“If I’m sincere I believed he ought to come dwelling with the sash; he wows me each single day,” mentioned Ashley Jenkins after successful the four-year-old part of the KBIS younger horse finals with Nicola Mahoney’s home-bred Recreation On on the 2023 LeMieux Nationwide Dressage Championships.
“I really like every little thing about him,” added Ashley. “He’s not the tallest, however then neither am I. However he fills the world. He’s my good horse.”
Judges Christine Prip, Erik Thielgaard and Lewis Provider had been all in full settlement over their winner, grand prix rider Lewis having the enviable activity of driving the 4 finalists this 12 months.
“They had been very totally different horses and every beautiful in their very own manner however Recreation On was the clear winner, his high quality shone by,” Lewis mentioned.
Recreation On is a second era home-bred for Nicola: “In idea I’ve given up breeding as a result of it’s simply too laborious. I’ve simply acquired this horse and his youthful half-sister however then one thing like this occurs and also you begin to assume,” Nicola mentioned. “Paradoxically this one is nothing like his siblings, his dam, grand dam or sire however he’s been superb because the day he was born – it’s why he’s referred to as Recreation On!”
‘We got here with excessive expectations at present’
The five-and six-year-old champions on the Nationwide Dressage Championships had been a re-run of final 12 months as each MSJ Viva Dannebrog and Iceland Lady PS, 4 and five-year-old winners respectively 12 months in the past, took the 5 and six-year-olds this 12 months. The one distinction was that this 12 months it was Amy Woodhead driving the previous, after her sister Holly stood in for her final 12 months.
Viva Dannebrog, owned and bred by Emma Blundell, is a daughter of Diva Dannebrog, ridden to grade III para World Championship silver by Natasha Baker.
“Diva Dannebrog is Don Schufro x Brentano II – good old style German bloodlines,” mentioned Emma. “We put her to Vitalis to get a bit extra blood and to get the shoulder by extra, and what a mare she is proving to be.
“Viva Dannebrog had her first embryo switch foal on the bottom final 12 months, which topped our on-line public sale,” added Emma. “We got here with excessive expectations at present, and we hoped she’d win – she’s a really particular horse.
“What a lovely mare,” was choose Christine Prip’s tackle six-year-old winner Iceland Lady PS, ridden by Tom Goode for Deborah Cunningham. “She has a beautiful delicate canter, and the trot nonetheless must develop however the components are all there.”
Lewis Provider, third within the earlier day’s grand prix with Diego V, was tasked with driving the highest 4 in every class, and he was fulsome in his reward.
“I might like to take any of the 12 horses ahead dwelling with me – and I’ve room on my lorry,” he quipped.
“If I had to decide on one it will be a really robust determination between the 4 and 5 year-old winner. I believe the four-year-old Recreation On would simply take it.”
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Credit score: Nico Morgan Media Credit score: Future 
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow 
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow 
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow 
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow 
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