‘I was quite nervous’: five-star winner overcomes atmosphere to sit pretty at the end of Pau five-star dressage

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and Colero have powered to the top of the Pau Horse Trials dressage results after their test this afternoon (28 October). The duo, who were triumphant in the five-star at Luhmühlen in June this year scored 24.2 to sit just 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Britain’s Izzy Taylor, who is riding Monkeying Around.

“I was quite nervous because after Luhmühlen he was always a bit nervous in tests and he showed that two weeks ago in Strzegom too – I think it’s because he had the prize-giving when he won in Luhmühlen,” explained 32-year-old Felix. “Yesterday he completely freaked out in here when we were doing the arena familiarisation.”

Felix said that at home Colero is usually very level.

“Usually he’s a bit too calm, but all the way through his test today he was quite okay and I think the walk was quite good for him in there. He was maybe a tiny bit nervous, but his medium canter was really nice.”

Britain’s Izzy Taylor was delighted with Monkeying Around, who she co-owns with Mark Sartori. The 11-year-old, who won the CCI4*-L at Bramham this year, is currently in second place in the Pau Horse Trials dressage results.

“He is a character and you have to work with him. Everything is very easy for him. and when I prepare him correctly, he thinks, ‘This is easy’, and he’s happy and smiley and ultimately he does love life,” said Izzy. “He’s a big character, so if I can bring that into the ring, then it’s great.”

Izzy then explained that Monkeying Around, for whom this is a first five-star but who has some exceptional four-star form, hasn’t seen huge crowds throughout his career to date.

“There was an atmosphere at Bramham, but he’s never really been anywhere with crowds because of Covid and life, I suppose,” she said. “He did come in here initially and was like, ‘Ooh’, and I told him he needed to breathe. Then he grew and smiled so I’m very happy with it.”

Izzy was particularly pleased with how Monkeying Around coped in the atmosphere at the end of the second day of dressage here.

“I’m very pleased with his brain – it was annoying with the mistake in his second flying change as he went early in front as he was too eager to please, but we can’t fault him for that. He is a beautiful horse and I’m really very proud of him, especially as I’ve had him from the word go.”

The cross-country gets underway at 1pm tomorrow (12pm British time) and just 4.7 penalties separate the top 10.

You might also be interested in:

‘He’s my dream horse’: meet the first-time five-star rider who juggles a full-time job with Pfizer while chasing her eventing goals

Take a leap of faith: check out the 2022 Pau five-star cross-country course

‘She’s a cool little pocket rocket’: meet the ‘feisty’ mare taking on Pau’s five-star

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Pau Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full magazine report on Pau Horse Trials in the magazine dated 3 November. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now