Chiara Prijs-Vitale's junior riders' horse Hot Chocolate has been sold to British pony team member Maisie Scruton. The 15-year old Oldenburg mare by Sandro Hit x Lateiner arrived in the U.K. today.
Holland based Italian Prijs-Vitale started riding Hot Chocolate in the winter of 2011, after her parents leased the elegant bay mare from German based Italian Michele Betti. Prijs-Vitale has been extremely successful with this horse, make their international show debut at the CDI Drachten with a bang, winning two out of three classes.
They continued their succcess tour at national shows, winning the CHIO Cup qualifiers in Assen and Harmelen and they ended up with bronze at the 2012 CHIO Cup Finals as well as the 2012 Dutch Junior Riders Championships. They competed for Italy at the 2012 European Junior Riders Championships, where they finished seventh in the Kur to Music Finals.
At the 2012 European Championships, the Prijs family was in the process of buying the horse to secure the ride for the future. Two months later the mare sold to the U.K. Prijs recently acquired the Grand Prix horse Korenbloem Dior and is aiming for a berth at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France.
"After careful consideration and based on our future foals (WEG 2014) we decided to continue with Dior," said Prijs. "Of course the offer was very attractive. We were approached by the Scruton family. Hot Chocolate will get a very good home and they are very kind people. Maisie had a very good connection with Hot Chocolate."
Maisie Scruton has been one of Great Britain's top pony riders. Aboard the Weser Ems stallions Rembrandt (by Renoir) she has been member of the British team at the 2011 and 2012 European Pony Championships.
"We are very excited about Hot Chocolate," said Maisie's mom Isobel. "She is a very talented mare and perfect for Maisie to make the step from ponies to horses. Maisie has had such a lovely ride on Rembrandt and has had success both nationally and internationally and hope to continue to do this in the Juniors with Hot Chocolate."
Trained by Julie Blanchard, Scruton aims to campaign both Rembrandt and Hot Chocolate at some of the later CDI's once she has had time to get to know her and enjoy Rembrandt until he is sold.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Van Lierop and Kooijman Win 2012 CHIO Cup Finals
Prijs and Kooijman Take the Trophy at 2011-2012 CHIO Cup Qualifier in Harmelen
Chiara Prijs Vitale Wins Big at 2012 CDI-J Drachten
Scruton, Williams, Hayler Lead at 2012 Kick Off CDN at Myerscough College
British Youth Riders Reel in Scores at 2012 CDN Keysoe
British Team Selected for 2012 European Pony Championships