Young talent shines in Equilibra Challenge

Hannah Esberger-Shepherd and her five-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Noblesse were the clear winners of the four and five-year-old sections of the 2000 Equilibra Challenge, taking home a prize-fund of £7,000.

Judged on a combination of talent, training and correct way of going the three judges – Jan Peeters, Ghislain Fourage and Dr Dieter Schule – were unanimous in choosing their winner after 16 horses performed two tests with Noblesse being the horse who achieved the highest accumulative mark in a top class field.

Jan Peeters commented on the format, sayinf:”In my opinion the freestyle can be too much for young horses as many of the movements in this kind of test belong to grand prix level. However, today it was nice to see the riders using the music to help ride to a good rhythm.”Hannah Esberger and Noblesse, who were placed second in the Prevac Pro Potential International Dressage Horse Championships at this year’s national championships, will now go on to the Olympic Training Squad in preparation for Athens 2004.