Latest from Horse & Hound in Sonnar-murray-brown

National Dressage Championships day four round-up: Sonnar Murray-Brown, Gareth Hughes and Holly Woodhead among riders in the Somerford spotlight

Alex Robinson — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:46:22 +0000

On the final day of the 2022 LeMieux National Dressage Championships, the ever-popular young horse classes showcased the next generation of dressage stars, young riders battled it out for the U21 titles and an Olympian won the crown he’d been missing. Find out exactly who took home one of the coveted sashes on National Dressage Championships day three:

With only one horse at this year’s nationals, Sonnar Murray-Brown returned home with a 100% strike rate as he headed an ultra-strong Equitop elementary gold class aboard Michelle Dawson’s lovely home-bred mare Stolen Secret.

The Eutopia six-year-old has been with Sonnar since she was a three-year-old. This was the mare’s first summer nationals.

“She did last year’s winters at novice level,” explained Sonnar. “She’s always so professional and intelligent. She’s a sweetheart and is a real girly girl.”

Sonnar and Secret finished with a score of 76.53%, putting Becky Moody and Magic Dream into second with 76.03%.

“I was delighted with how relaxed she was in there,” said Sonnar. “The freestyle started [while we were in the arena] and it was getting louder and louder, but Secret was such a pro. I gave her my aids and she answered. I sat back and let her cruise around. She was a joy.”

“I’m so lucky that I get to train with Carl [Hester] as much as I can,” added Sonnar. “He’s such a great help.”

The elementary gold was a battle to be fought, with the top 20 riders all scoring 70% or above:

“I didn’t look at the scores; I never do,” said Sonnar. “I like to do what I can and if it’s not good enough then so be it. I was super proud that the judges rewarded Secret, and it’s even better that she’s done it in such good company.”

Charlotte Dujardin did a double in the Andrews Bowen advanced medium gold final with Times Kismet and San Amour, despite the heavens opening mid-way through her winning test.

In the U21s classes, Charlotte’s Alive And Kicking advanced on her second place achieved in Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles prix st georges gold to win the British Dressage U21 young rider team test with Charlie McDowall. Read the full list of U21 class results here.

Young horses took up the majority of the day and securing the KBIS young horse four-year-old final was Holly Woodhead and Mount St John Equestrian LLP’s MSJ Viva Dannebrog.

Tom Goode and Deborah Cunningham’s Iceland Girl PS led the KBIS young horse five-year-old field, while Sarah Rogers and Mrs Bechtolsheimer and Laura Tomlinson’ home-bred Full Moon II headed the KBIS six-year-olds. Get the scoop on these stars of the future here.

Another four-year-old took glory in The Centre Line preliminary gold final. This was Lucie Stokoe’s chestnut gelding Nicolaas B who was steered to victory by New Zealand rider Sarah Wilkinson.

Georgie Nicolls scored an impressive one-two in the TopSpec medium silver final, winning with Briarwood Notorious and taking second with Katie Haigh’s Woodcroft Kika Quina. Find out what caused Georgie to miss this year’s winter championships here.

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(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

National Dressage Championships day three round-up: ‘cheese factor’ delivers, prospects shine and riders win first national titles

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Dujardin’s girls power through rain to dominate advanced medium gold at dressage nationals

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Tales from Hartpury: Sonnar Murray-Brown – former ‘ugly duckling’ is a ‘joy to train’

Stephanie Bateman — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 14:15:40 +0000

Sonnar Murray-Brown’s stunning black mare, Faside Simply Amour, wowed judges to land the Equi-Trek elementary gold at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships with 71.72%.

The mare by San Amour has been with Sonnar since she was a three-year-old, but he only brought her out to compete at the end of last year as a six-year-old. The Winter Dressage Championships was only her fourth show.

“I’ve just spent my time training her at home because she’s always been very sensitive and she needed time to get herself established physically and mentally and have the confidence,” said Sonnar, who trains with Carl Hester. “I just enjoy riding her every day – even if I didn’t ever compete her again, I’d still enjoy riding her. She’s a joy to train.”

Sonnar admits Amour hasn’t always been as beautiful as she is now.

“She was a bit of an ugly duckling as a three-year-old, but I’ve always believed in her and she’s stunning now – I absolutely adore her,” he said.

The plan now is to continue with Amour’s training and get a few more competitions under her belt.

“She’s coping and ready for it now, so she’ll do medium and some young horse classes and then aim for advanced medium next year,” said Sonnar. “The canter hasn’t always been the easiest of paces for her, but Carl has helped hugely and giving her time to mature has really benefitted her.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

‘Why has this happened to me? I have places to go. This is not my story’: Sonnar Murray-Brown on his life-changing accident

Polly Bryan — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 12:02:46 +0000

Sonnar Murray-Brown knows more than most about making a comeback after accident and adversity. When the international grand prix dressage rider was on the cusp of his career, aged 20, he was involved in a horrific car accident that left him with two broken legs.

“We hit another vehicle head on at 60mph. I woke up on the side of the road and I didn’t realise at the time that I had broken both my legs. I was told they could get me walking again, but riding wouldn’t happen. My life came crashing down pretty hard,” he recalls, on episode 95 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

“Two years after the crash I still had a non union fracture in my right femur and it just wasn’t healing. I was trying everything I possibly could. I decided to go on a quest to find a different surgeon, who was more specialised in lower limb fractures. I found Professor Michael Saleh, and I said I needed to get back riding, not thinking I actually would but not wanting to stop believing that I could. But really I just needed to get to a point where my leg wasn’t broken, so I could walk up the stairs. I was nearly 23, I’d had a broken leg for two years, and it was very frustrating. I needed to get to a point where I could live a life.”

It took another two years before Sonnar started tentatively riding again, but since that point he has risen through the dressage ranks in remarkable fashion, making his grand prix debut on his own Erlentanz in 2018 and achieving international wins and placings since, as well as enjoying plenty of success on his young upcoming horses, which include the six-year-old 2022 Equine Bridge winner Stolen Secret.

“I was given a second chance to do something I loved, so I’m very lucky in that respect,” Sonnar says.

“It made me understand patience. When I broke my leg again in 2019, that was hard – it was tough mentally. I thought, how many more setbacks and blows can I take?

“Horses are a great leveller, one minute you’re up, one minute down,” he points out. “Some people have maybe more luck than others, but everyone has different challenges and journeys.

“The quote I always try to think about is ‘comparison is the killer of joy’. You’re on your own journey and you have to believe that if you have a plan and you have your goals and dreams it will happen. Whether it happens tomorrow or in two weeks or two years, it doesn’t matter.”

‘For a small-scale breeder, every foal has to count’: Meet the breeder of one of Britain’s most exciting young horses

Polly Bryan — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:32:36 +0000

An exciting young British-bred dressage horse emerged as the top-scorer from last weekend’s Equine Bridge event, run by British Breeding. Stolen Secret, a six-year-old Uthopia daughter, out of the Riccio mare Raico, came away with the highest marks of the weekend partnered by international grand prix rider Sonnar Murray-Brown.

The mare was bred by Michelle Dawson of the Stolen Silver Sport Horses stud, and has been with Sonnar for training since she was a three-year-old. The pair have gained good results at the NEXGEN young horse championships last year, as well as the Winter Dressage Championships, and have had scores up to 80% at novice.

“I’m only a small breeder – I breed just two or three foals a year, and it’s absolutely fantastic that Secret has won the Equine Bridge,” says Michelle, an anaesthetist in the NHS who says she used to work up to 100 hours a week, but has now cut down to “just 36”.

“Breeding is so hard with so much that can go wrong, and when you only breed a few, every single foal has to count,” she explains.

Finding the right rider for Stolen Secret

After Stolen Secret finished runner-up as a two-year-old in the Futurity series, Michelle began her hunt for a professional rider to take on the promising youngster, but found it harder than she expected.

“I knew that as a small breeder I wasn’t going to get a big name rider coming to me to buy a horse, so I was going to have to find one myself,” she says.

“I researched about 100 British dressage riders, and shortlisted 12 of them who I then contacted with videos of Secret. I have a job that means I can afford to do this, and I was willing to become an owner and pay all the bills. But of the 12, only two riders replied to me and one wasn’t interested. Luckily, the other one was Sonny and he was actually the one I really wanted to ride her. He is a world-class rider, a total professional – he always has horses bursting out of their skins with energy, but also portrays so much elegance.”

The Equine Bridge

The aims behind the Equine Bridge, which was relaunched in 2019, is to promote British breeding, and to identify and nurture future Olympic horses by bringing together riders, owners, breeders, trainers and the sports’ governing bodies. Inspired by the performance tests found in countries such as Germany, the two-day event also involves evaluations by a vet, master saddler, a master farrier and a qualified nutritionist. Michelle feels this kind of holistic approach is important when it comes to the production of young British-bred horses.

“The Bridge shows that producing a dressage horse requires a multi-disciplinary team,” she says. “In the NHS, patients are always treated by a multi-disciplinary team as no one can be an expert in everything, and you need to look at the whole picture. As well as the training and quality of the horse, everything else needs to be in place.”

Secret isn’t the only exciting horse that Michelle has bred – the rising three-year-old Stolen Beltara (by Belissimo M, out of a mare by Rousseau) was the top two-year-old dressage horse of the Futurity series in 2021. Michelle has two foals due in 2022, one by British stallion Royal Rubin, out of Secret’s dam, Raico, and Michelle says that if it is filly she hopes it will become a successful broodmare in the future. The other is by the British Trakehner stallion Kaiserdom, out of Woodcroft Kristabelle, Michelle’s own competition horse who is trained up to grand prix.

“Hopefully that pairing will produce something special, but it comes down to a lot of hope and luck,” says Michelle. “Breeding really is a form of gambling!”

Top British combination withdraw from Olympic and European contention

Polly Bryan — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:01:08 +0000

One of Britain’s top grand prix riders, Sonnar Murray-Brown, has withdrawn his Tokyo prospect Erlentanz from team contention this year, describing the situation as “devastating”.

The pair were campaigning for a place on the Tokyo Olympic team, but a minor injury has ruled them out of competition for the remainder of the 2021 season, including September’s European Championships in Hagen, Germany.

“Our scores haven’t been at the level we are capable of this year, and at Wellington CDI in May ‘Erly’ didn’t feel himself in the arena. We took the time to check him out, and we are now treating a minor injury,” said Sonnar, who finished ninth in the grand prix at Wellington, and fifth in the grand prix special with 73.44%.

“I want to give him all the time that he needs, so we will give him the rest of the year to get better,” Sonnar confirmed to H&H. “I don’t want to rush him by trying to bring him back for the Europeans.”

Sonnar’s career and journey with the 14-year-old Latimer gelding, whom he bought as a six-year-old, has already encountered a number of challenges. Having fought back from a devastating car accident that left him with two broken legs and little hope of riding again, Sonnar then broke a leg in a fall in early 2019, which put him out of action for the remainder of that year, which was to be the pair’s first full season at grand prix. Charlotte Dujardin took over the ride on the supremely talented gelding, clocking up international wins with him at Windsor and Bolesworth, and finishing third in the grand prix special at Aachen CDIO5* with over 80%.

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Sonnar took back the reins in early 2020, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, produced consistent scores in the mid-70s, and placings at international level, including winning the grand prix at Le Mans CDI3* in February 2020. The pair finished fourth at the Grand Prix National Championships in December 2020, behind Charlotte and Carl Hester.

“This is gutting – I was really hoping to be on my first championship team, or Nations Cup team; that was my aim,” said Sonnar. “But it is just not meant to be for me this year. I have loved being involved in the preparation and build-up to Tokyo, and I’ve learned a lot. Erly is such an amazing horse, and he is still young enough to go again next year.

“In the meantime I’ll work hard with my younger horses, training them up towards grand prix. It’s not easy, but I really enjoy the training process.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Learning curves and pheasant dodging: Charlotte Dujardin does the double at Wellington H&H Plus

Polly Bryan — Thu, 13 May 2021 18:16:04 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin scored comfortable wins in both the Wellington Riding grand prix special and freestyle classes, at the inaugural Wellington CDI3* in Hampshire.

The reigning Olympic champion put a costly spook from yesterday’s grand prix behind her – calling it a “learning curve” – to claim freestyle glory with 88.35% on Mount St John Freestyle. The pair finished clear of the competition by more than 10%.

Riding to her delightful Frozen-inspired music, which has still only had minimal outings since she first debuted it in July 2019, Charlotte pulled in plenty of big marks from the five top-level international judges at this Olympic observation trial. Even a pheasant invading the arena and crossing their path in the middle of their tempi-changes didn’t prevent the pair from producing a line of 19 exquisite changes.

It still wasn’t a clear round, with the 12-year-old Fidermark mare breaking in the first extended trot, but Charlotte was rational about the mistakes.

“It’s better for that to happen here than at a championship,” she reasoned. “I don’t ride the freestyle often; I did practise it before coming here but it wasn’t quite how I wanted it, so today was almost a schooling round. We made some mistakes, so we will go away and work on it. By the time we hopefully get to a championship, it will be polished.

“But thank god we have pheasants and guinea fowl and chickens always in the arena at home – it meant when I saw the pheasant here I knew it wouldn’t bother Freestyle. I knew she’d just run it down,” she laughed.

Gareth Hughes finished second with an impressive 77.08%, ahead of Louise Bell and Into The Blue in third. Gareth was riding the compact Diamond Hit stallion KK Dominant, who looked to be thoroughly enjoying his first run for many months. The pair got toes tapping with their funky pop routine, while pulling in plenty of eights across the board.

Gareth also finished second in the special earlier, raising lots of eyebrows as he consolidated his newest grand prix talent. He and the 12-year-old Sandro Hit son Sintano Van Hof Olympia impressed with a clean and expressive round to score 75.23% and slot into second behind Charlotte and Gio. The pair got off to a rocky start as the hot gelding became unsettled in his first halt and the live scoreboard launched with a trending mark of 48%. But strong scores throughout the rest of the test, including nines for the pirouettes, boosted them up the leaderboard.

‘Pumpkin pie stole the show’

Meanwhile, Charlotte Dujardin’s rising star Gio – aka Pumpkin – was performing his very first international special, having run through the test just once in the pouring rain at a practice show last summer. Once again he showed off his huge potential, scoring 81.43% for an easy win to follow yesterday’s grand prix victory.

“Pumpkin pie stole the show,” exclaimed a delighted Charlotte. “He needs a bit more help than Freestyle and yesterday I slightly overrode him, so today I tried to do a bit less. I just wanted a clear round and he did that. It wasn’t perfect, but with horses we can’t be perfect all the time.”

Emile Faurie also impressed for 75.19%and third with his 2018 World Equestrian Games ride Dono Di Maggio, who is now owned by Greek rider Theodora Livanos. Emile and the imposing 14-year-old Dimaggio son make a great combination and they pulled off a very smart special, featuring seamless piaffe-passage transitions and expressive passage.

‘I had no warning’

After producing a personal best in yesterday’s grand prix with En Vogue, Carl Hester had a troubled round in the special. The tall Jazz gelding is immensely talented, but hot, and still relatively inexperienced. He broke to canter in the first extended trot, and spooked hard at a banner outside the arena during the second piaffe. High marks for the excellent work they produced in between the blips – particularly the pirouettes – earned them a final score of 73.6%, placing them fourth.

“Yesterday he was fantastic and felt amazing; today he felt even better actually but I don’t what he saw [in the piaffe],” Carl told H&H. “I had no warning – we came round the corner and he suddenly stopped but he was genuine to come round and do it again. His general way of going and his confidence in the piaffe and passage was really good and he is getting easier to ride, so we are making big strides forward in that respect.

“It was a disappointing mistake, so we will re-route to somewhere like Compiègne or Le Mans now, to get in another score,” he added.

Sonnar Murray-Brown improved on yesterday’s slightly disappointing grand prix with Erlentanz to score 74.45% for fifth, while Fiona Bigwood and Hawtin’s Delicato filled sixth.

In today’s under-25 grand prix, Alex Harrison came out on top with Diamond Hill, scoring 71.07% to relegate Ellie McCarthy and her exciting new ride GB Londero Von Worrenberg into second by less 0.2%.

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Britain’s best dressage riders in action at Hagen CDI4*: how to follow and who to watch

Polly Bryan — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:41:50 +0000

Four top British riders will be in action at the Horses & Dreams CDI4* show in Hagen, Germany, over the next few days. As one of the first major international dressage shows to go ahead in Europe since the latest coronavirus lockdown and equine herpes virus wreaked havoc on the calendar, Hagen is set to be an exciting showdown as a stellar line-up of riders ramp up their efforts for Olympic selection. We bring you some of the most exciting combinations to keep your eyes out for over the next few days. A live stream is available via ClipMyHorse.

British riders in Hagen

Charlotte Dujardin – Mount St John Freestyle (12yo mare, Fidermark x Donnerhall)

This will be Charlotte’s first time competing abroad since January 2020. She and Emma Blundell’s Freestyle, her double world bronze medallist, are on top form having made the most of the past year to fine-tune their training, and delighting dressage fans in December as they were crowned national champions with over 90% in the freestyle.

With Freestyle likely to be Charlotte’s top choice for Tokyo this summer, it makes sense that she will run in the grand prix on Friday, at 1.21pm BST, which acts as a qualifier for the special on Saturday. Competition on German soil will be fierce, but expect Charlotte and Freestyle to give the big guns a run for their money.

Charlotte Dujardin – Gio (10yo gelding, Apache x Tango)

Hagen is Gio’s first foreign show, but the gelding has shown such talent since he stepped up to grand prix level at the start of last year that he is sure to make an impact here. The chestnut gelding was a little starstruck when competing at the National Grand Prix Championships at Hartpury in December – although he still scored 88% in the freestyle to finish second – so this trip will be important for getting him used to performing on the big stage.

Charlotte will ride Gio in the grand prix at 2.41pm BST on Thursday, which is a qualifier for the freestyle on Saturday.

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Carl Hester – En Vogue (12yo gelding, Jazz x Contango)

Hagen is the first foreign show Carl has competed at since the European Championships in August 2019, and the first overseas trip for En Vogue, who is owned by Charlotte Dujardin. Carl will also be aiming to complete his qualification for the Tokyo Olympics here, although he will have a second chance to do so on home soil next month at the Wellington CDI in Hampshire. Carl reports that Vogue is feeling “gorgeous” to ride at the moment – it will be exciting to see what this combination can produce here.

Carl and Vogue will compete in the grand prix qualifier for the special on Friday, riding at 9.50am BST, with the special taking place on Saturday.

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Sonnar Murray-Brown – Erlentanz (14yo gelding, Latimer x EH Benz)

This exciting combination made a super start to the 2020 season in France and Belgium, and following high scores and good placings at the Keysoe CDI in the autumn, they will be aiming for more success here. Sonnar and Erlentanz will be hoping to thrust themselves firmly under the Tokyo selectors’ eyes with a strong performance at this highly competitive show.

They will run in Thursday’s grand prix for freestyle at 4.22pm BST.

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Lottie Fry – Everdale (12yo stallion, Lord Leatherdale x Negro)

Lottie and the striking black stallion Everdale haven’t competed internationally since Amsterdam in January 2020, so it will be exciting to see the progress they are sure to have made over the past year. The pair delighted British crowds by finishing a fantastic third at Olympia in December 2019, and are in contention for one of the three coveted places on the team for Tokyo this summer.

Lottie will pilot Everdale in Thursday’s grand prix at 5.16pm BST.

Lottie Fry – Glamourdale (10yo stallion, Lord Leatherdale x Negro)

All eyes will be on Lottie and this stunning stallion: the full brother to Everdale, Glamourdale was crowned seven-year-old world champion in 2018, and is now making his international grand prix debut. His enormous canter is always a highlight and this pair are sure to turn plenty of heads in very strong company.

Lottie has opted to run Glamourdale in Friday’s grand prix qualifier for the special, which suggests that this young stallion is set to be a firm contender for Tokyo selection. They will perform at 8.54am BST.

Others to watch

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER – TSF Dalera BB (14yo mare, Easy Game x Handryk) & Ferdinand BB (12yo gelding, Florencio I x Lanciano)

Jessica is one of the hottest riders on the European circuit at present and will be fighting for victory here with her European team gold and individual bronze medallist Dalera BB. The combination finished top of the Western European League for the second season in a row and are on flying form. Jessica also brings forward the less experienced Ferdinand, competing at just his second international at this level. She will ride both horses in the grand prix for special on Friday. at 1.12pm BST.

Isabell Werth GER – DSP Quantaz (11yo gelding, Quarterback x Hohenstein 4) & Emilio 107 (15yo gelding, Ehrenpreis x Cacir AA)

World number one Isabell will be in action, but not aboard her star mares Bella Rose or Weihegold. Instead she brings the experienced Emilio, who boasts more than 40 international wins at grand prix level, and the lesser known DSP Quantaz, who was a double winner at this venue last autumn, and also at the Salzburg CDI3* in January this year. Isabell will ride in the grand prix for special on Friday at 1.03pm BST.

Juan Matute Guimon ESP – Quantico (15yo gelding, Fighting Fit x Constant)

This show is a huge deal for Juan, being his first international appearance since he made an astounding recovery from a brain bleed in 2020. Quantico is his under-25 bronze medallist and World Equestrian Games 2018 team ride, whom he will be aiming for the Tokyo Olympics as part of his incredible comeback. The pair will be in action in the grand prix for special on Friday at 11.49am BST.

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Cathrine Dufour DEN – Vamos Amigos (9yo gelding, by Vitalis)

The other individual bronze medallist at the 2019 Europeans, Cathrine has opted to bring her rising star to Hagen. Vamos Amigos, who is owned by Britain’s Sarah Pidgley, will be competing at just his second international but looks set to have a very bright future indeed. He and Cathrine will be in action on Friday in the special tour at 9.59am BST.

Nanna Skodberg Merrald DEN – Atterupgaards Orthilia (16yo mare, Gribaldi x Donnerschlag) & Blue Hors Zack (17yo stallion, Rousseau x Jazz)

Nanna’s name might not be the most recognisable to some British dressage fans, but she is in Hagen riding two horses who are very famous indeed. Atterupgaards Orthilia is the talented mare whom Fiona Bigwood partnered at the Rio Olympics in 2016 to help Britain win team silver, while the prolific stallion Blue Hors Zack is the former championship ride of Daniel Bachmann Anderson, who is also in action here riding Carso’ni and Marshall-Bell. While Zack competes in the freestyle tour, Orthilia will compete in the grand prix for special on Friday at 9.41am.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Show ruling boosts Olympic qualification hopes for top British riders

Polly Bryan — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:01:49 +0000

British dressage combinations still seeking to complete their qualification for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics will now have the opportunity to do so on home soil, as the new Wellington Riding CDI3* in May has been designated an Olympic qualifier by the FEI.

The show, which is scheduled to run from 11-16 May at Wellington Riding, Hants, was originally added to the international calendar without the option to count towards minimum eligibility requirements (MER), but this decision has since been reversed by the FEI.

Among Britain’s top dressage riders yet to complete qualification for Tokyo is five-time Olympian Carl Hester with En Vogue.

Current qualification rules involve horse and rider combinations achieving certain criteria at a minimum of two eligible FEI events between 1 January 2019 and 21 June 2021. As Carl only took over the ride on 12-year-old Vogue from owner Charlotte Dujardin in February 2020, the 76.5% they scored at the Keysoe CDI in October 2020 is the pair’s only international grand prix result to date.

Carl welcomed the decision to allow the Wellington show to count towards MERs.

“It’s great news that the FEI has reversed the decision. I must also thank [World Class performance director] Dickie Waygood, who has worked really hard for this on our behalf,” Carl told H&H.

Charlotte is in the same position as Carl with the 10-year-old Gio, who made his grand prix debut nationally in January 2020, but has also only been able to compete internationally at Keysoe in October, where they scored 79.35%. Charlotte is already qualified for the Games with her World bronze medallist Mount St John Freestyle.

As well as competing at Wellington next month, Carl and Charlotte will also travel to Hagen, Germany, for the CDI4* on 21-25 April. Carl will ride En Vogue, while Charlotte will be in action with both Freestyle and Gio. This will be Charlotte’s first time competing abroad since the World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam in January 2020, while Carl has not competed outside the UK since the European Championships in 2019.

“I don’t want to rely on just one show, Wellington [for qualification] in case something goes wrong,” explained Carl. “I’ve got to have two shows so I have a back-up to make sure I’m qualified.

“Vogue feels gorgeous at the moment, but Hagen is a difficult show to get the points.”

Carl and Charlotte will be joined in Hagen by Sonnar Murray-Brown and Erlentanz, as well as the Netherlands-based Lottie Fry, who is set to bring her trio of grand prix rides: Dark Legend, Everdale and Glamourdale.

The entry list for Hagen reads like a Who’s Who of European dressage, with Isabell Werth, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Sonke Rothenberger, Frederic Wandres and Helen Langehanenberg among the German contingent. Other top riders set to be in action include Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour, the Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornellissen and Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon, making his first international appearance since his recovery from a brain bleed last summer.

Continues below…

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

Carl Hester’s concerns over lack of Olympic qualification H&H Plus

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

‘This is good for Britain’: Carl Hester passes ride on world medallist to fellow Olympian

Hawtins Delicato, the former medal-winning ride of Carl Hester, will now be campaigned by British Olympic rider Fiona Bigwood

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

Closer to home, many of Britain’s elite riders appeared on fine form during a grand prix training event at Hartpury last week, judged by five-star judges Isobel Wessels, Clive Halsall and Peter Storr. Carl achieved his first 80% grand prix aboard Vogue, while Charlotte received 84% and 82% respectively for her tests on Freestyle and Gio. Emile Faurie was also on top form, scoring 76.99% with Dono Dimaggio.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Erlentanz TSF: the grand prix dressage horse who has ‘surpassed all expectations’ H&H Plus

Polly Bryan — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:00:45 +0000

Polly Bryan hears more about the expressive Trakehner gelding who has become one of Britain’s very best grand prix horses

Rider Sonnar Murray-Brown

“The first time I rode ‘Erly’ was in Germany, as a raw six-year-old. I tried a few, but I loved the feeling he gave me, and the fact there was so much more in there to discover. I remember asking him for a flying change, and he leapt in the air and gave me this huge change – I loved it. He has always given me a really fun feeling; he loves to work and is such a trier.

“He has surpassed all expectations and become a horse of a lifetime – we have learnt the ropes together. I always had a feeling he could do grand prix one day, but there’s a difference between being a grand prix horse and being a really good grand prix horse. He still lacks confidence sometimes, but it is so fun to train a horse who just keeps getting better and better. The fact that he is capable of really high scores makes the hard work worthwhile.

“One of our career highlights has to be winning our first international grand prix at Le Mans in February 2020, after I had had a year off [after breaking a leg]. I just couldn’t believe it happened. My aim is a place on a championship team. It’s always been my dream to ride for my country, and the horse deserves it – he’s good enough.”

Groom Jo McGregor

“Erly is very sweet and a real gentleman, but he definitely has a cheeky, more playful side to him. I hack him out around the woods when Sonnar can’t, and although he isn’t spooky, he can get very excited and his cheeky side comes out, especially in winter when he’s fit and fresh. We usually take him out on his own, as other horses tend to wind him up.

“He’s a horse who is always happy to see you, and he really comes into his own at shows, where he loves all the attention. He’s a good eater, and eats just as well away as he does at home. He particularly loves mashes, and he likes to kick them all round the stable.

“It was so nice to see Erly and Sonnar do their grand prix freestyle at the National Grand Prix Championships at Hartpury before Christmas. We had been looking forward to them doing it for so long and it was lovely to see it all come together, especially as they have worked so hard and really deserve their success.”

Judge Isobel Wessels

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Erlentanz several years ago. I was walking along the bank at Hartpury, and he was doing an advanced medium in the far arena. I just couldn’t stop looking at this lovely horse, and I said to the person I was with that he would be a top horse one day. How magical to have watched him grow and develop and now to be judging him at grand prix level.

“I saw him perform at Aachen with Charlotte Dujardin in 2019 when Sonnar was off injured; he is not a big horse but in that huge arena he just looked phenomenal. He is so powerful, expressive and always has a lovely expression on his face – he looks like a totally happy athlete, which is lovely to judge.

“What is also lovely is that he has maintained his enthusiasm and charm through the levels, and he has also held on to his super extended walk, which is a real banker. I just think he and Sonnar are a gorgeous partnership – definitely team contenders.”

This feature is also available to read in the Thursday 25 March issue of Horse & Hound magazine

From a £250 pony, to multiple surgeries and sights on Tokyo selection: 11 things you may not know about rising dressage star Sonnar Murray-Brown

Polly Bryan — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 12:24:21 +0000

Sonnar Murray-Brown is one of Britain’s most exciting up-and-coming dressage stars, currently scoring top placings at international grand prix with his Latimer gelding Erlentanz TSF. Let’s find out more about him...

1. Sonnar Murray-Brown was born in 1988 near Chichester in West Sussex. His parents were not horsey — his father ran an outdoor education centre while his mother is an assistant headteacher, and the family’s main sporting interest when Sonnar was young was sailing.

2. His first pony was called Polo, and was bought unbacked for £250. “We had no transport and had to lead him home along the main road,” recalls Sonnar.

3. As a teenager, Sonnar was a highly successful showing rider, riding for various local show producers and eventually competing at the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show.

4. After deciding to pursue dressage, Sonnar started an apprenticeship at Jennie Loriston-Clarke’s Catherston stud aged 19. “Jennie’s such an inspirational person, not just as a rider but as an all-round horsewoman. She was on the yard every day, too, mucking out with us, and I trusted her 100%,” he says.

5. In his first ever dressage test, Sonnar was eliminated for going wrong too many times – but less than two years later he had won a national title at elementary and was competing at prix st georges (PSG).

6. In 2009, Sonnar was the front passenger in a devastating car crash. He broke both his legs, requiring multiple surgeries, and was told he may never ride again.

7. When he was 24, having recently returned to the saddle after his ordeal, Sonnar spent a year living in Germany, where he bought a six-year-old gelding — Erlentanz (pictured).

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

8. Sonnar and Erlentanz were advanced medium winter national champions in 2016, and made their international grand prix debut in 2018, when they were also selected for the World Class Podium Potential squad.

9. Sonnar is now based in Gloucestershire, with his partner Rob Barker, who is also a dressage rider. He trains with Carl Hester.

10. In February 2019, Sonnar broke his leg in a fall from a young horse. While he was out of action, Charlotte Dujardin competed Erlentanz on the international circuit, winning at Windsor and Bolesworth before finishing third at Aachen CHIO.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Sonnar Murray-Brown with his top horse Erlentanz TSF at his yard in the village of Bishop Norton near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on 13th November 2020 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

H&H interview: Sonnar Murray-Brown — the grand prix dressage rider told he would never ride again after a devastating car crash H&H Plus

11. Sonnar and Erlentanz scored a grand prix personal best of 75.5% at the Keysoe CDI in October 2020, and are currently working towards team selection for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. “I know I have a horse capable of a place on a championship team and I will train as hard as I can to make that a reality,” he says.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

H&H interview: Sonnar Murray-Brown — the grand prix dressage rider told he would never ride again after a devastating car crash H&H Plus

Polly Bryan — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 09:00:40 +0000

The international dressage rider tells Polly Bryan how he has rebuilt his career following catastrophic injury

On 25 January 2009, Sonnar Murray-Brown had the world at his feet. He was 20 years old and had just won the young rider team test at the Addington High Profile show riding Catherston Liberator, almost two years into a successful apprenticeship with Jennie Loriston-Clarke. But the next day, his life changed forever when he was involved in a devastating car crash.

“We were on our way to buy ice cream, can you believe it,” Sonnar, now 32, tells me, smiling ruefully as he thinks back to that day. “I was the front passenger, my boyfriend at the time was driving and he lost control on a country road at 60mph. The car spun and we hit another car coming the other way head on. I remember waking up on the grass verge and wondering why my hair was wet and why someone was cutting off my trousers. I didn’t realise I had broken both my legs.”

That night, Sonnar underwent nine hours of surgery as surgeons battled to save his right leg, which had smashed into numerous pieces. Doctors told Sonnar’s parents he’d never ride again, that the best they could hope for was that he might one day walk again.

Two years later, despite multiple operations, bone grafts and platings, Sonnar’s right knee was bent 45 degrees in the wrong direction and his right femur was 2.5cm shorter than his left.

“I’d lost everything,” he says, frankly. “I was 22 and being cared for at home like a child. I had to be lifted out of bed, I weighed seven stone and was emaciated. I struggled a lot mentally – my career was gone, life as I knew it was over. I kept thinking, ‘Why me?’ I was meant to fulfil my dreams, I had things to do, places to go. But I was lucky to have amazing friends and family; my 80-year-old nanny used to wheel me down the road in my chair.”

The turning point came when Sonnar met Professor Michael Saleh, a lower-limb trauma specialist, who thought that, with time, he might be able to do for Sonnar’s leg what others had not.

“He removed all the internal metalwork, rebroke my femur and put an external frame on my leg, which had to be locked straight for a year,” explains Sonnar. “I had to turn an Allen key three times a day, to pull the femur apart and lengthen my leg.”

Prof Saleh’s approach worked. To help his leg heal, Sonnar visited the Solent Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Portsmouth every day to use a hyperbaric chamber. It was this experience that helped him find some peace with his injuries.

“I would sit with all these lovely people who had MS, for which there is no cure, and it helped me put things in perspective. It made me realise how lucky I was.”

Throughout his ordeal, horses were barely on Sonnar’s mind, his dream career replaced by a fight to regain the most basic aspects of his life.

Dressage wasn’t always the dream. His family were not horsey – his father ran an outdoor education centre near Chichester and his family loved sailing – but as a child, Sonnar always wanted to be near horses.

“I started at a riding school, and then my mum and dad bought a pony called Polo for £250. We had no transport and had to lead him home along the main road,” Sonnar recalls, chuckling. “He wasn’t even broken in, but my parents and I managed to back him together. We had some real Thelwell moments.

“We met a local instructor, Claire Easton, who gave me lessons in a muddy field. She taught me in a classical way, and was strict about position and developing an independent seat. I didn’t realise the importance of all of that then, but I wanted to be a good rider.”

Sonnar started riding for local showing producers, eventually competing at the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show in his teens. But Claire encouraged him to think about dressage.

“I was a bit scared of dressage. I didn’t realise that prelim was just trotting and cantering circles. I thought I had to do flying changes right away. But after I left school at 16, I worked for a show producer and there was a dressage rider who rented stables at the yard. I watched him ride and thought it looked amazing, especially the horse going sideways. I wanted to learn how to do it and to represent my country one day.”

Securing a job at Catherston stud aged 19 set Sonnar’s dreams in motion. He got involved with everything, from backing and clipping to foaling. In his first-ever dressage test, he was eliminated for going wrong so much – “even though I was having it called!” – but despite the inauspicious start, he was riding at prix st georges (PSG) less than two years later.

“Now I employ people myself, I appreciate what a proper apprenticeship I had there,” he says. “Jennie’s such an inspirational person, not just as a rider but as an all-round horsewoman. She was on the yard every day, too, mucking out with us, and I trusted her 100%. I loved the training, the horses, the attention to detail in producing them. Dressage felt so right.”

Four years after his accident, it was Sonnar’s childhood instructor Claire who helped him get back on board, starting with sitting on his old pony Polo, then hacking out his former PSG horse, Tornado. Riding was, however, far from straightforward.

“When the frame came off my leg, I could only bend it five degrees. I had to sleep with my leg strapped into a machine that bent my knee over and over again all night. It was agony, but eventually I got 90 degrees of movement back,” says Sonnar, acknowledging it’s lucky he chose to be a dressage rider, not a jockey.

“Even when I started riding again, I only planned to do a tiny bit. I decided that if I couldn’t ride the way I wanted to, I would rather close the door on it and accept that chapter of my life had ended. But, slowly, I started getting stronger.

“When I was 24, there was one more operation Prof Saleh suggested to increase the bend in my knee, but I said no. I needed to get on with my life,” says Sonnar, who has never recovered full range of movement. “I had some money from the personal injury case, so I went to Germany and bought myself a nice six-year-old gelding. I wanted to start my new journey and try to catch up on the last six years.”

That horse was the Latimer son Erlentanz (pictured top) and it was with him that Sonnar’s rekindled dressage career took shape. Having returned to the arena in 2015, he and “Erly” racked up numerous wins and titles in the ensuing years.

“I knew I had a talented horse and I wanted to train with Carl Hester, to get to grand prix. Peter Storr helped me get my first lesson with him. After that, I was there at every opportunity; I jumped at every cancellation, even though it meant travelling from Hampshire to Gloucestershire.”

Eventually Sonnar moved to base himself near Carl’s, renting some stables around the corner initially, then moving to a nearby yard to set up with his partner, fellow dressage rider Rob Barker.

He and Erly made their grand prix debut in 2018, busting out some chunky plus-70% scores during their first year at top level. Then, in February 2019, disaster struck – again.

“I was riding a young horse at home who spooked and fell over, breaking my right leg again. Luckily, this time it was the tibia, the only bone in it I didn’t break last time.”

While Sonnar was out of action for the summer that followed, Erly most certainly wasn’t, with none other than Charlotte Dujardin taking over the ride. The pair had huge success, winning at Windsor and Bolesworth before finishing third at Aachen CHIO, and Erlentanz became the horse the whole dressage world was talking about.

“I was so proud Charlotte was competing my horse and I learnt so much,” says Sonnar. “I did feel some pressure when I started competing him again in the autumn, but I had to remind myself that I’m on my own journey.”

Nonetheless, Sonnar was quick to prove that he was also capable of great things, with a string of super international results putting him firmly in the eyeline of team selectors before the Covid-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. He admits he lost a bit of confidence while off games during lockdown, but with Carl’s help he is now back on his upward trajectory, scoring a grand prix personal best of 75.5% at the Keysoe CDI in October, and appreciating the extra year of training 2020 has brought him.

“I want to be the best rider I can possibly be,” he says, simply, when I ask about his goals. “But I also know I have a horse capable of a place on a championship team and I will train as hard as I can to make that a reality.”

Sonnar has dealt with setbacks most can’t even imagine, but has come out the other side mentally and physically stronger. He is also incredibly humble. I tell him I’m in awe of what he has achieved despite the odds and he laughs a little with embarrassment. He speaks at length about his gratitude to the many people who have supported him over the years, especially his family, friends and rehab teams: “I wasn’t easy to be around at times,” he admits.

But it’s testament to his talent and tenacity that he has overcome what he has. He tells me that while these challenges help him fully appreciate his life now as a grand prix rider, he prefers not to dwell too much on the past, but to stay focused on everything that now lies ahead of him. And Sonnar is undoubtedly a rider who has great things to come.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 December 2020

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Dressage rider sues for £300,000 after car accident

Charlotte White — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:34:52 +0000

A dressage rider whose legs were crushed in a car accident has launched a legal battle for more than £300,000 in compensation to pay for his ongoing treatment.

Sonnar Murray-Brown, now aged 23, was based at Jennie Loriston-Clarke’s Catherston Stud and had hoped to be picked for the British young rider dressage team when the road accident occurred on 26 January 2009.

He told H&H: “I have had nine operations on my legs in two-and-a-half years. All we want at the moment is money for my surgery and rehabilitation, not full compensation.

“It has cost a great deal of money and my parents have had to fund it all so far.”

Sonnar, of Chidham, West Sussex, is claiming unlimited damages from Lee Harris of Blandford Forum, Dorset, who was driving the vehicle in which Sonnar was a passenger.

Mr Harris was later convicted of driving without due care and attention. The writ lodged with the High Court in London claims that he was driving too fast and lost control, crashing into another car.

Sonnar’s right thigh and knee were shattered and his left thigh was also injured, but has now healed.

Two years on he is still on crutches and his right leg has an external fixator bolted into it to keep it straight.

“It is unlikely that I shall be able to ride at the top level again, but I have not lost faith,” said Sonnar. “I still have three young horses which my parents are taking care of for me and I get to see my old pony and my father’s horse.

“And still I have my best horse, Tornado — though he is with [new rider] Sorrell Klatzko.”

The weekend before the crash Sonnar had won the young rider team test at the Addington High Profile Show on Catherston Liberator.

And in 2008 he won the elementary restricted winter championships with a plus-70% score on Tornado.

A date has not yet been set for the hearing.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (1 September, 2011)

Young dressage rider recovering after car crash

Horse & Hound — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:18:53 +0000

A talented young dressage rider is recovering in hospital after a head-on car crash left him with badly crushed legs.

Sonnar Murray-Brown, who hoped to be picked for the young rider dressage squad this year, was a passenger in the car that crashed on Monday, 26 January.

He broke the femur in his left leg and the femur, kneecap, tibia and fibula in his right leg in the accident.

Sonnar, who has already had one eight-hour operation, told: “I’m feeling a lot better than I was last week. I’m being transferred to Oxford for further surgery, but I’m not worried about this as what they intend to do will give my injuries better support.”

The 20 year-old is based at Catherston Stud in Hampshire, home of British Dressage chairman Jennie Loriston-Clarke.

Last year, riding his own horse, Tornado, he won the Elementary Restricted Winter Championships with a score of more than 70 per cent.

The weekend before the crash, he claimed victory in the young rider team test at the Addington High Profile Show on Catheston Liberator. He had been on the waiting list for the young rider squad.

Doctors are yet to give him a time scale for returning to riding but Sonnar said he is determined to start as soon as possible.

“Riding is such a passion of mine, it’s hard not to be competing. But I know I will be back and I am looking forward to it.”

His mum, Janet, said: “Knowing Sonnar, he will be back in the saddle as soon as he can balance on a horse, even if it is riding side-saddle.”

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The Eutopia six-year-old has been with Sonnar since she was a three-year-old. This was the mare’s first summer nationals.

“She did last year’s winters at novice level,” explained Sonnar. “She’s always so professional and intelligent. She’s a sweetheart and is a real girly girl.”

“I was delighted with how relaxed she was in there,” said Sonnar. “The freestyle started [while we were in the arena] and it was getting louder and louder, but Secret was such a pro. I gave her my aids and she answered. I sat back and let her cruise around. She was a joy.”

“I’m so lucky that I get to train with Carl [Hester] as much as I can,” added Sonnar. “He’s such a great help.”

The elementary gold was a battle to be fought, with the top 20 riders all scoring 70% or above:

“I didn’t look at the scores; I never do,” said Sonnar. “I like to do what I can and if it’s not good enough then so be it. I was super proud that the judges rewarded Secret, and it’s even better that she’s done it in such good company.”

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Sonnar admits Amour hasn’t always been as beautiful as she is now.

“She was a bit of an ugly duckling as a three-year-old, but I’ve always believed in her and she’s stunning now – I absolutely adore her,” he said.

The plan now is to continue with Amour’s training and get a few more competitions under her belt.

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“I was given a second chance to do something I loved, so I’m very lucky in that respect,” Sonnar says.

“It made me understand patience. When I broke my leg again in 2019, that was hard – it was tough mentally. I thought, how many more setbacks and blows can I take?

“Horses are a great leveller, one minute you’re up, one minute down,” he points out. “Some people have maybe more luck than others, but everyone has different challenges and journeys.

“The quote I always try to think about is ‘comparison is the killer of joy’. You’re on your own journey and you have to believe that if you have a plan and you have your goals and dreams it will happen. Whether it happens tomorrow or in two weeks or two years, it doesn’t matter.”

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