A tailless chestnut mare – whose rider needed convincing to take the reins – is spectacular RIHS 5* winner

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Richard Vogel riding Everneta in the Royal International showjumping at Hickstead
Richard Vogel and the tailless Everneta win the Agria Royal International stakes during the Longines Royal International Horse Show.
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves)

Friday morning’s 1.45m Agria Royal International Stakes resulted in a whitewash win for 26-year-old German rider Richard Vogel with a relatively new ride, 14-year-old tailless mare Evermeta (Mr Blue x Nimmerdor). The winning combination looked superb, rocketing round the corners and covering the Hickstead turf with ease, but the rider initially needed persuading to take the reins on the speedy mare.

“I’d like to say thank you to my horse – she’s a great fighter,” said Richard. “We’ve only been together for four or five months, but our partnership is going very well. Her owner, who I ride other horses for, always said we’d be a very good match and I doubted it a bit in the beginning, because I only saw videos of her. But he convinced me to give it a try. The first time I rode her I liked her very much because she’s such a fighter, with a great mind.”

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.