Sandiegobese channels his power
A teenager posts a personal best, while a 13.2hh pony who lives in the garden achieves the show’s highest score
BRITTANY DUMBLETON scored a personal best with Sandiegobese to win the bronze prix st georges (PSG). The Florestan gelding’s mature performance was a far cry from his early antics with his new rider.
“He was half asleep in his stable when we viewed him two years ago in Belgium,” recalled Brittany, 18. “He’s a gentleman, but when you get on him he finds all his power and energy. It took me a long time to learn to ride him — in our first few training sessions with Emile Faurie we walked around on a lead-rein, otherwise he would stand up on his hindlegs.”
The pair progressed to schooling at home, establishing the basics with trainer Andrew Lovell.
“Amy Woodhead has helped to give me competition confidence,” said Brittany, who is planning a year off after her A levels to move up to inter II.
Jane Morris and Really Relevant returned a creditable 67.76% in the uncontested inter
II, while Charmaine Keevil won a small but close-fought advanced medium with Zandor Utopia.
Anya Hitt, 14, was the prelim winner on Cnoc An Noinin Clover.
“He’s a great little character,” said Anya’s mother Jenni of the 14hh Connemara gelding. “We started dressage to improve his jumping; he’s learning to lengthen his stride and work uphill.”
Scarlett John, 12, headed the under-18 novice with 72.99%, the weekend’s highest score, beating her big sister India, who was third.
“A bit of sibling rivalry spurred Scarlett on,” laughed her mother, Emma, explaining that the 13.2hh Welsh section C gelding Felinmor Buddy has a great track record with British pony and junior team riders Charlotte McDowall and Angus Corrie-Deane.
“Scarlett has to ask him correctly, but he’s very kind,” said Emma. “He doesn’t have a flashy lifestyle — he lives in our garden with Graham, a donkey we rescued from Ireland last year.”
CHANGING TRACK
THE elementary bronze went to Vanessa Watson and Raphael V, a horse she received as a birthday present who went on to compete at Badminton with Dani Evans.
“He fell into the Vicarage Vee last year and two weeks later was on the operating table at B&W Equine undergoing colic surgery,” said Vanessa, who decided to take up dressage with him.
“Although Dani has schooled him beautifully I’ve struggled as I don’t press the buttons in the same way she does,” she added. “But he’s being an absolute legend for me. This win is the highlight of my dressage career.”
Ben Liles and his 17hh bay tobiano eventer Westceffyl Kingsway Lad won at elementary.
“I like our dressage to be decent,” said Ben, who is aiming for British Eventing (BE) onestar and British Dressage (BD) medium by the year end with the seven-year-old gelding.
“He has some talent for it and the judges seem to like him.”
Medium silver winner Abigail Kench credited her trainer Hannah Biggs for her progress up the ranks with ex-eventer Pick Poket Chapelle.
“I haven’t ridden at this level before, but Hannah is excellent at bringing things back a step before moving you on,” Abigail said. “And the horse is such a pro — when he hears the bell he goes into game mode. It was his birthday, too, so we celebrated in style.”