World Para Dressage Championship: Snikus takes grade I team title

Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance score a whopping 80.4% to head the grade I team test in the World Para Dressage Championships

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A truly stellar performance meant Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King Of The Dance scored a whopping 80.4% to head the proceedings in the grade I team test in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.

His win comes only a few days after securing Latvia’s first ever equestrian gold medal when topping the individual grade I results.

Daria Tikhomirova, Latvia’s chef d’equipe, said: “Rihards has already had a huge impact on para dressage in Latvia – our wonderful new rider Alise Muizniece [who finished 15th in the grade IV individual test], wrote to me after watching Rihards in Tryon and said she would like to do the same, and now she is here at the World Championships. Maybe some other guy or young lady will watch him and want to do it, and we’ll have a team.”

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Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.

‘I’ve always known I could do it’: flawless performance earns plus-80% score

An elegant, expressive walk helped the pair score nines and 10s across the board.

Rihards’ performances here go one better than his result at the Paralympic Games last year, when he finished second in the grade I individual test and freestyle.

“My test was very good, and all our exercises were nice,” said Rihards. “There are still things we can improve on, but it got better and better as it went on.

“King Of The Dance is a true king and a star; he felt really keen and is very sensitive. You need to find a very correct and sensitive connection with him, but I’ve always known I could do it.”

Sara Morganti and Royal Delight’s final performance of the day was a huge addition to the Italian team results, finishing with an incredible 77.25% to leave her in runner-up position.

Penultimate competitor Michael Murphy’s seamless test with beautiful medium trots and immaculate walk work, landed him and his 15-year-old KWPN Cleverboy 76.072%, which was good enough for third.

Don’t miss the final day of team competition tomorrow.

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