France
Kai-Steffen Meier leads the six-year-old class at Mondial du Lion on a score of 40.3. Dan Jocelyn is the only New Zealander to have ridden his test in that class so far, and he sits in 19th place on a score of 65.9.
In the seven-year-old class, Charlotte Dobrelsberger from Austria leads on 45.2. Jonelle Price has done her test on Obos Impressive and is 15th on 51.5.
Tim Price makes his appearance on the second day of dressage, along with Dan and Jonelle on their second horses. It appears that Jesse Campbell will not be competing due to issues with his horse’s paperwork.
New Zealand
Here in New Zealand, a number of people are looking forward to a busy weekend of eventing. There are a plenty of pony club events on, including the area trials in Canterbury at View Hill. It’s disappointing to see low entries for this, but numbers are much better – to the point where there is a now waiting list for the lower levels – at Te Kuiti & Districts Labour Day spring trials.
Entries are also excellent in the GJ Gardner Homes Manukau 2DE run by Papatoetoe Pony Club which is on next weekend. There are some big classes, with many riders taking their young horses out. It’s good to see some very experienced horses out for a run as well, including a certain handsome black 4* winner! Poor Charlotte Sellar: she has to put up with the Quimbo fan club stalking her every move!
There are 13 in the top class, the Red Snap’r CIC3* for the Forest Gate Trophy. Hawke’s Bay rider Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding, who won this year’s three-day title at Taupo, will be aiming for more national glory, but the other 12 competitors are all capable of taking the win. The Waiteko Trophy (Oaklane Stables CIC2*) has 19 entries, there are 30 in the Equissage CIC1* (Ferndale Salver Trophy), and 25 in the Mitavite CNC105 Championship (Tait Trophy). The largest classes of the weekend are the 95cm and 80cm.
