Charlotte Dujardin riding Imhotep, winners of the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd. and supported by Horse & Hound. Image: London International Horse Show/Peter Nixon.
Charlotte Dujardin claims London International Horse Show Grand Prix CDI-W
Wednesday marked the start of the 2023 edition of the London International Horse Show, with the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd and supported by Horse & Hound taking centre stage in the International Arena.
Fifteen horse and rider combinations from nine different nations took part, with Germany’s pair of Kathleen Kröncke and 13-year-old bay mare, Uniteds Maerchen, the first to go. They set the standard from the outset, delivering a stunning test to finish on a score of 70.695%. The four combinations to follow were unable to top Kröncke’s mark, however defending champion and World No.2, Lottie Fry, aboard the superstar stallion, Everdale, usurped Kröncke from the top spot. The British combination lived up to home-crowd expectations, performing a meticulously executed test, captivating the audience with Everdale’s cautious yet beautiful extensions alongside faultless flying changes across the diagonal of the International Arena, setting them up to take the lead and finish on a score of 77.435%.
The home crowd were pleased to see this proud British performance followed up by Becky Moody and Jagerbomb’s impressive compilation of movements, which meant they finished on a score of 75.087%, putting the Yorkshire-based combination just behind Fry and Everdale in second place.
London International Horse Show Ambassador Lottie Fry riding Everdale, runners-up in the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd and supported by Horse & Hound. Image: London International Horse Show/Peter Nixon.
Twelfth to go, Morgan Barbançon and 17-year-old bay gelding Sir Donnerhall II from France challenged the British lead, providing a performance that placed them in third position. However Denise Nekeman and Boston STH of the Netherlands soon topped this and pushed the French combination off the podium.
Last to go was London International Horse Show legend, Charlotte Dujardin, who broke the Grand Prix World Record aboard Valegro in front of home fans back in 2014. This time riding the 10-year-old Imhotep, the British dressage star reigned supreme, finishing on the only score above 80; 81.761% – making it a British 1-2-3 at the London International Horse Show.
Charlotte Dujardin said on her victory: “It’s Imhotep’s first indoor show, so for him to come here – to this incredible show with an amazing set up and atmosphere – and perform so well with no experience is amazing! I missed coming to the London International Horse Show so much last year and am so happy to be back, this time it being even more special with my daughter Isabella watching me.”
Today, when the FEI Dressage World Cup Freestyle to Music presented by Bret Willson Dressage Ltd and supported by Horse & Hound taking competition takes place, Dujardin continued: “I am so excited, I absolutely love the Freestyle to Music, it’s the party piece! Who knows how Imhotep will go, fingers crossed he will be okay. He’s such a fantastic horse and I love him to bits. If he needs me to hold his hand I can hold his hand, I can feel him breathe and I can reassure him and it’s the most incredible feeling. To have the opportunity to go into that arena and do that performance is all very exciting.”
Source: London International Horse Show press release / edited by EQ Life
Published 14 December 2023.
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