A rider usually seen in the show ring was championed on the final day of the Lemieux National Dressage Championships. Freya Metters and Raine and Gary Harthern’s Heathersedge Just A Vision (Jack) were crowned champions of the Mobiliser Preliminary Gold Championship on a tidy score of 75%, almost 2% clear of their nearest rivals.
The seven-year-old coloured gelding was bought as a four-year-old to show. He took the showing world by storm during his first two seasons, winning at the Royal Highland, Royal Windsor and qualifying for both the Royal International (RIHS) and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
“We decided to try dressage during Covid and some how ended up here,” said Freya, who has dipped in and out of dressage for several years but for whom this was a first National Dressage Championships win.
Jack was bred by the Ibbotson sisters at Heathersedge stud by Quantum Sprung out of Heathersedge Eurovision.
“Dressage has been really good for Jack’s brain,” Freya continued. “It’s kept him busy and occupied. During his test he did everything very correctly and was flowing throughout. He’s strong in all paces, but was particularly accurate today.
“He can have his moments but on the whole he’s quite reliable in the ring. We’ll definitely be sticking with dressage for now.”
Lucy Goodman scored second with Sheepcote Big Deal on 73.218%, while Georgie Wheeler took third on Luxe PB with a score of 72.184%.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
