News
Cavago Associated Championships: Lusitanos on parade
- Written By: British Dressage | Anna Chadfield
- Published: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:00
Day one of the Cavago Associated Championships saw an exquisite showcase of full and part-bred Lusitano horses heading down the centre line.
Nevado Safira, known as Safi at home, lost her eye to a melanoma three and a half years ago, shortly after returning from being backed. Following her recovery and being brought slowly back into work, Ellie started to take Safi to some unaffiliated shows while also balancing her A levels and preparing to go to university. This was when Ellie discovered Safi had a talent for dressage.
“She adjusted so well to life with one eye,” said Ellie. “We weren't expecting much — we just thought we’d have fun with her, but she scored very well at unaffiliated competitions, so we decided to try BD with her.”
The Associated Championships were Safi’s first experience competing away. “I did the Associated Championships CHAPS class last year on one of my other horses and thought it was a really friendly, fun show for her to experience and it’s nice that you're competing against similar breeds,” explained Ellie, “She coped amazingly, it was one of the best tests we’ve done; winning the class and our first sash just topped it off! We were so proud of her.”
Anne Jones and her seven-year-old gelding, Niquel Del Drac (Capote De Lyw x Tarroda), were the overall champions in the Lusitano Novice with a score of 68.438%. They also finished second in the Lusitano Elementary on 67.206% and placed in the top ten in both the Veteran Rider Novice and Elementary classes.
Expressing how pleased she was with Niquel’s performance, Anne said, “He really performed well. He felt nice and relaxed and was just getting on with the job … he always puts a smile on your face; he’s just a joy to ride and after every test, you come out feeling proud,”
However, Anne couldn’t help but kick herself a little for a “silly” mistake in the Lusitano Elementary: “Unfortunately I forgot to halt, so we missed out on first pace — I was so focused on turning the right way, I just forgot!”
Anne bought Niquel just over two years ago from a video since she didn’t have a passport following COVID: “Luckily, he was everything they said he would be,” said Anne. “Because I'm a bit older, I just wanted a nice safe horse that had a bit of something about them. He’s exactly that. He’s just so easy and very chilled — he’s a bit like a dog really!”
Sharing why they love the Associated Championships and keep coming back, Anne explained, “It’s a really nice show. Everybody was friendly and helpful. It’s also great that we can now compete in Lusitano and Veteran classes all together at the same venue.”
Talking about their next steps, Anne said, “We’ve been training with Emile Faurie who has been helping me a lot with getting Niquel to open up and relax. We’re working up towards medium so hopefully will be competing that by the end of the year.”
LucyAnna Westaway and Trudi Eustance’s six-year-old gelding Ouro (Almansor x Trovador) were the Lusitano Elementary overall champions on a score of 67.500% and placed second overall in the Lusitano Novice with a score of 66.25%.
“I was really happy with him in both tests. He did some super work in the warm up and in the ring with just a couple of moments being a bit ‘chatty’ and losing a little concentration! However, it’s all experience,” said LucyAnna reflecting on her test.
Ouro, whose nickname is Monkey as he’s very cheeky and loves bananas and mud (although LucyAnna is “less keen on his love for mud!”), is owned by Trudi Eustance (picture above with Ouro). Trudy brought him directly from Portugal about two years ago and arrived at LucyAnna’s yard about a year ago.
“Having been started beautifully, he was ready to get out competing and gaining experience.” said LucyAnna, “We’ve had a super year competing in both BD and MCI classes with the aim to have fun, move up the levels and see where it takes us.”
It was the duo’s first time at the Associated championships and reflecting on the experience LucyAnna said, “I was unsure what to expect. However, everyone from fellow competitors to the stewards was so friendly and welcoming. Plus, the arenas looked fantastic…I feel it will really set him up for the future, he’s only young, and I felt he learnt a lot from the experience.”
Congratulations to all of this year's winners and competitors and thank you to everyone who made this event one to remember.
Lusitano Associated Champions
Lusitano Preliminary
Debbie Bond & Liz Do Carrefe (G), 61.552%
Emma Greaves & Ha-De-Vir (S)*, 63.018%
Lusitano Novice
Anne Jones & Niquel Del Drac (S)*, 68.438%
Lusitano Elementary
LucyAnna Westaway & Ouro (S)*, 67.500%
Lusitano Medium
Mark Walters & Maestro Mourinho (G)* 64.853%
Lusitano Advanced Medium
Rosalind Campbell & Hihalino (S)*, 63.013&
Lusitano Prix St Georges
Nick Lawson & Timor (G)*, 67.280%
Julie Davies-Bennetts (B), 58.088%
Lusitano Part Bred Associated Champions
Lusitano Part Bred Elementary
Zoe Jones & KEH Grand Chaos (S)*, 65.074%
Francesca Modena & Coronel (B), 63.530%
Lusitano Part Bred Advanced Medium
Trish Wright & Redondel II (B)*, 61.603%
Lusitano Part Bred Prix St Georges
Claire Mackenzie & Garibaldi (B)*, 64.192%
Lusitano Part Bred Preliminary
Ellie Tomkinson & Nevado Safira (S)*, 67.414%
Lusitano Part Bred Novice
Zoe Jones & KEH Grand Chaos (S)*, 66.355%
*Overall Champion
