Carl Hester and his new ride Liebling II won the grand prix special with 71.16% on their first outing, having also taken third place in the grand prix at Saumur CDI in France 25-28 September 2008.

 

Hester took over the ride on Donald McTaggart’s 11-year-old gelding by Lorentin a mere 20 days ago. Anna Ross-Davies trained the horse up to grand prix level and Ross-Davies and “Lenny” achieved Britain’s best placing at the 2007 European Championships.

 

Hester said: “Anna and I have been texting each other throughout the competition and I have really appreciated her input to get the best out of him. You have got to say that he is a well-trained horse, bearing in mind that it takes normally a year to develop a partnership. We cruised through the grand prix on normal power and I tapped him for a bit more in the special. He didn’t put a foot wrong. He has a lot of natural talent and it is a privilege to ride such a willing horse.”

 

Hester enjoyed further success with his treble winner at the recent national championships, TMovistar. He won the intermediaire I freestyle on 72.8% and took the runner-up slots in the inter I and prix st georges with the eight-year-old stallion by Jazz.

 

“He was a little tired after the nationals and not at his best in the first two tests, so my physio came out to France on the Friday and on Saturday he was back to normal, wowing the judges. He must be the most aptly-named horse in British dressage and to think he only has only competed in three or four PSGs,” said Carl.

 

Anni MacDonald-Hall was due to compete Rosso, but injured her foot on the first day of the show. Although not broken, a strained tendon meant MacDonald-Hall was unable to ride. After being granted permission from the ground jury, she called Hester from the hospital to ask him to take over the ride on the 11-year-old gelding by Robin in the inter I.

 

“I had three-hours notice. He is a lovely horse and suits Anni down to the ground. I hope us coming third lessened her pain of having travelled eighteen hours to the show and being kicked,” he said.