‘The best she's ever been'

Combinations return to the ring revitalised after the competition break to succeed at new levels

- ANDREA OAKES

Onley Grounds EC, Warks

A NINE for an extended walk was “the icing on the cake” for Rebecca Drane, whose home-bred Dancier mare Danseuse nailed her debut at medium with a plus-72% win.

Rebecca, a Buckinghamshire-based freelance dressage coach, used the competition break to strengthen her bond with 10-year old “Susa”.

“The lockdown gave me the time to focus on a different approach,” she explained. “Being quite sensitive and tricky, Susa really benefits from one-on-one attention. The key is not to push her too quickly – you have to work with her to build a partnership.

“Now that we have that trust, she was the best she has ever been in the ring,” added Rebecca, who has represented Great Britain as a junior and young rider and as a senior at small tour. “It’s good to feel that the training has paid off.”

The Hughes family was also on winning form. KK Dominant, the Kroll family’s Diamond Hit stallion, made easy work of the Grand Prix to produce nearly 75% under Gareth. Gareth’s wife Rebecca headed two classes, starting with a Prix St.Georges (PSG) win on Classic Flamboyant.

“She really is flamboyant,” said Rebecca of the 10-year-old Westpoint mare, who is co-owned with Julia Hornig. “Being so overenthusiastic can make it hard, but she felt mega. We’ve just started playing around with some grand Prix work at home; I’m so excited about her.”

Rebecca’s inter I winner, Classic Goldstrike, has risen to a different challenge with the couple’s 12-year-old daughter Ruby.