Coaching grand prix horses as much as the highest degree is at all times a protracted, difficult however rewarding journey, particularly when you have labored with a horse proper from the beginning of their dressage profession. Once we watch established horses and riders acting at this elite degree, it may be straightforward to neglect the years of onerous work that goes in to each single horse that has reached the head of the game.
So, typically, it’s good to have a look again and admire simply how far these horses – and their riders – have come. We delve by means of the archives to hunt out pictures of just some profitable British horses, from once they had been simply setting out on their aggressive careers….
Gio (Apache x Tango)
Get pleasure from this throwback of the well-known Gio competing at his very first UK present (above), and his first with Charlotte Dujardin, again in February 2017. Charlotte and the then six-year-old gelding scored 74.4% in elementary 44 and 77.94% in elementary 53 that day. “Pumpkin” went on to grow to be one among Britain’s most profitable grand prix horses, successful double bronze on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and silver and bronze medals on the European championships the identical 12 months. Gio is now serving to his present proprietor, 17-year-old Annabella Pidgley, study the grand prix ropes.
Charlotte Dujardin and Gio throughout the freestyle on the 2021 Europeans in Hagen
Habouche (Ampere x Sydney)
This pretty gray mare is without doubt one of the most fun grand prix horses on the British scene in the mean time, having made her debut at high degree simply this 12 months with Anna Ross. “Holly” has already achieved some spectacular grand prix wins and placings, in addition to a triple worldwide center tour victory at Crozet DI, France, in August. She is a superb instance of what good coaching and foresight can obtain, having regarded very totally different as a inexperienced four-year-old at her first present again in 2016 with Jess Ralton (above).
Anna Ross and Habouche within the grand prix at Hartpury Premier League in 2022
Rudy (Cancara x Julio Mariner)
Taking a horse from prelim proper as much as senior grand prix is at all times a powerful achievement for a rider, however particularly so when it’s earlier than you flip 25. That’s precisely what Lucy Amy has managed with the Holsteiner gelding Rudy. Rudy wasn’t meant to be a dressage horse, however he has taken Lucy to the under-25 European Championships and competed each nationally and internationally at senior grand prix in 2022. He already regarded fairly sensible again when he was competing at prelim in 2014 (above), however it’s fascinating to see the event.
Lucy Amy and Rudy within the grand prix on the Nationwide Dressage Championships 2022
Into The Blue (Ublesco x Calvaro Z)
Into The Blue is an attention-grabbing instance of a horse who has been produced proper up the degrees as a result of he and rider Louise Bell had an extremely profitable profession on the earth of working hunters previous to transferring into dressage. It’s pretty to look again on the pair of them driving their first dressage check (above), at elementary, again in 2011 as a part of a Horse & Hound self-discipline switching problem. Now we have adopted their journey proper as much as representing Britain on Nations Cup groups and at a few of the world’s largest worldwide exhibits.
Louise Bell and Into The Blue competing within the World Cup qualifier on the London Worldwide Horse Present 2021
Headmore Bella Ruby (Belissimo M x Rubinstein)
Using and coaching a home-bred horse is a particular expertise, and one which Alice Oppenheimer is aware of all about, having ridden a terrific lots of the gifted horses bred by her household’s Headmore Stud. One of the vital thrilling of those, who not too long ago made her grand prix debut, is Headmore Bella Ruby, who’s out of the stud’s basis mare Rubinsteena. Bella has been a star since an early age, successful a regional title at novice in February 2018 (above), however has actually come into her personal extra not too long ago as she has made her means as much as high degree.
Alice Oppenheimer on Headmore Bella Ruby on the Winter Dressage Championships
Valegro (Negro x Gershwin)
We couldn’t fail to incorporate arguably the best equine success story of all time. Valegro might need ended up a double Olympic champion and holder of all world data, however in his early days proprietor Carl Hester had reservations when it got here to his potential, together with whether or not it could be attainable for him to study to gather his colossal canter. Get pleasure from this throwback to Valegro successful the four-year-old nationwide championship in 2006 (above), ridden by Carl.
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro on the Rio Olympics in 2016
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