World Dressage Championships: Stella Hagelstam grand prix

Finnish rider Stella Hagelstam rode Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale in grand prix opening day at the World Dressage Championships — Stella Hagelstam and Mount St John Fairy Tale in the grand prix at the World Dressage Championships

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale lit up the stage as she made her championship debut with Finnish rider Stella Hagelstam at the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Championships.

Stella has only had the ride on the 16-year-old mare, owned by Emma Blundell, for two and a half months after taking over the reins from Brit Amy Woodhead, who is expecting her first child. The mare was also formerly competed by Charlotte Dujardin.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

H&H’s Herning horse of the day: Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale – the mare that shone for her pregnant rider

Stella and the Finnish-bred Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale, known as Princess, scored 69.74% and sit in 16th place following the first day of the World Dressage Championships grand prix.

“It’s a very fresh partnership. I really love the horse,” said Stella.

Stella explained the opportunity to take on the ride arrived when her own grand prix horse New Hill Julitrea was sidelined owing to injury.

“I know Emma Blundell really well and when my grand prix horse was injured last winter it looked like she probably wouldn’t be back in shape for this season,” she said.

“I spoke to Emma about some embryo transfer possibilities, and she said ‘Would you like to have Princess because Amy won’t be able to compete this summer’. I was like ‘Yes!’”

It could be said a special coincidence brought Stella and the mare together.

“Five years ago I bought an embryo transfer foal from her so I have a five-year-old son from Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale at home, which is so funny because I never knew the mother herself would also be at my stable one day. It’s a lovely coincidence,” said Stella.

“They are quite similar; she’s a hot horse but he is a little bit more relaxed. He’s a bit bigger, and has a lot of her qualities so I am expecting a lot from him in the future.”

At the moment the plan is Princess will go back to Emma after this season – and Amy is not the only rider waiting to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet.

“I am four and a half months pregnant.” revealed a delighted Stella.

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