Always a popular fixture in the dressage calendar, the Roosendaal Indoor Christmas show once again proved a hit for the group of British riders who travelled to the Netherlands last weekend on 1 – 4 December 2016. British Olympic short listed rider Gareth Hughes clocked his first international Grand Prix victory aboard Don Carissimo, who made his CDI debut at that level in September.
Aboard Steve and Anne Keen’s 11-year old Hanoverian gelding Don Carissimo (by Don Crusador x World Cup III), Hughes scores 71.10% to place third in the Grand Prix and they won the Special. The duo scored a brilliant 72.49% with the judges almost one and the same in their scoring whilst the highest individual percentage came from Belgium’s Jacques Van Daele who awarded 73.82%. Four out of five judges placed the elegant combination in first showing great consistency well deserved.
"Don Carissimo has an amazing character for the work and is very focused in his work in the arena," Hughes told Eurodressage. "As he is still learning on the job my expectation for Roosendaal was to try and get a mistake free test. It was his fourth Grand Prix and second Special. He out did himself in both tests and we couldn't be happier with how he has progressed through the year."
Don Carissimo has only been at Hughes' yard since April after former young rider Olivia Oakeley had briefly competed the gelding at small tour level in 2015. Owners Steve and Ann Keen sent Don Carissimo to Gareth for the horse to be moved onto the Grand Prix work.
"He did his first Inter II at a national show in May and then did his first Grand Prix in August in a national class that ran along side the Hartpury CDI," Hughes told Eurodressage. "He was Reserve National Champion Inter II at our Nationals in September then went to his first CDI in Saumur. We did this as to give him a run abroad and to see how he coped with the travel and give him experience of an International. Because I have only done about 5 comps with him we decided to head to Roosendaal as one last show of the year."
Don Carissimo will get a short winter break to return to the arena at the CDI Keysoe in March 2017. Gareth is aiming for a British team spot at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg and will be taking both Don Carissimo as well as his Olympic short listed ride Briolinca out to qualify next outdoor show season.
"Briolinca is now healthy and has started back in work. We will build her up over the winter and aim for the outdoor season," said Hughes. "My plan is to aim for a team place at the Europeans next year."
Photo © Digishots
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