Lince achieves the magic score
A spooky Spanish gelding exceeds expectations, while a young rider shows off new stars
A 70% score was “the cherry on top” for Samantha Wuidart and Lince FS, who achieved a personal best to head Saturday’s advanced medium 85.
Samantha was barely a teenager when she travelled to Spain to view the PRE gelding as a four-year-old.
“He wasn’t the horse for me, but I still said ‘yes’,” she recalls.
“He was spooky and had so many problems; I couldn’t even get him around my home arena, let alone at a competition. He knew all the party tricks, including rearing and bolting, but we kept going and now I wouldn’t change him for the world. He’s my best friend.”
Lince, now 11, also finished second in his first advanced test.
“He finds it easier to concentrate at the higher levels and has already taught himself one-times,” added Samantha, a pet portrait artist and a student of glassblowing at De Montfort University Leicester. “He only recently moved up to advanced medium, so I’m in shock that we scored the magic 70%.”
After a mounting mishap in the car park, which nearly left her sitting on the floor, Charlotte Tuckwell claimed Sunday’s prix st georges (PSG) qualifier with DHI Alligator. Charlotte is head groom for Nathalie Kayal and was competing at novice when she was given the ride on the Special D gelding three years ago.
“He has taught me everything,” she said of 15-year-old Alligator. “I’m so lucky to have this horse in my life, achieving dreams I never would have thought possible.”
Nicola North and Damons Gold claimed both PSG bronze sections, on their debut at the level.
“Our scores were beyond my expectations,” said Nicola, who achieved a consistent 67% across the two days with her nine-yearold Damon Hill gelding.
“We train with Jackie Beaven and our partnership continues to grow.”
“He wasn’t the horse for me but I still said ‘yes’”
SAMANTHA WUIDART