The Olympic medal-winning gelding Gio and British 18-year-old Annabella Pidgley have made a successful worldwide grand prix debut collectively, at Kronenburg CDI3* within the Netherlands.
Annabella Pidgley and Gio have been collectively for a 12 months, after Charlotte Dujardin’s high-profile sale of the Apache x Tango gelding, with whom she gained 4 championship medals, to the Pidgley household in 2021. Junior European medallist Annabella made her grand prix debut with “Pumpkin” a matter of weeks in the past, and the pair have shortly stepped as much as worldwide senior degree.
“I all the time have excessive expectations of myself to carry out however I didn’t actually know what to anticipate at Kronenburg as a result of I’d by no means competed at that degree, not at senior worldwide degree with riders who’ve accomplished a number of Olympics,” mentioned Annabella, who completed third within the grand prix behind Marlies van Baalen and Patrik Kittel, after which went on to win the grand prix particular on 75.09%. Britain’s Emile Faurie was additionally in motion on the present, ending twentieth within the massive grand prix class and fifth within the freestyle with the 11-year-old mare Bellevue.
“These are riders who I watched on the world championships in Herning this 12 months, and thought, ‘Wow’. To finish up beating a few of them was simply superb,” Annabella instructed H&H.
“Pumpkin is simply the best horse ever. He loves the viewers and he loves competing. Just a few individuals did come to look at us however he all the time had his ears ahead and he knew he did a superb job.
“Within the grand prix I used to be nervous as I didn’t know what to anticipate, and I’ve undoubtedly ridden higher checks. However within the particular I discovered extra confidence in myself and I actually gave it the whole lot. I felt very emotional afterwards as I knew it was a superb take a look at,” added Annabella, who had by no means ridden the particular in competitors earlier than this weekend.
She was supported on the present by Charlotte Dujardin, who trains her on Pumpkin, and is anticipating her first youngster in just a few weeks’ time.
“Charlotte was so supportive and all the time needs me to do effectively. Earlier than my checks she mentioned, ‘Go for it woman, you’ve acquired this’,” mentioned Annabella. “I used to be final to go within the particular and so after I completed and my rating went up we knew I’d gained, and I might simply hear Charlotte celebrating.”
Annabella and Pumpkin have had an extremely profitable first 12 months collectively, having been topped inter II nationwide champions in September earlier than shifting as much as high degree, and Annabella confirmed that they are going to be aiming for extra internationals in early 2023.
“I’m simply having fun with this a lot, and I really feel so fortunate to have the ability to be taught from Pumpkin. What a possibility it’s to compete alongside so a lot of my position fashions,” she mentioned.
You might also be desirous about…
Credit score: LUKASZ KOWALSKI
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow/FEI
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the newest information and experiences, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and experiences in addition to different advantages.