‘He's done everything for me'

A partnership’s journey from novice to inter I results in a national title, while Scottish riders and unconventional breeds prosper, and young riders shine

CHARLOTTE TUCKWELL gained a first national title when she and DHI Alligator took the inter I bronze with 69.65%.

Charlotte, 22, is work rider and head girl for Nathalie Kayal, who also took an inter I title here in the Superflex final. Charlotte took over the ride on 16-year-old DHI Alligator four years ago at novice.

“We’re not that established at inter I, so it was a nice surprise to win,” Charlotte said. “Normally his pirouettes are his weak point, but he stayed with me during them, rather than getting tense. He was on form and so much more confident – and I remembered to count my three-time changes!

“He’s done everything for me – he’s taken me from my first British Dressage [BD] competition to inter I at the national championships,” she said.

Professional musician Rachel Platt’s “big experiment” resulted in two titles on Gracia Du Rona: medium bronze with 68.24%, and elementary silver on 70.83%.

The saxophonist and clarinetist said: “I used to ride when I was girl but never had my own horse. I used my inheritance to buy Gracie as a four-year-old – she’s 10 now. I just took up riding again and, as a big experiment, decided to see how far we could go.”

REPEAT WINS

SHELLEY REEVE-SMITH repeated her 2020 victory in the prix st georges (PSG) silver on her home-bred mare Sinderella.

“I didn’t know if that meant it was pressure on or pressure off,” said Shelley. “She gave me better quality work this year – she was much freer in her trot.”