I.C.E Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival, Hickstead, W Sussex
CARL HESTER admits he is “not the keenest competitor in the world”, but the sun was shining at Hickstead, he enjoyed himself and his horses went beautifully, so he’s happy. He pulled off a superb hattrick, winning the CDI3* grand prix and grand prix special on relatively new ride Fame, and the Premier League grand prix on his Olympic and Europeans campaigner En Vogue.
Carl and Fame, who have been together less than six months, scored 76.33% to take the grand prix and 75.47% to win the special, nearly 6% ahead of Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose Of Bavaria in second.
“He loved that,” Carl said, fresh from the special prizegiving. “It’s so nice for him to finish like that and be relaxed.”
The 13-year-old Bordeaux stallion, owned by Fiona, Mette and Penny Bigwood and Anders Dahl, had a couple of enthusiastic moments in the special, which Carl put down to his grand prix practice.
“Everything was in the left passage,” he said. “I’ve been so busy practising the grand prix, and in that it’s left passage to canter so he kept thinking, ‘When are we cantering?’ It was just because he was trying.
“He’s stunning to look at and he’s stunningly talented; he’s got it all.
“Yesterday, I couldn’t let go and today he had the rideability. He’s just such a cool horse to ride, he loves his life and I love him.”
Esta historia es de la edición May 18, 2023 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 18, 2023 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
