Ride to the Regionals: Meet the riders
With Summer Regional qualification underway, we follow three British Dressage combinations on their Ride to the Regionals. Meet the three riders in part one of our BD at Home series where we follow progress, preparation and plenty of show day action!
© photo by Adam Fanthorpe. no reproduction allowed.
Gemma Phipps and Smooth Beginnings
Meet Southampton based Gemma Phipps who's aiming for the Summer Regionals on her own Smooth Beginnings, known at home as 'Rolo'. Gemma's journey with Rolo began six years ago when she bought him as a five month old foal. Having backed and produced her piebald partner to a competition debut in March 2020, Gemma is now aiming for Novice Silver qualification.
"Dressage has always been a passion of mine, even from a young age and I now get to train this one up the levels."
2022 has been a success so far for the duo on their BD journey, with a Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival placing and a ticket to the NAF Five Star Winter Championshups where they made the top 15 on their debut appearance. Now working towards gaining their qualifications scores for the Summer Regionals, hear from Gemma about her partnership with Rolo and summer hopes.
Alice Wilson-Gough and FBI
Based in Gloucestershire with her husband and two children, Alice Wilson-Gough joins the Summer Regional journey with FBI (Delatio X Rubinstein). Owned by Jane Radburn and known to his friends as 'Finn', Alice is aiming the nine year old gelding at Medium and Advanced Medium Summer Regional qualification.
The pair have only been together since the winter of 2020 and train with Alice Peternell, hear more from Alice about her dancing partner and goals before heading out to gain their qualification scores over the next month.
Daisy Mansfield and Feentanz III
BD Youth rider Daisy Mansfield is hoping to qualify her new ride Feentanz III, known as 'Fee', for the Summer Regionals at Medium Silver. Daisy has progressed through the levels with ponies Dream and Rayid Heart Breaker, moving from Intro to Medium and Pony FEI tests before moving onto horses with Fee joining the family in November 2021. Owned by Candida Soames, the fourteen year old bay mare (Fidertanz X De Niro) had a successful career in Germany competing to Prix St Georges level but Daisy is taking her time with her, "she is a big framed mare and can get nervous and lacks confidence so we hack, do poles and keep the variety which works for us."
Training with Shawn Mandy and her mum Emma Mansfield, Daisy and Fee are looking forward to getting out competing together.
