Russia's best performing Grand Prix rider in decades, Alexandra Korelova, has returned to the international Grand Prix ring with the experienced mount Baikal after a three year hiatus from the big time. In 2009 Korelova retired her star horse Balagur but she has now made her come back at the 2013 CDI Nizhniy Novgorod in Russia mid June.
Alexandra Korelova and her new Grand Prix horse Baikal took out both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix kur with 69.298% and 73.125% at the 2013 CDI Nizhniy Novgorod. She was very happy with the results of their debut appearance for 2013.
"As our last tournament was in September of 2012, I'm particularly happy with Baikal," Alexandra told Eurodressage. "I felt my horse was very attentive and showed himself in very good form."
Born and bred in Russia, Alexandra's 16 year-old stallion Baikal requires special attention due to his sensitivity. "He wants you to take the time and does not tolerate that you rush around him. In this CDI though he worked well in the trot half-passes and the one flying changes and although the competition was no so big, I believe we did our very best.”
Claiming much success on board her first International Grand Prix horse Balagur, Alexandra feels that he was the type of horse that can never be replaced. "I will just say that as my first top Grand Prix horse I found that he was just so willing to work, cooperate and do everything in the best way he possibly could! Perhaps it will be difficult to find such a horse for a second time and I know that I was very lucky with him.”
Stll in love with him, Alexandra is glad to have gained that experience on board a perfectionist, a horse that will rise up for whatever task he is given. "He was always working at maximum capacity, whether in his other life as a police horse or with meperforming in the dressage stadium," said Korelova.
Now the owner of her current partner Baikal, Alexandra bought the horse from Irina Ovsienko-Heuls, who picked out the horse for his potential when he was a three year-old. "Irina brought the horse on to Grand Prix level and successfully participated in both the National and International competitions in France as well as abroad.”
According to Alexandra, her two B-boys are completely different and she doesn't see the point in comparing, as both are equally special in different ways. "You have to look at each horse as an individual if you are to succeed," she stated.
Previously training with Monica Theodorescu, Alexandra is currently kept very busy training alone in her hometown in Russia but would be happy to continue working with horses under Monica's guidance in the future.
"My daily training is basically just working on the gymnastics and I find these basic elements occupy 80% of my riding time. As for future plans. I have them, but I'm not ready yet to share them with the world," said the modest Korelova.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Related Links
Scores: 2013 CDI-W Nizhniy Novgorod
Balagur, an Orlov Trotter in the Olympic Dressage Arena
Balagur Taking the Orlov Trotter into the 21st Century
Monica Theodorescu: Backed by History, Facing the Present on Home Bred Horses
Alexandra Korelova to Compete at the 2004 Olympics