Spanish junior rider Morgan Barbançon Mestre swept the board at the 2010 CDI Addington scoring a hattrick in the junior division.
Aboard the 8-year old Westfalian gelding Dankeschön (by Douceur x Ehrentusch) Barbançon consistently scored in the seventies to capture three winner's trophies.
Barbançon and Dankeschön are a brand new combination, as Morgan's parents bought this former PSI auction horse from Wilfried Bechtolsheimer barely two months ago. The pair clicked straight away and this successful partnership was proven by their winning streak in Addington. The panel of judges gave them 72.0721% in the team test, 71.4912% in the individual and 77,250% in the Kur to Music
"I had a great feeling on Dankeschön, it felt as if we were one," said Barbançon. "The first two days he was a little tense at the beginning but he relaxed himself during the test and for the kür we were flying. He really is an adorable horse. I love him and have a special relationship with him."
The 17-year old Morgan Barbançon has been competing at the CDI Addington four years in a row but her wonderful achievements this year were the cherry on the cake. Morgan is aiming to compete "Danke" at the 2010 European Junior Riders Championships in Kronberg, Germany.
Barbançon's 14-year old sister Alexandra has also made the transition from FEI pony level to junior riders this year and is competing Morgan's schoolmaster Mr Q (by Matcho AA x Lanthan). They finished eight in the team test and fourth in the individual class (68.0702%) and kur to music (72.5833%). Though Alexandra is only turning 15 in July she has said farewell to ponies and will be focusing on riding horses, including her sister's Beaujolais
Morgan has an impressive string of horses at her disposal. With the 11-year old Holsteiner bred Ahorn (by Alibi x Caretino) she aims to be making the transition to Grand Prix level asl well as with with her third ride, the Holsteiner gelding Cinque Cento (by Cambridge).
The progress the Swiss based Barbançon sisters have made is thanks to the professional help of their long-time trainer Jan Nivelle. "We are trying to improve the overall impression of the horses. It is amazing to work with Jan. We make a great team; it's good fun and good work," she confessed.
Related Links
Scores 2010 CDI Addington
Morgan Barbançon Aims to Ace 2009 European Junior Riders Championships