Dorset based rider Hannah Biggs seems to be on a trajectory to international acclaim, following big tour success at Roosendaal CDI3*, 24 -26 May - just two weeks after major achievements during Hamburg CDI4*.
Thirty four year old Hannah and her stallion Weltzin (pictured) posted 68.021% to take second place in the Grand Prix Special, just behind Spanish rider Severo Juardo Lopez and Numberto who scored 70.521% for first.
Hannah took to Facebook to post “Even on a cold blustery day (is it really May?!) Weltzin was on fire to score just under 69% and another awesome second place in the Grand Prix Special at Roosendaal CDI! Now making our way home for a well-earned break!”
Hannah and Weltzin’s trainer, Emile Faurie, has long spoken of his belief in the pair as a force to be reckoned with at international big tour level, and they proved him right at Roosendaal, clocking in some eights and nines across the Grand Prix and Special.
Hannah said “We had a bit of a distraction in the Grand Prix when a group of horses galloped across the field next to the arena. As good as Weltzin is, he lost concentration and our marks did drop a little, but once I regained his attention he made up for it later in the test, and then in the Special.”
“I’m so delighted with where he’s at, we’re getting eights and nine’s now when it does go well so clearly we’re at a point where the judges want to give us those marks.”
And the pair aren’t just clocking up marks with the movements – Hannah’s fluid riding is consistently getting noticed by the judges. “I was really chuffed after Hamburg when the judges made particular reference to my ‘soft and harmonious’ riding. This time I had comments about my ‘nice hands’ - it’s great to know that I’m seen as one of those out there flying the flag for British riding, which is now being noted as some of the best on the circuit.”
Next on the horizon for Hannah and her ‘superstar stallion’ will be a Nations Cup leg at Aachen, Germany, in June.
When asked why she and Weltzin seemed to be concentrating on the Special, having not ridden to music since Amsterdam CDIW in January, Hannah replied “Ah-ha! Well, actually I’m very excited about the freestyle. The maestro that is Tom Hunt is looking at our music and floorplan and will be composing a new routine for us. It’s super exciting, but until it’s ready we’ll concentrate on the Special.”
Kentish rider Kay Maxted and her 15.3hh Gribaldi gelding ‘Privaldi’ arrived at Roosendaal straight from their first international of the year a week earlier at Vidauban.
They rode alongside Hannah and Weltzin in the big tour, finishing 20th in the Grand Prix and fifth in the Special on 62.979% and 63.938% respectively.
Kay, who trains with Sarah Millis and works with her husband running a central heating business to pay for ‘the horses', said; “The welcome at Roosendaal was wonderful and they looked after the riders, owners, grooms and horses very well. We both had time off over the winter and if anything Vidauban was a little bit too soon, so this was a good show to consolidate where we’re up to. It was inspiring to be riding alongside dressage legends like Edward Gal and I was really pleased with how Privaldi went.”
The pair scored fairly over both tests with plenty of sevens, but made a couple of costly mistakes which brought their overall percentages down. In the Grand Prix, mistakes in the nine flying change sequence brought their marks to threes and fours, but they swiftly made up for the loss in the fifteen changes, scoring sevens across the board. In the Special, the pair lost marks when Privaldi got confused and cantered out of the passage thus loosing his transition and extended trot marks.
Kay said “There were some costly mistakes, but he has a super piaffe and passage which helped us to even out the marks. When I first had Privaldi he could be a little sharp and spooky, but now I’ve learned to channel his brain. Overall the judge’s comments were lovely, calling him an elegant, talented horse who makes a good picture – so now I just need to stop making silly mistakes!”
The pair, who travel to international competitions with Kay’s husband, returned to the UK on Monday. Kay said “Most couples go on holiday with a bucket and spade, but we take Privaldi abroad to compete! My husband drives and I groom – it’s just the two of us. Privaldi loves going to compete, he’s such a kind, sweet horse and is perfect to look after.”
Kay and Privaldi will now look to the year ahead with sights possibly set on Biarritz CDI2* in June.