Woodlander Farouche and Michael Eilberg have been crowned the Supreme winners in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Championship at the LeMieux British Dressage National Championships.
Sibling rivalry
The pair scored 74.11% to win Friday’s Intermediate I test ahead of Michael’s sister Maria and Royal Concert.
Farouche is now working at Grand Prix level, but this did cause some problems in the Intermediate test when she started showing off her one-time changes when the test required three-time.
“Apart from the few blips, there were some really nice things,” said Michael. “It was a shame she felt it was necessary to go into one times in the three times. But we’re fiddling round at home with all sorts of work in preparation for Grand Prix so you have to get her brain back into small tour mode.”
Future star
The nine-year-old mare, who is owned by Ferdi Eilberg and Alison Walton, has been hitting headlines since winning the World Six Year Old championship in 2012. Hopes are high that this talented chestnut is a championship horse of the future.
“I guess I get a little greedy sometimes, I want to aim for the high 70s or 80% I know she can get. I just need to get a clean test and get what I know she can and I know it’s all in reach,” Michael added. “I feel she’ll settle more as we move on towards to Grand Prix; we need to build her confidence and understanding of it all.
“Inter I is a stepping stone towards Grand Prix and it’s where she’s getting a little tense; when she’s not quite sure. She’s felt a little overwhelmed with the work she’s been doing at home and come here and been a little bit anxious but today there were glimpses of what’s to come.”
Freestyle
In the Intermediate Freestyle, Farouche just missed out on the top spot with 78.62% – but the strength of their combined percentages meant that Michael took the supreme title.
H&C blogger Becky Moody and Carinsio, were the only combination to break the magic 80% barrier, posting a score of 80.5% to win the Freestyle. “A double whammy for us today – that magic 80% and I finally managed to beat Farouche! I was chuffed to bits with him,” said Becky.
The Yorkshire-based rider also has the future in mind for her talented gelding, who is by Painted Black. “He’s only eight so for now we’ll stick to small tour although we’ve been playing at some Grand Prix work at home. I want a horse that’s still sound and enjoying it when he’s 16 so I’m not going to push him,” she said.
Stronger
While there were a few mistakes in their Freestyle test, Michael was pleased with Farouche’s performance. “She felt good today. The extensions were great today, her half passes felt super, walk was good and her extended canter was great. The pirouettes and changes will still my downfall so we’ll be working on those at home. We know she can get a ten for her extended work every day but I need work on getting the lightness and collection to get tens in the other stuff too.”
Alice Oppenheimer and Tantoni Sir Soccrates took third place in the Freestyle (76.88%), with Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert were fourth with 74.48%.
It was very tight at the top though, with just 0.3% separating fourth, fifth and sixth place. Charlie Hutton and Super Blue posted a score of 74.38% to go below Maria, while Spencer Wilton and Zamboucca finished close behind on 74.18%.
Full results – click here
Watch highlights from the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at the following times.