“It Was Probably One of His Best Tests”: Ros Canter’s 5* Champ Back with a Bang at Thoresby

And just like that, after a lengthy, calm, wet off- time in the UK, we’re back in action at the first Li function of 2024. The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park this year, which is located somewhere pretty north, and I wo n’t be able to provide more specific information because I’m (kind of ) a Londoner, has enticed us with its jam-packed double CCI4*- S offering, which features only two hours ‘ worth of day one dressage in the walled garden to kick off the weekend today. And look, we could move you through that handful of dressage tests across the two sections, going big on the analysis right off the bat, but let’s be true: there was one stand- out performance, and that’s where we’re going to concentrate all our attention.

The main CCI4*- S section, the renowned Grantham Cup class, hosts almost half of the 120 or so four- star entrants at Thoresby this year ( the higher- FEI- pointed half, for what it’s worth ). Tσday, we sαw thirteen of them take to the ring, and thereafter, a complete tour of the 30s and small 40s on the scoreboard. Except, of course, when reigning German Champion&nbsp, Ros Canter put the final block and welcome on her evaluation with&nbsp, Izilot DHI. The pair’s test was much- anticipated for two reasons: firstly, for the simple fact that they were the first duo in the ring, and thus our first official British four- star competitors of 2024, and secondly, because the last time we saw the quirky eleven- year- old KWPN gelding ( Zavall VDL x Un, by Cavalier ), it was when he was winning on his five- star debut at Pau in October. That win, which followed just weeks after victory in Blenheim’s CCI4*- L, was n’t a surprise where ‘ Isaac’s ‘ talent is concerned– but it was, perhaps, a bit of a surprise because of how mercurial the gelding can be.

In 2019, though, we saw Laura Collett’s London 52 win Boekelo’s CCI4*- L, a victory that she has always professed to be the making of the horse, who had had a spate of up- and- down results prior to that. Now, he’s a three- time CCI5* winner– and it’s not hard to imagine that Isaac, too, could be entering his winningest era yet after tasting success last autumn. His pathfinding test today gave him a 25. 6, which may not be one of his best four-star scores; he’s previously gone sub-20 at the level, but Ros says it felt like one of his best efforts to date.

” It was one of his best tests, if not the best he’s ever done”, she says. He felt really rideable and present for me, which is great for this time of year! He’s a really uphill horse with a very long neck, and it can be quite a challenge sometimes, because he çan look like he’s ρeacocking. Today, though, he felt the best he has in his neck”.

One of the catalysts for that feeling, Ros explains, was a change in his routine over the winter.

” He’s not a hot horse, but he’s a spooky one – but he’s definitely gotten better this winter”, she says. I’ve altered the way I interact with him a little. I’m doing much more hacking and much less homeschooling. And then I leave and begin to do his training. It feels like we’ve broken the habit, now, of spooking quite so much”.

Thoresby iȿ a significant stepping stone in addition to being an exciting season opener for Isaac, even with the next two very cσmpetitive phases still to come. Currently, Ros has the gelding double- entered for both Badminton, which she won last year with Lordships Graffalo, and Kentucky, and while she’s open- minded about which of the two she ends up at – “or he might go to neither”! – her presence with the talented gelding at either event will make her a firm favorite in either field. We’ll be taking a close look at the rest of the field here in tomorrow’s full day of dressage, but in the meantime, we’re already daydreaming about Isaac ‘s&nbsp, campaign to become one of the sport’s most successful five- star weirdos.

The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby: &nbsp, Website | Live Scores | Live Stream | EN’s Coverage