Younger eventer Elizabeth Barratt has paid tribute to Dargun because the 16-year-old gelding retires from eventing to pursue dressage.
Dargun used to be a former most sensible experience of Emily King, and later Piggy March, ahead of the Barratt circle of relatives purchased him for Elizabeth all through her ultimate yr on ponies in 2021.
“I used to be doing pony trials and pony two-stars with Noble Superman, and my folks idea Dargun could be a in reality just right horse for me to be told from,” 18-year-old Elizabeth informed H&H.
“To start with it used to be no longer the perfect, which is not any secret. He used to be relatively specific along with his showjumping and favored me to get it proper – which used to be truthful as he used to be an skilled horse and instructing me to experience him correctly. However it in reality helped me ultimately, and whilst driving difficult horses may also be irritating every now and then, it’s so just right for revel in and finding out.
“He used to be all the time in reality just right within the dressage, when you requested him to do one thing as it should be he would all the time do it. He taught me to experience the entire actions for the three-star checks and taught me flying adjustments, and to have a horse like that to be told from at a tender age made this sort of distinction to my driving.”
Sooner than becoming a member of Elizabeth, Dargun had competed to CCI5* degree. He received group gold on the younger rider Europeans with Emily King in 2015, and so they have been Bramham u25 champions in 2018. After Emily’s proprietor Jane Del Missier moved clear of the game in 2019, Dargun joined Piggy March’s string. Piggy and Dargun have been 2d on the Little Downham CCI4*-S in October 2020, and received the Burnham Marketplace CCI4*-S in April 2021.
“Through the tip of our first season in combination we jumped double transparent spherical our first CCI2*-S, at Bicton, which used to be wonderful given I hadn’t had him very lengthy,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“I had a couple of courses with Piggy, and Emily would all the time ask about him, so it used to be in reality great they may see him out at occasions. The longer I had him we were given more potent as a partnership, and each and every match we were given to grasp each and every different that little bit higher. He may also be relatively a fancy little personality and used to be relatively quiet after we first were given him, however as I were given to grasp him he in reality introduced out his persona and he used to be this sort of humorous horse to have round and in reality loving.”
Dargun endured to show Elizabeth the ropes and their very best outcome got here in September 2023 after they received the Cornbury younger rider CCI3*-S.
“That used to be an actual spotlight. I didn’t in reality know what to anticipate going into it as I hadn’t executed a large number of intermediates with him, and he carried out so smartly,” she mentioned.
“He gave me my first right kind giant win which used to be so thrilling, after which a couple of weeks later I did my first three-star lengthy at Osberton. So that you can soar round the ones larger tracks on a horse like him used to be simply wonderful.”
Elizabeth and Dargun began their 2024 season at Poplar Park, however the resolution used to be made to name time on his eventing profession.
“He simply type of informed us that he wasn’t in reality taking part in it anymore, and wasn’t relatively leaping in addition to he were. We idea whilst he’s satisfied, have compatibility and wholesome, we’ll retire him so he can do every other process,” mentioned Elizabeth. “It used to be a difficult resolution however we knew it used to be the fitting one for him.”
Dargun has now joined junior rider Megan Fields to pursue a 2d profession in dressage, and can go back to the Barratts when he retires.
“It used to be unhappy to look him move nevertheless it used to be in reality great realizing he’s going to do one thing that he enjoys, after which he’ll come house to us,” mentioned Elizabeth.
“It hasn’t all the time been easy however I’ve realized such a lot, and I undoubtedly wouldn’t alternate the rest about it.”
Elizabeth will proceed her season with Georgina W and new horse Fernhill Kankan, a former experience of Jonelle Worth.
“I’ve had Georgina since remaining yr and I simply were given Fernhill Kankan in April so I’m in reality having a look ahead to doing just a little extra along with her,” mentioned Elizabeth.
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Credit score: Jo Prestwich
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