Catling's on fire

Friesians win a host of regional titles while the ponies upstage the warmbloods at Aintree

- ANDREA OAKES

Onley Grounds EC Winter Regionals, Warks

FIVE regional titles, six direct qualifications to the nationals and a clean sweep of seven out of seven top-three placings added up to a phenomenal show for Gracie Catling, whose scores never once dipped below 70% on each of the three horses she competed.

“The Friesians have not disappointed,” laughed her mother, Julia, after Gracie pocketed the prix st georges (PSG) silver with Tsjebe Fan ‘E Vesta Hoeve (Jeb) and rode Fraithwens Wytske Fan Ter Lune to novice freestyle and elementary gold wins.

“Jeb is a bit of a legend – we’ve had him 14 years now and Mum and I know him inside out,” said Gracie, who is studying sports psychology at university. “There were some really hot horses in the class but I know he’ll always do a solid PSG and it was a mistake-free test. He goes out and proves himself every time.