Grenadier marches to victory

CHLOE REYNOLDS finished a rainy weekend at the British Showjumping Area 48 show at Chard in style by taking the top two places in the 1.30/1.40m handicap with Grenadier Volo and Quantify.

Chard is the most local venue for Somerset-based Chloe, who celebrated her 22nd birthday a week before this show. “We used to live beside the showground and we’re still only 45 minutes away,” she said.

Both horses have been star rides for Chloe and have taken her to many major finals. Grenadier Volo, the 2017 national six-year-old champion, was bought from Nick Benterman as a three-year-old.

“We were on our way home from Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] with our ponies; I saw a video of him and bought him straight away. We didn’t even see him,” explained Chloe, who has produced the nine-year-old Numero Uno gelding to grade A.

Twelve-year-old Quantify lives with owner Jancey Wembridge, who delivers her to shows for Chloe to ride. The Dutch-bred daughter of Quantum was a broodmare until autumn 2018, when Jancey started her at British novice level. Chloe took over at the beginning of 2019 and rode Quantify in last year’s HOYS grade C final.

“I’ll take them both to the national championships and they can then have a quiet time while I concentrate on young horses,” explained Chloe, who currently has eight in work at the Kudos Stables she runs with her mother Jane.

“The youngsters have been set to one side since lockdown was relaxed and it’s time for them to get going,” she said.