Hot to trot - Carlos Diaz Fernandez with Sainete 33.17 during the CCI2* 7YO First Horse Inspection
Young horses can be a handful so the first horse inspection at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers usually provides some fun and games as the fit and frisky six and seven year old horses prance down the runway.
We’ll have a full galleries and articles coming up from each day but Libby has sent us some quick shots capturing the fun at the beautiful Haras National du Lion d’Angers and the first thing we find is that it isn’t just the horses that limber up but the riders too ...
Ireland's Sam Watson (above) and France's Astier Nicolas limber up for the runway (below) with a bit of frisbee in the Lorry Park
Our vote for the best (or at least, most interestingly) dressed – Austria's Rebecca Gerold with Shannon Queen during the CCI1*6YO First Horse Inspection
Our Ones To Watch
Ingrid Klimke and Weisse Duene
CCI2* 7YO ones to watch
Ingrid Klimke and Weisse Duene picked up 20 penalties on cross country here last year but started well on a dressage score of 38.6
Jonelle Price Obos Impressive won easily at CCI1* at Blair Castle on their dressage score having dropped down dropped down from 2* (watch Jonelle's winning form at Blair Castle in our XC Video here)
Jonelle and Cooley Showtime - 2nd at Tattersalls CCI2* and 5th at Belton CIC2*
Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On haven’t been out of top ten in nine international starts and has won or been placed in the top three on seven of those occasions. They were the winner of the KBIS British Eventing CICYH1* in 2015 and second by less than two penalties this year in the CICYH2* (watch Pippa's winning form at South of England in our XC Video here)
Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel were sixth at Osberton and Ros has a fabulous touch with young horses
Astier Nicolas and Maxime Livio – just because the French are on a roll and they are rather gorgeous to watch ...........
CCI2* Young Horse dressage starting order here
Izzy Taylor and Jockey Club Fleurelle
CCI1* 6YO ones to watch
Aquitain Du Delta and Thomas Carlile - third at the French Young Horse Championships at Pompadour CIC1*YH and Thomas is a master of the Young Horse classes
Izzy Taylor and Jockey Club Fleurelle were recently second at Osberton in the KBIS British Eventing Young Horse CICYH1* - just behind our next pick
Amy Crerar and Sankro - very convincing winners of the KBIS British Eventing Young Horse CICYH1*, a lovely combination to watch (watch Amy and Sankro's winning form at Osberton in our XC Video here)
Fire Fly and Chris Burton – second at South of England and Burto is one you just cannot overlook
CCI1* Young Horse dressage starting order here
The French are on a roll and gorgeous to watch to boot - Maxime Livio's Vegas Des Boursons shows off his moves during the CCI2* 7YO First Horse Inspection
