Henry is concentrating on Grand Prix with his 16 year old Hanoverian stallion Margue this year. Their confidence as a partnership is growing steadily under the watchful eye of Erik Theigaard. This stallion has been a huge learning curve for Henry, and has given him great insight into what is required by both horse and rider to ride at the very top level of dressage. Henry is looking forward to competing successfully at Grand Prix with Margue during 2009.
Urban, now 8 years old, is now looking more confident and relaxed in the arena. He has already qualified for the summer regionals at Advanced Medium and Prix St George.He is now looking like an exciting prospect for Grand Prix.
Skyrocket, a syndicate owned 7 year old German bred gelding by Sandro Hit out of a Romadour 11 mare, is progressing extremely well in training. Skyrocket arrived with us eighteen months ago. He is gaining the strength needed for the more advanced work and enjoys this challenge enormously showing a natural talent for collection and piaffe and passage.. Henry is very excited at the prospect of competing this very talented horse.He is qualified for the summer regionals at medium level.
Henry also is training Maybe, a 17hh, 5year old mare by Sandro B, out of Annabel a Danish bred mare trained to Advanced Medium by Dawn Johnson. Maybe has had her debut, but can only be competed “HC” by Henry until she reaches the higher levels. Henry is extremely confident that Maybe will be hugely successful.We have also this year embarked on embryo transfer with Maybe and are hoping for her to produce a foal by the popular Dutch stallion Negro.
We embarked on a new venture in partnership with Biddi Lewis, Sinelli B’s owner, in 2007 to breed a foal from the successful mare Sinelli B that partnered Henry in 2006 and 2007. The first of our embryo transfer twins was born on Saturday 5th July 2008, a beautiful brown filly that we have named Risquee. Two weeks later our second surrogate mum gave birth to a stunning colt foal who has been named Remy. These two yearlings are now about to be weaned and decisions have to be made as to whether we repeat the process. Henry is competing Sinelli B again for Biddi Lewis and is qualified for the Regional Championships at Advanced Medium level. She is also currently in foal to Floris Count and we are keeping all our fingers and toes crossed for a successful embryo transfer on Sunday 21st June.
Henry decided he wanted to compete seriously in dressage 7 years ago, and between the age of 15 and 20 he represented Great Britain at the European Championships as a Pony Rider, Junior Rider and Young Rider for 5 consecutive years. He won Team bronze as a Pony rider in 2002 and again in 2006 as a Young Rider. He has won 2 National Titles at the British Dressage Winter Championships, the Medium Championship in 2002 when 15yrs of age on DHI Peppino, and the Prix St George Freestyle when 19yrs of age on DHI Faederlite.
He has been selected to be on the World Class Start programme since 2003 with the sole aim of winning medals for Great Britain.
|