Roland Tong and the eight-year-old mare CHS Fonteyn received the Magic Prix St Georges (PSG) Freestyle Gold Championship on the 2024 NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships on 73.29% – simply over 1% forward of Jezz Palmer and Honey D’Or.
“She was sensible as a result of she’s solely performed three PSGs earlier than this after which it was straight to the championships,” mentioned Roland.
“I at all times love the freestyles, Gaynor Colbourn did our music and he or she performed 27 devices after which introduced all of it collectively, so it’s fairly distinctive as a result of it goes from Swan Lake, to Whitney Houston, to Elton – it’s unbelievable.”
It was a marked enchancment from the PSG the day earlier than (10 April) – the place the mixture scored 66.12% to complete twelfth – with Roland admitting he went out seeking to take extra dangers.
“She was too nervous yesterday nevertheless it was utterly completely different this time round,” he mentioned. “I went on YouTube and I believed ‘I’ve obtained to make this floorplan actually arduous’ – so I copied Charlotte Dujardin’s freestyle.”
When requested what the toughest a part of the ensuing routine was, Roland laughed, answering: “all of it!”
2024 Winter Dressage Championships: “One of the best horse I’ve ever sat on”
Dannie Morgan continued his fantastic kind so as to add yet one more nationwide title to his assortment, profitable the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold Championship on his excellent six-year-old gelding Fever Tree (Basis x Dayano), who he describes as “one of the best horse I’ve ever sat on.”
In what was a robust class, the mixture have been clear winners, scoring the very best mark of the championships thus far – 79.29% – and ending comfortably away from Gracie Catling and Fraithwens Wytske fan ter Lune, who have been second on 75.76%.
“He’s an unbelievable horse, I’ve by no means had one like him earlier than, he offers me goosebumps,” mentioned Dannie. “I attempted to indicate an fascinating flooring plan however there wasn’t something too technical – he’s obtained such a stunning manner of going and is such a gorgeous mover that I simply attempt to current him in a pleasant manner and he makes my job very simple.”
Fever Tree was bred by David Stone of Bow Lake Equestrian the place Dannie is predicated and in addition received the novice freestyle gold on the winter championships final 12 months. He has now received 25 of 28 outings thus far in his profession and look set to go to the very prime.
“I’ve identified him since he was a foal, and ever since I first noticed him, I used to be like, ‘wow, that horse’,” added Dannie. “I obtained the chance to purchase him after I broke him in as a 3 12 months previous. Horses like him don’t come round fairly often so I wish to hold maintain of him.”
Dannie was additionally fifth on the seven-year-old gelding Monsieur Frederique who completed on 72.11%.
The Petplan Intermediate I Silver Space Pageant went all the way down to the wire with Julia Walker profitable on her 19-year-old mare Rodhea on 66.02% – simply forward of Nichola Harrison and Lobke Van Het Urnenveld in second on 65.93%.
“We name her princess,” mentioned Julia, who works for John and Char Lasstter. “I used to be so happy together with her efficiency and that we didn’t make any errors within the adjustments.”
“She got here to the UK as a five-year-old from Lithuania and he or she was going to be for Char however she didn’t fairly develop large enough, so I purchased her after backing and producing her as a younger horse.”
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Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Pictures
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Pictures
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Pictures
Credit score: Future
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