Winter Dressage Championships 2020 inter I report

Find out who claimed the coveted inter I title at the Winter Dressage Championships 2020, and which horse overcame a phobia of water to finish second

Dannie Morgan put a blip from the previous day behind him to win the Superflex inter I title at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships 2020 with Knoxx’s Figaro.

Dannie and Lisa Morgan’s 10-year-old Jazz x Krack C son pulled off a smooth, accomplished round to earn 72.5%. They claimed the title with a 2% margin from Nathalie Kayal and DHI Cleverboy.

“This is the big one – the class I’ve watched every year and really wanted to win,” said Hampshire-based Dannie, who also events and only took up dressage four years ago.

“I was thrilled with the quality of Fig’s work yesterday, although having mistakes in the pirouettes was less than ideal. My aim today was for a clear round, and although he felt slightly more tired today I was able to keep him in good balance, despite the wet conditions.”

Dannie used the lockdown period to concentrate on the grand prix work at home with the talented chestnut.

“He looks really exciting for grand prix now. The passage would be his highlight, but when he’s on form he doesn’t really have a weakness. I’d love to take him abroad to do an international some time soon.”

‘I think someone gave him a brain transplant last night’

Nathalie Kayal admitted to feeling emotional after her second-placed inter I performance with DHI Cleverboy.

“Of all our horses he is the one who won’t go through a puddle. He is petrified of water, and even the wash bay at home is a nightmare for him,” she said.

“I wasn’t sure I’d even get him into the practice arena it was raining so hard today. I didn’t know what to expect, but I made a conscious decision to aim for a clean test. And I don’t know whether someone gave him a brain transplant last night but he dug as deep as he could. I almost shed a little tear afterwards!

“He could not have tried harder, and I just feel so privileged to be on a horse who gives 110%.”

Emily Harris completed the top three in the inter I, scoring a shade under 70% with Freya FST.

Keep up with all of the action from the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships on the Horse & Hound website via our H&H Plus service with full reports from each winter championship class, plus a gallery of winners from the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships.