Dressage rider Spencer Wilton to ride Supernova II
Dressage rider Spencer Wilton is to take on the ride on Supernova II.
Supernova, previously owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard, was bought last week by Jennifer Goodman of Goodman Equine Ltd and is due to arrive at Spencer’s Gloucestershire yard tomorrow (Thursday 9 September).
The 7-year-old 16.3hh gelding by De Niro was due to compete at the National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh in the medium and advanced medium this weekend, but was withdrawn due to the sale.
“I’m so excited,” former national champion Spencer told H&H.
“Supernova is amazing — he’s like riding a Ferrari, but he’s also sweet and kind and sensitive.
“The aim is to get him ready for small tour level for next spring and I’ll spend time getting to know him now. I’ve been waiting three years for a really special horse and for someone to buy him for me to ride is incredible and I’m very grateful. Now I just have to get myself fit and organised!”
Ms Goodman was taken by Supernova after seeing a demo Carl did with the horse at Badminton earlier this year on YouTube (below).
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“I just thought, wow,” she told H&H. “I’m passionate about horses and like to have the best ones, and this time I was in the right place at the right time.”
Ms Goodman, who competes herself and owns several dressage horses and three top level showjumpers, added: “I’m very excited, hopefully we’ll have lots of wins. I flew in from France this morning especially to greet him.”
Supernova has been competed by Carl’s pupils Katie Bailey and Charlotte Dujardin at the lower levels this year and was also ridden by Carl at the Addington regionals (13 August) — winning the medium and finishing sixth in the advanced medium (report in 19 August H&H).
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.