What you didn’t know about… Borough Pennyz

Italian event rider Vittoria Panizzon tells H&H about her Olympic jumping machine.

Fact file

Name: Borough Pennyz

Stable name: Pennyz

Age: nine

Height: 16hh

Breed & sex: AES (Anglo European Studbook) mare

Sire: Cevin Z

Dam: Sovereign Flight (by Dutch Gold)

Discipline: eventing

Owner-breeder: Sally Bullen (who also bred her dam)

Rider: Vittoria Panizzon

Groom: Laura Wilson

Best result: finishing 11th at the London Olympic Games after adding one showjumping time-fault to her dressage score of 53.5.

Four things you didn’t know…

1 Vittoria produced Pennyz, starting work in 2009 and running in their first BE90 in April that year.

2 While nothing really frightens Pennyz, she will snort loudly at anything that offends her or invades her personal space.

3 Pennyz requires tactful handling for dressage – Vittoria has to “suggest” things or even just whisper to her, as a touch of the leg can produce an exaggerated reaction. She is only worked on the flat once a week, which suits Vittoria, too.

4 She gets very wound up about galloping, but runs out of steam after a few long hills as she is not a full thoroughbred. Vittoria has to work hard on the mare’s fitness.

To read the full interview with Vittoria Panizzon about Borough Pennyz see 27 September issue of H&H

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