Equines Around The World

It is believed that the rider was completely heartbroken after learning her junior team horse Sirius Black III died suddenly on 3 February, aged 18. The horse is known to have succumbed to a short term serious illness. The pair had competed internationally for Britain in the junior rider circuits, including at the junior European Dressage Championships in Oliva, Spain, in 2021. While Owens was away on a personal commitment, her trainer Sarah Higgins took over the ride on Sirius. With Sarah, he claimed a Premier League victory at Prix St Georges (PSG) and competed at the National Dressage Championships in September 2022. Since returning to the dressage arena, the pair have racked up several victories on the British domestic circuit scoring a personal best of 73.95% at PSG in December 2022, eventually winning at Arena UK and Vale View High Profile shows.

On 3rd Feb, Karim Florent Laghouag announced the retirement of his twenty year old equine partner, Punch De L’Esques, from the sport. During his long career in indoor eventing activities, Punch De L’Esques was part of the French team at two European Championships, at Malmö in 2013, where the team won bronze, and Luhmühlen in 2019. He also became a specialist in these indoor cross-country events, winning at Bordeaux in 2020 and 2017 as well as finishing second in 2019. He also won the similar competition in Geneva in 2017 and finished second there three times (including in December 2022) and fourth once.

Annabel Widdowson is thought to be the youngest rider to qualify for the 128cm final at the prestigious Hickstead International Arena. The seven-year-old pairing up with the 22-year-old Bunbury Conquest (Questy) came joint third in the second-round qualifier, at Morris Equestrian Centre, Scotland, on 28 January, which secured their ticket at the event. The pair, who were jumping 70cm classes a year ago, achieved the two double clears that secured their second-round place, at Forest Edge and Duckhurst Farm. They are now preparing to take on competitors in the upcoming final at the Royal International Horse Show in July.