New showjumper for Olympic hopeful Scott Brash
Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham have stepped in once again to ensure that British riders have the best horsepower possible ahead of 2012.
They have bought Scott Brash the nine-year-old gelding Sanctos Van Het Gravenhof, formerly ridden by Ukraine’s Katharina Offel.
Following the owners’ tradition, the horse will be renamed Hello Sanctos and it is all systems go to get him registered in time for the Olympic cut-off date of 31 December.
Scott, 26, is based in Peebles and is the number one showjumper in Scotland. He was a member of Team GBR at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last year and now has Olympic selection in his sights.
The opportunity to buy the horse came after the Ukrainian rider parted company with the owner of many of her top horses in October.
Ukrainian millionaire Alexander Onischenko had been buying many top horses with London 2012 in mind.
The deal came about thanks in part to David Broome, who went to try the horse with Scott.
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Scott told H&H: “He’s a lovely horse but I haven’t had him home yet as he’s going straight to America where I’ll join him [in the Winter Festival in Florida].
“It’s great that we are getting horses like this for Britain.”
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.