Lottie Fry was once my Europeans freestyle winner

British grand prix dressage rider and teacher Anna Ross on Europeans fervour and the way group efforts deliver stars in combination

What a contest the Ecu Dressage Championships were: the best possible usual I’ve ever witnessed. After Britain bagged the group gold medal, there have been simplest 4 other people feeling beneath drive for the grand prix particular and freestyle… the remainder of us may just simply take a seat again and revel in their rides.

It’s at all times extra thrilling when the result doesn’t appear inevitable and even if the favorite prevailed, there was once a struggle royale for the gold medals. The Brits have been exceptional – I’m going to position it available in the market and say Lottie Fry was once my freestyle winner.

Seeing the entire British blue T-shirts led me to replicate on what number of people if truth be told make up a British group. It’s simple to assume it’s simply 4 riders, however actually the group is the entrance line with a military at the back of. The military is not only the ones at the battlefield – or the sphere of play, because it’s identified in recreation – however is made up of householders, grooms, vets, farriers, saddle fitters, breeders, oldsters, companions, supporters and plenty of others who lend a hand deliver the riders and horses in combination.

When British group chef d’equipe Caroline Griffiths informed me a couple of years in the past that the group contributors would wish to ranking greater than 80% to be in medal positions, there was once a mountain to climb in spite of earlier successes. We’ve had famous person combos and robust groups at the back of them however the recreation has developed, and now it’s vital to have 3 superstars with a forged back-up. It was once no simple job to deliver all of it to a great typhoon at the day – however in Riesenbeck it took place.

Power intensive is vital to try this, and it’s now not simplest us who’ve it. Germany without difficulty changed Sönke Rothenburger’s injured experience with every other 74% horse and rider in Matthias Rath and Thiago GS. In the meantime, our British reserve horses (Jagerbomb and Indigro) are simplest 9 and 10 years previous respectively and are bettering speedy, at the side of a promising chasing crew.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter make a thrilling famous person aggregate for Denmark, whilst their former most sensible group member Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour brings her subsequent horses up the degrees. Because the lead rider for Blue Hors, Nanna can have numerous horsepower at the back of Zepter.

The bronze-medal successful Danish group additionally had two younger horses in Jovian (Andreas Helgstrand) and Vayron (Daniel Bachmann Andersen) who will likely be aimed on the Olympics, and I’m certain Denmark can stay high quality horses coming thru.

Lengthy-term legacy

The legacy of those medals is the foundation to all our different riders, each old and young, to do higher, to attempt upper and to proceed the usual set. The remainder of our British military must stay marching to make sure that our groups have horses for the long run. And the riders, except they’re self-funded, will wish to possess the industry control and social talents to collaborate with those that can give for them.

We will be able to produce each excellent horses and excellent riders on this nation; the duty is to ensure that they meet and their groups are supported. A just right instance of that is 24-year-old Anna Jesty. Whilst her global under-25 grand prix win in Belgium will likely be understandably overshadowed, being the similar weekend because the Europeans, it was once every other British-bred horse, every other Union flag raised for our nation and every other most sensible ability making ready for the long run with younger horses at the back of.

Getting at the back of Abi Lyle

Spare a concept for the Irish riders, who didn’t have Girl Good fortune on their facet closing week. It makes it much more tragic that their hard-fought Olympic group spot earned in 2019 was once successfully wasted when the then group control determined to not ship a group to Tokyo. We’re all rallying at the back of Abi Lyle, who’s based totally right here in the United Kingdom, as she makes her bid for Paris as a person.

This has been a golden 12 months to be a British Dressage member, made much more thrilling with an Olympics simply across the nook. With medal-winning performances from our junior, younger rider, para and senior groups, the nationwide championships this weekend are going to have an actual celebration environment.

● Who was once your winner of the person medals on the Europeans? Tell us at [email protected], together with your title, nearest the town and county, for the risk to have your perspectives revealed in a long term version of Horse & Hound mag

• This unique column may also be to be had to learn in Horse & Hound mag, on sale Thursday 14 September, 2023

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