Dressage
A rider who’s been away from top level for five years and a horse returning from a hoof injury make a comeback
Belmoredean, Rockrose ESC, Port Royal EC, Widmer EC, Burrows Court Farm and Beaver Hall
“It feels like forever”
AMY STOVOLD
AMY STOVOLD scored a 72.3% grand prix win with Bobo L, more than five years after she last competed at the level.
“It feels like forever,” said Amy of her lengthy break from the top since retiring her international grand prix star MacBrian. “I’m just really happy to be back there.”
Progress with Bo, the Don Schufro gelding she teamed up with seven years ago, has been “stop-start”, according to Amy.
“I had my daughter and then there was Covid, and we’ve taken it slowly,” she said of the “forwardgoing, forward-thinking” warmblood, now 15. “He does a lot of work in-hand, which he loves.
“I always knew Bo was a horse for the higher levels,” added Amy.
“I wanted a steady clear round – and we got it.”
Hannah Powel rode Show Dance to two medium wins. Describing the 13-year-old Showmaker gelding as a “late bloomer”, Hannah explained: “He wasn’t cut and backed until he was five and a half, and it has taken him all this time to mature and strengthen.”
Hannah, whose mother Sarah owns and also competes “Wally”, trains with Robbie Carpenter.
“Robbie has been able to tap into my head, as well as Wally’s and all his tricks and quirks,” explained Hannah. “He really understands us as a combination.
“On our medium 75 qualifier test sheet, the judge commented: ‘What a happy horse.’ You couldn’t ask for more, as a rider and an owner.”