Choconito’s having fun
CHOCONITO recorded the highest score at Widmer, Bucks (25 July), winning elementary 45 on 74.31%, reports Helen Triggs.
The seven-year-old Christ x Wolkentanz gelding was out of competition for almost a year.
“I started teaching him changes and wanted to get them established,” explained owner/rider Michaela Burke. “Then he had some time off at the beginning of the year. I’m not rushing him and I want him to be ready at each level before we move up. He’s one for future years so I don’t do too much with him. We’re playing and enjoying ourselves.”
Dedi Leech’s home-bred Dante IX is another horse with a bright future. The stunning Dr Doolittle x Andiamo sevenyear-old won the novice and elementary qualifiers with Dedi’s daughter, Emma Thomas-Olsen.
“He’s taken a long time to grow and spent a huge amount of time in the field. He didn’t compete until April and has come first or second in all his tests so far,” said Emma, who has trained with Serena Pincus for 18 years, since she was 12. “He works hard and never says no to anything.”
Both mediums went to Central Dressage’s Kim Moloney and her 15-year-old Donnerhall x Rubinstein gelding, Donnergold, in preparation for the regionals.
“He hasn’t been out since May and he was really good,” said Kim. “He was forward, confident and fluent. Training with Andrew Gould is really paying off. Donnergold also does a lot of hacking, which I think is so important for the older horse.”