Hannah Esberger-Shepherd

Hannah and Diva win at Dressage Winter National Championships!

What a lovely show we had at the Winter National Championships!  Hartpury has superb facilities and we got great stables within view of the lorry so we could always see the girls were okay!

We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and exercised Dolce Vita and then did the horse walk. This was her debut at a Championships in the Novice Kur and we were so pleased when she came 5th with 70.83%. She went beautifully so it was well deserved. The following day was her elementary were she did one mistake and scored 66.15% which put her 7th. Again we were delighed with her attitude and way of going. She did so well to gain a place in the prize giving on both her tests and she will be so much more ready for the summers so watch this space!

Now to Diva. Well what a star!  She was first to go in the Medium Kur and kept the lead to win with 72.66%. In the prize giving she was relaxed until the others got upset, which upset her and although she coped I am afraid it cost us the next championship test, as she remembered...her trot work was great, but then we came to the canter and her memory kicked in (in exactly the same spot as the prize giving) and so it got a bit lively!  We managed to keep it together - just, but lost marks accordingly!  Still I am so pleased that she is mine to take home!  She is definitely one for the future.

Molly had a great time and decided to walk for the first time!? She toured the cafe at Hartpury waving to the catering staff, who were so charmed she was given the broken cookies.  What a clever little girl - I must try it myself!

Hannah