British Breeder Magazine, February 2021

Studbook - News
2. Into the Blue is obviously bred
for show jumping, how did this
affect your dressage work?
There is no doubt about it, Dynamo was
bred to jump. However, his model, and
the power in his hind leg always made
me feel that with time I could re-train him
to be my partner in dressage.
This has definitely not been easy! From
day one, Dynamo was always very
spooky and sharp to the leg and just
sharp in general. At the time, I trained
with Michael Eilberg whose words
where: “If you really want to do
dressage, then you need to buy another
horse, he is not going to make it!” And
my reply was: “This is what I have and I
am going to turn him into a Grand Prix
horse!” At the time I knew nothing about
dressage, but I know myself, and when
challenged I can achieve most things I
put my mind to.
I admit it, the early days of dressage
were very challenging. Dynamo was
pretty naughty and many times retiring
because I couldn’t get past the judge at
C! But when I got to advanced level, my
belief in my horse was proved right, and
everything started to come together.
I still remember when I asked for the first
time to attempt piaffe and passage with
him, and he just gave me the gift of his
talent and basically acted like he’d been
doing it all his life!
That was what felt as the real start of
our dressage career. We have been at
Grand Prix for four years now, although
the last year can’t really count! With him
being in his prime this year I pray Covid
will permit us to go out and compete
again very soon!
The jumping breeding for me will always
pull me when buying a horse... half
jumping half dressage, makes for me
one perfect horse.
scores. This goes back to that strong hind
leg and back that has now enabled me
to improve the front legs.
Many years ago, the great Ted Edgar
told me: “You can train a front end but
you can’t train a back end”, and I found
this to be exactly the same for dressage
horses!
4. What is your greatest
achievement together so far?
Dynamo and I really have achieved
dreams! My greatest dressage moment
so far has to be gaining a massive
Grand Prix score in - of all places –
Aachen! Being on the team with Lottie
Fry and Charlotte Dujardin, and my
score having to count! That truly was the
best day of my life!
And then we did the same at Olympia,
and to experience the reaction from the
crowd was just fantastic! That was a very
special moment for me. I am honoured
to have such a horse. Yes, he may be
tricky, but he has taught me patience and
to believe in myself. And the fact that
we are on the list for the Olympics is an
achievement in itself, just to be
considered.... now that’s a dream
come true! My next dream is the
Europeans, and if things go right this
could happen…
We would like to say a big
thank you to Louise Bell for
telling us her fascinating story
and we wish them all the
very best from the AES
for the 2021 dressage
season!
www.angloeuropeanstudbook.co.uk
3. How are you coping with
lockdown, and what is your
daily routine with him?
Lockdown is hard but he trains two days
a week and he still jumps and does
plenty of hill work and hacking to keep
his mind and body strong. It is an art,
keeping these top horses at their best for
the right time and planning is crucial, to
be ready for that moment in the ring! You
can imagine it is very difficult right now,
as we cannot plan anything properly.
Over lockdown, Dynamo has developed
another dimension in his trot and this is
going to give me that improvement in
14 | BRITISH BREEDER