Lucas does the double

A rising star books two tickets as former eventers and returning combinations impress between the white boards

- STEPHANIE BATEMAN

Solihull Riding Club Winter Area Festival, W Mids

UNDER rider Kizzie Lucas, former eventer Candito claimed victory in both the medium with 71.81% and the advanced medium with 68.68% at Solihull Riding Club Winter Area Festival.

Kizzie, a graduate of Hartpury’s equine academy, has been riding the 11-year-old Irish gelding for 17 months.

“He previously evented up to three-star level and when his owner heard I was looking for a horse, they gave him to me, even though he wasn’t really for sale, so I feel very lucky,” said Kizzie. “I started doing dressage on my 13hh working hunter pony back in 2019 and caught the bug.”

Kizzie, who works for the Eilbergs, explains that “Toto” isn’t the flashiest of horses but more than makes up for it in consistency and correctness.

“He’s willing to give anything a go,” she said. “His walk is his highlight, but we’ve been working on the half-passes, medium and extended work, and that really shone through. We’re now training at advanced and I’m hoping to get out at that level. I would like to get onto a young rider team eventually.”

CRACKING CHANGES

OLIVIA WRENNALL’S 15-year-old Diamond Hit-bred gelding Disneyland, is enjoying competing again after time off due to an injury, with the combination winning the inter I on 69.56%.