice to ride a novice with no expectations,” added Jennifer.

Lucy Matheson led a freestyle elementary with an impressive 70.19%, riding the Fürstenreich 10-year-old mare Fernandra.

“She’d been competing at advanced medium before we bought her in April,” explained Lucy, 17, who will be aiming for junior classes.

At Mundole Equestrian Centre, Samantha Henry led at novice bronze with the thoroughbred mare Temairs Feanaro.

“She had done some pre-racing training, but had not raced before I bought her unseen. I bought her as a project, but saw the potential and decided to keep her,” said Samantha.