NORTH-WEST
Debbie Martin-Rerrie spent her 19th wedding anniversary winning two elementary tests at Beaver Hall.
“You know how it is, qualifying points are everything,” quipped Debbie, whose horse Donnerciano is by Domani Vengo, a full brother to Carl Hester’s late Dolendo.
“I did a British Dressage training camp last month, so putting that into practice and riding for a better frame has been my focus. It would have been nice to get 70% but a blip in my counter-canter was costly. That said, I had helpful comments from the judges, Steph Cooper and Caroline Tupling, with ways to turn sevens and 7.5s into eights.”
“William” hasn’t been the easiest horse.
“He’s high maintenance, has kissing spines, is prone to ulcers and has a corn allergy so feeding him is difficult, but this year he looks the best he’s ever been and his performance is reflecting that,” Debbie added.
Also winning at Beaver
Hall was Emily Perry with Dondersteen, who won the small tour qualifier. Emily was on her third outing with her Gladstone x Warrant gelding since giving birth in June.
“I was back on board after a fortnight and Dondersteen has already qualified for the PSG and inter I winter regionals,” she said.
Steve Pryde won the elementary 53 with his London Time x Donnerschwee gelding, Little Jo. Steve, who trains with Rob Lovatt, bought the Hanoverian after seeing him advertised online.
“The phone number was for Derbyshire but it turned out that, due to lack of space, the horse was still in Germany,” he explained. “I rang his breeder and he sent me some videos, then I flew over to see him with the intention of bringing him home, and I did.”