SOUTH-EAST
Para champion Nicola Naylor recorded a grade IV personal best.
The petite blind rider, awarded 75.12% at Blue Barn by judge Mary-Anne Horn, was not riding her para grade IV national champion Ferrari but 17.1hh Donnatella H. It is only the second time she has competed the 10-year-old since the Hartpury Premier League in 2017.
Nicola is hoping to be selected for the 2019-2021 World Class programme with Ferrari. She said: “Donnatella is the least best fit of my horses for me because she’s big and hot — over-keen to please — but it’s nice to have a back-up horse. I was pleased she stayed with me and remained relaxed.”
The highest mark across all the Merrist Wood freestyles, 79.72%, was achieved by Daisy Douglass, 15, riding Ferrara II in the novice.
Dramatic music showed off the 17.1hh Fidertanz x Negretto sixyear-old’s big movement. Daisy said: “I was proud of his mediums. He’s become stronger and could carry bigger steps.”
Morgann Bloquet, 16, competing her first horse, the 17.1hh Bretton Woods sevenyear-old Bailey B, won the novice freestyle with 73.06% at Hadlow, riding to instrumental rap. She also won the novices partnering her trainer Josh Hill’s Bewunder, scoring 72.91% and 70.96%.
Jeanette Taylor and her spooky plus-18hh Catherston Spring
Rock took the elementary freestyle on 76.54%.
“My trainer, Hannah Biggs, has changed my approach,” she said. “Now I don’t think what movement I’m going to ride, but of the qualities I need to ride it. The result is more relaxed and fluent.”
Sam Osborn, a former
British Young Riders Dressage Scheme (BYRDS) representative and now the British Dressage
(BD) Southern’s chair, is back competing after a six-year break. She won the novices overall at Priory riding Jane Clark’s Henessy (Chirlon x Rabiat Z). Sam said: “I’m tickled pink that Jane asked me if I’d like to ride him. He’s special; an engine with a brain.”
‘He’s an engine with a brain’
SAM OSBORN ON HENESSY