A young rider and his rescue pony have continued their trailblazing progress by means of the dressage world – successful a title and two different podium locations in a single championship.
H&H reported in August of the success of Theo Charnley and RSPCA George on the SEIB Trailblazers Championships. The mixture went on to win on the Carnival of Dressage at Aintree, on the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) finals, after which on the British Dressage (BD) Quest championships on 4-5 November.
Theo and George received the intro title, and got here third within the individual prelim and the staff finals.
“He’s the first person to finish on the podium in all three classes, which is pretty cool,” Theo’s father Paul informed H&H. “Then to top off the weekend of wonderfulness, Theo was crowned the BD North and West youth rider skills champions. It’s been one hell of a year!”
Paul mentioned one factor Theo does earlier than each championship check is to have a “team talk” with George, to undergo their check.
“It obviously works, that picture was taken before the one they won!” Paul mentioned.
“They have their team talk; Theo goes through it saying ‘This will set up the canter here, and if you don’t get it, we’ll come back to trot here;, because George is a bit weaker on one canter lead, and George sits there watching it all. It helps Theo remember it, and it’s cute.”
Paul mentioned Theo has discovered that some issues he can not management, however others comparable to driving precisely to markers and utilizing corners correctly, he can management to maximise his efficiency and rating.
“But he’s not bothered about winning,” Paul mentioned. “Next 12 months, I wished him to progress to Area Festivals however he needs to do regionals, as a result of he needs to go to the nationwide championships. I took him to Somerford to look at they usually had prelim, novice and elementary, and subsequent door Carl Hester was doing the grand prix.
“Fair play to Carl, he came out and had photos with Theo, and Theo said: ‘I want to ride here next year’. I said he wouldn’t have a chance of winning and he said he didn’t care, he just wants to ride there; he wants to be in the arena next to Carl.”
Theo is now 11 and Paul mentioned subsequent 12 months can be his final on George, however that the horse can be going nowhere.
“I’ve been offered a lot of money for him – the RSPCA signs over ownership when you take them on – but I just can’t do it,” he mentioned. “I’ve had to fight off a lot of people asking what we’ll do with him; everyone thinks we’re mad because he’s worth a lot but you have to put your hands in your pockets and walk away. He’s not going anywhere.”
Paul mentioned the intention is to coach George to be pushed; he has been long-reined since they took him on, and compete with Theo in British Carriagedriving occasions.
“Theo will have his first driving lessons in December, then hopefully they can stay together,” he mentioned.
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Credit: Claire Charnley
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H&H information editor
Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, during which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by means of to worldwide championships.
