Charlotte Dujardin’s rival poised to make competition comeback
Adelinde Cornelissen and her grand prix horse Jerich Parzival are set to compete for the first time in 9 months.
The Dutch combination, who were pipped to Olympic gold in London by Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, will compete in the grand prix and the freestyle at the CDI at Arnhem, Netherlands (7-8 June 2014).
The 17-year was diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia — a heart-rate problem — last June and had an operation to correct it.
Parzival has been rested from competition with the aim of being selected for the World Equestrian Games in September.
“Parzival is 17 years old now and each time I think I got the maximum out of him, he improves himself again,” said Adelinde.
“He is now even lighter in the hand and even more fine-tuned that ever.”
Even though Parzival has not been out in public, Adelinde has still been training the 2011 and 2012 World Cup winner at home.
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“I’ve tried a few different things, like a new bit. If you go to a show, you can’t do that. That’s why this show break is so important.
“If you change your technique, it takes time. Parzival is not a 4-year-old and I’m also used to a certain system. If you change small things, it has big consequences for the rest. Now I’m slowly test-training and am looking forward to Arnheim.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.