Younger eventer Elizabeth Barratt has paid tribute to Dargun because the 16-year-old gelding retires from eventing to pursue dressage.
Dargun was a former prime trip of Emily King, and later Piggy March, earlier than the Barratt household purchased him for Elizabeth throughout her last yr on ponies in 2021.
“I used to be doing pony trials and pony two-stars with Noble Superman, and my dad and mom thought Dargun could be a very good horse for me to study from,” 18-year-old Elizabeth informed H&H.
“At first it was not the best, which is not any secret. He was fairly specific along with his showjumping and favored me to get it proper – which was honest as he was an skilled horse and educating me to trip him correctly. But it surely actually helped me in the long term, and whereas driving difficult horses will be irritating at occasions, it’s so good for expertise and studying.
“He was all the time actually good within the dressage, in case you requested him to do one thing accurately he would all the time do it. He taught me to trip all of the actions for the three-star exams and taught me flying modifications, and to have a horse like that to study from at a younger age made such a distinction to my driving.”
Earlier than becoming a member of Elizabeth, Dargun had competed to CCI5* degree. He gained crew gold on the younger rider Europeans with Emily King in 2015, and so they had been Bramham u25 champions in 2018. After Emily’s proprietor Jane Del Missier moved away from the game in 2019, Dargun joined Piggy March’s string. Piggy and Dargun had been second on the Little Downham CCI4*-S in October 2020, and gained the Burnham Market CCI4*-S in April 2021.
“By the tip of our first season collectively we jumped double clear spherical our first CCI2*-S, at Bicton, which was wonderful given I hadn’t had him very lengthy,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“I had a couple of classes with Piggy, and Emily would all the time ask about him, so it was very nice they might see him out at occasions. The longer I had him we bought stronger as a partnership, and every occasion we bought to know one another that little bit higher. He will be fairly a posh little character and was fairly quiet after we first bought him, however as I bought to know him he actually introduced out his persona and he was such a humorous horse to have round and actually loving.”
Dargun continued to show Elizabeth the ropes and their finest end result got here in September 2023 after they gained the Cornbury younger rider CCI3*-S.
“That was an actual spotlight. I didn’t actually know what to anticipate going into it as I hadn’t performed numerous intermediates with him, and he carried out so properly,” she mentioned.
“He gave me my first correct huge win which was so thrilling, after which a couple of weeks later I did my first three-star lengthy at Osberton. To have the ability to leap round these larger tracks on a horse like him was simply wonderful.”
Elizabeth and Dargun began their 2024 season at Poplar Park, however the determination was made to name time on his eventing profession.
“He simply type of informed us that he wasn’t actually having fun with it anymore, and wasn’t fairly leaping in addition to he had been. We thought whereas he’s glad, match and wholesome, we’ll retire him so he can do one other job,” mentioned Elizabeth. “It was a tricky determination however we knew it was the proper one for him.”
Dargun has now joined junior rider Megan Fields to pursue a second profession in dressage, and can return to the Barratts when he retires.
“It was unhappy to see him go but it surely was very nice figuring out he’s going to do one thing that he enjoys, after which he’ll come residence to us,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“It hasn’t all the time been simple however I’ve discovered a lot, and I positively wouldn’t change something about it.”
Elizabeth will proceed her season with Georgina W and new horse Fernhill Kankan, a former trip of Jonelle Worth.
“I’ve had Georgina since final yr and I simply bought Fernhill Kankan in April so I’m actually trying ahead to doing a bit extra together with her,” mentioned Elizabeth.
You may also be concerned about:
Credit score: Jo Prestwich
Credit score: Future
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the most recent information and stories, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can get pleasure from the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and stories in addition to different advantages.
