Lottie Fry and Glamourdale produced a spectacular test to head a British 1-2-3 in the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix on the opening day of London International Horse Show.
The triple Olympic bronze medallist and 2022 World Champion piloted the 14-year-old KWPN stallion to a score of 80.78% to finish ahead of compatriots Charlotte Dujardin riding Alive and Kicking and Becky Moody with Jagerbomb.
“It’s very exciting to get in the arena again, because it’s been a while since the Europeans so I really wanted to see where we’re at after a bit of training and a bit of holiday,” said Lottie.
“The main thing for me is that we went in there fresh. He absolutely loved doing it and he really wants to show off. I really enjoyed every moment of it and so did he and it was just the most incredible feeling. He took me round it and I couldn’t be happier.
“We’ve just been working so much on that harmony, that lightness, and I’m just so happy it all paid off today because he felt absolutely incredible and he really delivered and he loves the British crowd.”
Dujardin returns
Charlotte Dujardin confessed to being ‘overwhelmed’ after her performance on the inexperienced 11-year-old Westphalian mare Alive and Kicking. The pair produced an impressive mistake-free test for 76.54% in what was Charlotte’s most high profile show since she returned from her FEI suspension.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed, to be perfectly honest,” said Charlotte.
“Audrey [Alive and Kicking] has done one show this year, which was in Le Mans, she’s never been in a show with this atmosphere, this big. There’s so much going on. She’s a very inexperienced Grand Prix horse. I think she’s only done five Grands Prix prior to this so it was a really big ask coming here but I know she’s a very honest horse.
“Going back in that arena, there’s something so special about riding here. Going around the edge and having so many people cheer me on and shout out, “Go Charlotte,” it was very, very emotional and just so good. It gave me a real buzz to be back.”
Defending champions finish third
Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, who won this class last year, put an interrupted warm-up behind them to finish third on a score of 75.04%.
“We didn’t have the best prep because he pulled a shoe off about 15 minutes before I was due to go in. That meant that I had about three minutes after that was put back on so it wasn’t our finest test, but there were some really good bits and lots to work on for tomorrow which is the main thing,” said Becky.
The FEI Dressage World Cup Freestyle will take place tomorrow at 1.35pm.
Full results can be found here.
Image © London International Horse Show.
