"There were two of us in the saddle'

Impressive freestyles, rising stars and former eventers get the year off to a flying start

- ANDREA OAKES

Wellington Riding, Hants

"I HAD quite a difficult wish list, but I struck gold with Mila," said Alexis Knight of her six-year-old warmblood mare, an outright winner in the novice freestyle with a score of more than 78%. "I spent a long time looking, as I wanted a horse with the temperament for our family yard and enough quality to be competitive. I bought her at the end of 2022 and I can't say a bad word about her."

Alexis described Mila - who is by Morricone and out of a T Movistar mare - as a "pocket rocket" and added: "She's quite sensitive and hot under saddle, with lots of expression, but she tries so hard for me. We've struck up a lovely partnership.

"Our trainer Lynn Wickes deserves credit for the win," continued Alexis, who was riding to a Queen/Abba medley put together by Tom Hunt. "And I'm currently 14 weeks pregnant, so there were two of us in the saddle."

Claire Gettinby won the novice 23 outright and was a freestyle silver section runnerup with Headmore Dramatica. A showjumper until three years ago, when she fractured her hip in a fall, Claire has since switched to dressage and she bought the Headmore Studbred mare 18 months ago.

"She came up for sale and was a fabulous opportunity for me to learn on," she said. "She was nicknamed 'Drama' because of a difficult foaling when she was trodden on by her dam, but she's the least dramatic mare on the planet. She's the kindest horse with a lovely attitude; forwardthinking and keen to please - a dream come true.

"We've grown together quite quickly," added Claire, who is based at Headmore and trains with Alice Oppenheimer.

"IT FELT EASY"

SLOOT'S SIR VICTORIE headed the prelim 17 qualifier outright. Clare Yetton, who competed him in four- and five-year-old classes for Charlotte Rollinson and later bought him, was impressed by his mature approach.