Michael Jung and Choclat
“A long-term concept is especially important for young horses. The muscles of a horse are able to adjust relatively quickly to the added burden of a rider, whereas tendons and joints need much more time for this. Solid basic training with due consideration of the basic rules of anatomy as well as physical and mental balance is therefore a prerequisite for the long-term career of a sports horse”
This is Michael Jung’s philosophy of training young horses as stated on his website and it certainly seems to work with many of his young horses doing well at a relatively early age and continuing their success for many years. Another of his philosophies seems to be the partnering of his young horses with his working pupils; Australia’s Isabel English is the lucky girl that has ridden Lennox 364 and Corazon at competitions during this year (Michael hopped back on again to take first and second places in the CCI3* at Strzegom last week) while another of the rising stars in the Jung stable, Choclat, has been ridden by another of Michael’s working pupils, Pietro Grandis, for much of the year
This also seems to work. The seven-year-old Choclat, by Contendro I out of Etienne (Espri), who looks as delicious as he sounds, leads the CCI2* 7-Year-Old Young Horse Championship at Le Mondial Du Lion, having pipped Michael’s compatriot Ingrid Klimke, another master of young horse development, by 0.3 penalties on a score of 25
Currently in second place on 25.3, Ingrid’s Asha P is by Askari out of Hera, a Heraldik xx mare. Ingrid’s past superstar FRH Butts Abraxxas was by Heraldik xx and the connection is, according to Ingrid “A good omen!”
In third place and also very close behind is Britain’s Nicola Wilson riding JL Dublin, who finished second in the CIC1* at Blair Castle International in August, where they gained their qualification for Le Lion
“He’s a lovely horse” Nicola told us “He’s a horse that has always excited me, he shows such potential and promise and has such a good brain” (listen to our full interview with Nicola here)
Can they do it again? Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around
Two other British ladies hold equal fourth place with last year’s 6 YO Champion Monkeying Around ridden by Izzy Taylor and Laura Collett’s Calmaro both on a score of 26.1. Prior to Le Lion last year Izzy told us more about Monkeying Around and preparing her young horses for this sort of challenge
The long legged Jesse Campbell and Gambesie
In sixth place on a score of 27.6 is New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell riding Gambesie, a horse previously ridden by another very tall rider, Jonty Evans prior to his injury. Jesse and Gambesie finished fourth at Ballendenisk CCI1* on their dressage score of 30.6
Kitty King and Cristal Fontaine
Liz Halliday-Sharp maintained her lead (22.4) in the 6-Year-Old Championship on board Cooley Moonshine and Britain’s Millie also maintained her second place (23.3) on Universal Cooley but Kitty King stole the march on Piggy French who is now in fourth place (25.4) riding Emerald Jonny.
Chris Burton and Coup Du Coeur
Kitty’s Cristal Fontaine scored 25.4, which included three nines but unfortunately also a few 6.5’s, a personal best for them at this level. In equal fourth with Piggy is Australia’s Chris Burton on Coup De Coeur Dudevin while Michael Jung re-appears in this class in sixth place riding Wild Wave (26)
And just to warm you up for cross country tomorrow, take a look at Michael riding Choclat at Aachen in the Lavazza Cup earlier in the year - obviously another philosophy is to have some fun with your young horses! After competing in that atmosphere, it's unlikely that Choclat will be distracted by anything on the cross country course tomorrow, which is of course as stunning as ever ..............
Take a walk around the 2018 cross country course at Le Mondial Du Lion here
