Anky van Grunsven will make her debut in the show ring with her new Grand Prix horse Upido coming January 2012. In an interview with Paard & Lifestyle, Anky said she most likely will compete Upido on the Florida dressage circuit.
After winning gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Anky had lost her drive but the arrival of Upido has changed all that. The Dutch warmblood stallion by Ferro has been at Anky's for almost a year now after an already successful Grand Prix career in Spain.
The show debut is planned for Florida. "In January I'm going to Florida for four to six weeks and I hope to compete him there. If that doesn't work I will show him in The Netherlands round that time," said Van Grunsven.
Anky admitted that she's looking up to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin's rise to stardam with Uthopia and Valegro. "I don'twant to start Upido too early. I think it's really good what Hester and his team did before the European Championships. Everybody was talking about their horses but no-one had seen them ride. Then it really gave a "wow"-effect when they rode their first test in Rotterdam," Anky explained.
"I hope for the same reaction when I start competing Upido."
Source: Paard & Lifestyle
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