WALES & WEST
An event rider with a background in big tops impressed on two horses at Summerhouse EC.
EMMA BERESFORD worked at Giffords Circus for two years, where she gained an interest in dressage and decided to focus on the discipline. Riding her 12-year-old Irish sport horse Grand Master III, she headed the elementary 59 qualifier and the medium 69 — also finishing runner-up in the latter with
Kings Advocate II.
“We did some haute école work in the circus with Andalusian horses, so I learned a bit about collection,” said Emma, who has also worked with polo ponies and racehorses. “The head trainers at Giffords have a slightly different way of doing things, sometimes working from the ground. We also taught the circus horses to kneel down and rear up, so I’m now strangely comfortable with things that stand on their hindlegs.
“I’m still doing some eventing but I’m concentrating more on dressage and bringing on youngsters,” she added. “My mum is from New Zealand and my longterm goal is to ride for the country at a championship.”
At Hunters EC, Jack Morris scored an elementary 42 win with Fürst Shalin. Jack, who recently started work as a groom and rider at Emile Faurie’s yard, teamed up with the eight-yearold Fürst Romancier gelding two months ago.
“It was quite easy to click with him and he can give a nice feeling,” he said. “The test flowed well but he just tends to lose a little focus, which is something we need to work on.”