Roland Tong and the eight-year-old mare CHS Fonteyn received the Magic Prix St Georges (PSG) Freestyle Gold Championship on the 2024 NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships on 73.29% – simply over 1% forward of Jezz Palmer and Honey D’Or.

“She was good as a result of she’s solely executed three PSGs earlier than this after which it was straight to the championships,” stated Roland.

“I all the time love the freestyles, Gaynor Colbourn did our music and he or she performed 27 devices after which introduced all of it collectively, so it’s fairly distinctive as a result of it goes from Swan Lake, to Whitney Houston, to Elton – it’s unbelievable.”

It was a marked enchancment from the PSG the day earlier than (10 April) – the place the mix scored 66.12% to complete twelfth – with Roland admitting he went out seeking to take extra dangers.

“She was too nervous yesterday nevertheless it was utterly totally different this time round,” he stated. “I went on YouTube and I assumed ‘I’ve acquired to make this floorplan actually arduous’ – so I copied Charlotte Dujardin’s freestyle.”

When requested what the toughest a part of the ensuing routine was, Roland laughed, answering: “all of it!”

2024 Winter Dressage Championships: “The perfect horse I’ve ever sat on”

Dannie Morgan continued his high quality kind so as to add one more nationwide title to his assortment, profitable the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold Championship on his excellent six-year-old gelding Fever Tree (Basis x Dayano), who he describes as “the perfect horse I’ve ever sat on.”

In what was a powerful class, the mix have been clear winners, scoring the best mark of the championships to this point – 79.29% – and ending comfortably away from Gracie Catling and Fraithwens Wytske fan ter Lune, who have been second on 75.76%.

“He’s an unimaginable horse, I’ve by no means had one like him earlier than, he offers me goosebumps,” stated Dannie. “I attempted to indicate an fascinating flooring plan however there wasn’t something too technical – he’s acquired such a beautiful means of going and is such a phenomenal mover that I simply attempt to current him in a pleasant means and he makes my job very straightforward.”

Fever Tree was bred by David Stone of Bow Lake Equestrian the place Dannie relies and in addition received the novice freestyle gold on the winter championships final yr. He has now received 25 of 28 outings to this point in his profession and look set to go to the very prime.

“I’ve identified him since he was a foal, and ever since I first noticed him, I used to be like, ‘wow, that horse’,” added Dannie. “I acquired the chance to purchase him once I broke him in as a 3 yr outdated. Horses like him don’t come round fairly often so I wish to hold maintain of him.”

Dannie was additionally fifth on the seven-year-old gelding Monsieur Frederique who completed on 72.11%.

The Petplan Intermediate I Silver Space Competition went all the way down to the wire with Julia Walker profitable on her 19-year-old mare Rodhea on 66.02% – simply forward of Nichola Harrison and Lobke Van Het Urnenveld in second on 65.93%.

“We name her princess,” stated Julia, who works for John and Char Lasstter.  “I used to be so happy together with her efficiency and that we didn’t make any errors within the adjustments.”

“She got here to the UK as a five-year-old from Lithuania and he or she was going to be for Char however she didn’t fairly develop sufficiently big, so I purchased her after backing and producing her as a younger horse.”

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H&H dressage and sport horse editor

Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for prime dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course at school. Below Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.