The Printemps des Sports Équestres CDI5* in Fontainebleau, France was a successful outing for Great Britain’s Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, with the pair winning both the Grand Prix and Freestyle in front of enthusiastic crowds.
The pair scored 76.870% to win the Grand Prix on Saturday, before stepping out on Sunday for the flagship class of the Printemps des Sports Équestres CDI5* competition: the Grand Prix Freestyle Région Île-de-France.
Having already impressed in the Grand Prix Devoucoux, Becky Moody confirmed her supremacy at the event by winning the Freestyle with Jagerbomb. Her masterful routine set to a lively Beatles soundtrack clearly won over the judges, who awarded her the winning score of 84.380%. The fact that this was the first time the British rider had presented this freestyle-to-music routine outdoors made the performance even more remarkable.
“I intend to keep him with me right to the end, and then let him retire to the meadows at home…”
“It’s been a wonderful competition, with a fantastic team working behind the scenes. It’s the first time we’ve been here, and my horse and I enjoyed it immensely,” said Moody.
“We performed two good routines, with some really positive aspects, although there were a few little mistakes, but overall he was great. I think the score we obtained [Sunday] really reflects the quality of the routine. It was the first time we’d presented this freestyle routine outdoors. I’d love to be at the next European Championships, but it’s still a bit early in the season to be certain of anything. We’ll see how things progress, but that’s one of my goals.
“Jagerbomb was born on my farm and I’m his owner. That makes it all the more special to have reached this level together. I’m incredibly lucky to have him with me, especially since we have worked hard to achieve what we did [Sunday], which is the fruit of all the experience I gained with all my previous horses. I intend to keep him with me right to the end, and then let him retire to the meadows at home when the time comes. I think my banker would rather I sold him… but no (laughs).”
Larissa Pauluis and Flambeau the runners up
Second place went to Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis, who performed an incredibly elegant and smooth routine with her faithful Flambeau. Set to a soundtrack inspired by Jean-Jacques Goldman’s greatest hits, she posted a final score of 78.375%, confirming her horse’s steady progress in the Freestyle discipline.
“Flambeau and I are continuing to improve,” said Pauluis. “His movements are getting better all the time, and I’m convinced he still has plenty of room for improvement. We’ve already exceeded the 80% mark in Freestyle, so that’s a major objective that we’ve already chalked off this year.”
Pauline Basquin, the Cadre Noir rider, finished third on the podium with Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE. Despite a small fault on her second line of tempi changes, she delivered a performance full of finesse, rewarded by a score of 77.265%. Sertorius was more relaxed than in the Grand Prix and totally in tune with his rider. With this wonderful finale to the week’s dressage competition, the Printemps des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau once again confirmed its status as a major event in international equestrian sport.
“I’m really happy with our performance [Sunday], because I felt that I’d lost the connection with my horse a bit recently,” reflected Basquin. “Riding really teaches you to remain humble, and constantly ask yourself questions. Sometimes we improve certain things, but then lose in other areas. Lately, things have undoubtedly been a bit more difficult for us. In the Freestyle, I felt that I had regained my horse’s confidence, particularly in the piaffe and pirouettes. That’s the most important thing for me, even if a few points were below par [Sunday].”
Raphaël Saleh, President of the Ground Jury for the CDI5* competition, said the performances were very promising for the future of the sport in France. “I’m delighted that we have a competition of such high quality in Fontainebleau. It’s important for French sport. The riding we saw is really going in the right direction, with the assessment criteria increasingly focused on harmony, good contact and horses that do the work on their own. That is how our sport is evolving, and [Sunday’s] freestyle routines were a reflection of that.”
Full results can be found here.
Source: Event press release / edited by Equestrian Life
