Posted: 19th August 2020 | Back to news feed
Joint Winners Secure Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Title at NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships
It was a battle royal for two riders for the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver title at the prestigious NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships but after two polished tests, there was nothing to separate Chelsea Tolhurst from Kent and Hampshire’s Maeve Morris.
Twenty-year-old Chelsea was the first of the duo to go in front of judges Judith Harris, Sharon Butterworth and Sue Petty with her own Dutch-bred eight-year-old, Hermitage de Jeu and they posted 71.61%. Just one horse later, Maeve (26) rode British-bred Headmore Footloose, or Eric to his friends, to the exact same score.
Fourth in this championships at last year’s Winters, Hermitage de Jeu and Chelsea have been together for four years and he was bought as her first horse to produce, as a lightly backed four-year-old. He was bred by De Jeu Dressage and is by Chagall out of a Prince Thatch mare.
Photo: Chelsea Tolhurst and Hermitage de Jeu
Chelsea said: “He warmed up really well as he can be tense and spooky but he was really soft and supple. In the arena he really put his trust in me and let me ride him. He’s not been the easiest to produce but as he’s getting older, he’s gaining confidence and learning his job.”
Chelsea’s love of dressage was sparked by watching the freestyle at Hickstead as a teenager and she knew that her future lay competing between the white boards. At 16, she left school to work for the Eilbergs and is now based with Judy Harvey but returned home during lockdown. The pairing did their first Prix St George together earlier this month.
Maeve and Eric, bred my Maeve’s mum Nicola, are no strangers to the Hartpury winner’s podium having won both the Novice and Novice Freestyle titles last year. “He’s just so consistent – quite a horse! He’s incredibly sensitive on the ground but a totally different horse once you’re on him.” beamed Maeve.
Photo: Maeve Morris and Headmore Footloose (Eric)
Maeve normally faces a daily commute into London where she’s a Senior Property Manager but lockdown has been spent working from home. “We tried to have a ‘fun’ lockdown and kept the work varied including poles. We’re working towards Medium which is going to be new for me and I’ve got to master sitting trot!”
Said Tom Janion, Managing Director of Equi-Trek: “The team at British Dressage has done a fantastic job in running the winter championships and to have Chelsea and Maeve joint winners of the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver title made for a really exciting competition.”
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