Dannie Lodder and Balmoral Henton on track for a good season
Dannie Lodder and Balmoral Henton finished last season on a good note with second place in the CCI2* at Puhinui International Horse Trials but went one better for the start of 2017 with a win in the Waitangi Sport Horses CNC2* at Northland Horse Trials in New Zealand on the weekend
The talented 10 year old Balmoral Henton, bred by Henton Lodge Hanoverians, was previously ridden by Australia’s Simon Kann until Sim had a bad fall at Kihikihi in April. Sim still owns the warmblood gelding by Contendro I but decided that another rider should take over and asked Dannie to ride; the partnership certainly is proving a good one all round
The class was a who’s who of talented lady riders with Sam Felton taking second place on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo and fifth on Ricker Ridge Escada, the two horses that came to Australia with Sam last year. They both jumped clear but took it steady on cross country as did Ginny Thompson in third place on Man of Honour and fourth on her Puhinui 3* winner Star Nouveau.
Ginny is heading to Springbush Horse Trials this weekend with these two horses and the CNC2* class at Northland would have been a very good leg stretcher in the lead-up to the international event. Dannie too is entered in the CIC2* on Balmoral Henton at Springbush – can she do a double?
Sam Felton and Dharma PSH
But back to Northland where Sam Felton also won the Watco Plumbing CNC 105 riding Luminous and the Equissage CNC 80 A riding Dharma PSH, making it a very good day at the office, especially as these are new rides for Sam.
Great to look at and talented too - Gemma Hampson and Pintado Prima Rosa
Gemma Hampson and the rather gorgeous Pintado Prima Rosa won the Dunstan CNC 1* on a cracking score of 24, more than 10 penalties ahead of Jessica Woods on LV Balou Skye in second place. Jessica also took third place riding Just De Manzana, a name that will ring a bell with many across the Tasman as this is the 12 year old mare previously campaigned at 3* level by Simon Tainsh in Australia
