Younger eventer Elizabeth Barratt has paid tribute to Dargun because the 16-year-old gelding retires from eventing to pursue dressage.
Dargun was a former prime experience of Emily King, and later Piggy March, earlier than the Barratt household purchased him for Elizabeth throughout her ultimate 12 months on ponies in 2021.
“I used to be doing pony trials and pony two-stars with Noble Superman, and my mother and father thought Dargun can be a very good horse for me to be taught from,” 18-year-old Elizabeth advised H&H.
“At first it was not the simplest, which is not any secret. He was fairly explicit along with his showjumping and preferred me to get it proper – which was truthful as he was an skilled horse and instructing me to experience him correctly. Nevertheless it actually helped me in the long term, and whereas using difficult horses will be irritating at occasions, it’s so good for expertise and studying.
“He was all the time actually good within the dressage, should you requested him to do one thing appropriately he would all the time do it. He taught me to experience all of the actions for the three-star exams and taught me flying adjustments, and to have a horse like that to be taught from at a younger age made such a distinction to my using.”
Earlier than becoming a member of Elizabeth, Dargun had competed to CCI5* degree. He received crew gold on the younger rider Europeans with Emily King in 2015, they usually have been Bramham u25 champions in 2018. After Emily’s proprietor Jane Del Missier moved away from the game in 2019, Dargun joined Piggy March’s string. Piggy and Dargun have been second on the Little Downham CCI4*-S in October 2020, and received the Burnham Market CCI4*-S in April 2021.
“By the top of our first season collectively we jumped double clear spherical our first CCI2*-S, at Bicton, which was superb given I hadn’t had him very lengthy,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“I had a couple of classes with Piggy, and Emily would all the time ask about him, so it was very nice they may see him out at occasions. The longer I had him we acquired stronger as a partnership, and every occasion we acquired to know one another that little bit higher. He will be fairly a posh little character and was fairly quiet after we first acquired him, however as I acquired to know him he actually introduced out his persona and he was such a humorous horse to have round and actually loving.”
Dargun continued to show Elizabeth the ropes and their finest end result got here in September 2023 once they received the Cornbury younger rider CCI3*-S.
“That was an actual spotlight. I didn’t actually know what to anticipate going into it as I hadn’t finished quite a lot of intermediates with him, and he carried out so properly,” she mentioned.
“He gave me my first correct large win which was so thrilling, after which a couple of weeks later I did my first three-star lengthy at Osberton. To have the ability to bounce round these greater tracks on a horse like him was simply superb.”
Elizabeth and Dargun began their 2024 season at Poplar Park, however the determination was made to name time on his eventing profession.
“He simply type of advised us that he wasn’t actually having fun with it anymore, and wasn’t fairly leaping in addition to he had been. We thought whereas he’s blissful, match and wholesome, we’ll retire him so he can do one other job,” mentioned Elizabeth. “It was a tricky determination however we knew it was the suitable one for him.”
Dargun has now joined junior rider Megan Fields to pursue a second profession in dressage, and can return to the Barratts when he retires.
“It was unhappy to see him go nevertheless it was very nice figuring out he’s going to do one thing that he enjoys, after which he’ll come dwelling to us,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“It hasn’t all the time been simple however I’ve realized a lot, and I undoubtedly wouldn’t change something about it.”
Elizabeth will proceed her season with Georgina W and new horse Fernhill Kankan, a former experience of Jonelle Value.
“I’ve had Georgina since final 12 months and I simply acquired Fernhill Kankan in April so I’m actually wanting ahead to doing a bit extra together with her,” mentioned Elizabeth.
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