A multi-talented horse who started his career as a show horse in the UK before going on to compete at prix st georges dressage is set to make a return to the showing circuit this year.
Despite looking like he was destined for a career solely as a riding horse, Esanto (Robin) was sold to Singapore where he stormed up the dressage ranks.
Joanne Shaw of Redshaw Stud bought Esanto from Astrid Bolton in 2012. Joanne competed him succesfully as a large riding horse, qualifying him for Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International as a four- and five-year-old.
In the three years Joanne had him, Robin was also supreme champion at Aintree — netting a £1,000 prize — and champion at the British Show Horse Association championship show.
“In 2015 he was offered for sale and he was bought by amateur dressage owner Jane Drummond, who is based in Singapore,” said Joanne. “He has been produced through the dressage grades winning the medium dressage championships last year.”
With a full-time job and lots of international travel, Jane recently gave the ride to a professional who took him from medium to prix st georges in a matter of months, scoring 63.5% in his first test at that level.
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“Jane’s travel has increased so much that she made the decision to send Robin home to me to show and for him to just generally be able to enjoy the English fields again,” Joanne said.
“He is a truly special horse and hopefully Jane may find herself in the UK at least once this summer to see him in action and maybe steal the ride back.”
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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.
