Playing spot the difference - Quality Purdey above and Cooley Lands below
If Chris Burton ever wanted to do a horse swap without anyone knowing, the two horses he has at Boekelo this week would be perfect! We’re struggling to tell the difference between the two horses, Cooley Lands and Quality Purdey, that Chris is competing at Boekelo this weekend. Despite the fact that the nine year old Irish Sport Horse Cooley Lands is a gelding and the 11 year old German bred Quality Purdey is a mare they look so similar!
They have another similarity – they both won their last international start with Quality Purdey winning the CICO3* at Haras Le Pin on her dressage score of 36.7 in August and Cooley Lands won the CIC3* 8/9YO at Blenheim International, also on his dressage score
Chris and Quality Purdey held the lead until Alex and Don Geniro, the last combination on Thursday, overtook them
After the first day of dressage at Boekelo Chris is in second place riding his team horse for the Nations Cup, Quality Purdey with a score of 39.30 with Cooley Lands yet to come, competing as an individual. The other Australian team member that has already competed, Paul Tapner on Counter Party is in 30th on 50.90, putting Australia in equal second place with New Zealand in the team standings on a score of 90.20 behind Germany on 87
Paul Tapner and Counter Party
Both Germany and New Zealand have riders in the top 10 with Andreas Dibowski on FRH Corrida in sixth (41.40) and Sir Mark Todd on McClaren in eighth (42.70) but Germany’s top rider is Julia Mestern on Grand Prix West in third place (39.60)
Julia Mestern on Grand Prix IWest - this pair finished fourth in the CICO3* at Waregem
Britain, who currently is on top of the Nations Cup series leader board, has two riders in the top 10 with the two up and coming riders Willa Newton and Caja 20 in ninth (43.10) and Dani Evans on Smart Time (43.60) in tenth but both girls are competing as individuals. Tom McEwen is currently the top placed British team rider on Strike Smartly in 16th place (45.40)
But, as the dressage leader after the first day says, this is not going to be a dressage test. China’s Alex Hua Tian holds the lead on the gorgeous Don Geniro with a score of 37.30 after a test he was pleased with, despite Don Geniro being a little hot
Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro
“He felt very relaxed, really good in the warm up but then we went in and he just caught me out and was a bit hot, spooking at judge at E but I’m still delighted. I’m happy with the mark and delighted that the judges were brave and gave him the marks despite moments of tension”
Luckily the dressage is held on an all weather surface as there was torrential rain during Thursday’s dressage sessions and more rain is forecast so the ensuing days of competition, and particularly cross country on Saturday, will no doubt be affected by the weather but Boekelo is often like this and the riders prepare well for it
Yest to come for Australia - Shane Rose riding Sam Griffiths' Paulank Kings River (above) and Catherine Burrell on Duke (below)
Alice Naber-Lozeman is the leading rider in the Dutch National Championships being held as part of the event
