Hester dominates on the Sunshine Tour
Britain’s number one ranked rider Carl Hester has made an outstanding start to the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, by winning the first of the three small tour competitions.
Carl won both the prix st georges and intermediaire I classes with Sharon Baldwin’s nine-year-old 16.2hh Dutch-bred stallion Pro-Set, scoring more than 72%. The stallion’s class shone through and, in time, he looks set to become a worthy replacement for Carl’s Olympic partner, Escapado.
Pro-Set has also been making his mark in the breeding arena as he climbs towards international competition success at the highest level. A colt foal sired by the stallion won the title of Best British Dressage foal at the Brightwells Summer Gala Show last year.
Britain enjoyed further success in the big tour. Nicola McGivern and her 17.1hh Hannoverian gelding Active Walero, who helped Britain win team bronze at the 2003 European Dressage Championships, scored 72.440% to take second in the grand prix special, behind Lone Jorgensen with Hardthof’s Ludewig G on 73.040%. Nicola was also placed third in the grand prix, with Richard Davison and Hiscox Karachi in fourth.
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.