Richard Davison Excited About "Bubblingh" 2016 Show Season

Focus

Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

It’s always exciting to try and spot new equine talent emerging at the top end of the dressage sport. As we near the end of the European indoor winter circuit equestrian journalist Felicity Norrie asked around to find out what combinations, as yet to hit the headlines, had caught the eye of the professionals. And one name that kept cropping up was Bubblingh, the 10-year old gelding ridden by Great Britain’s Richard Davison.

Felicity Norrie Reports on Richard Davison's "Bubblingh" Times

Bubblingh is bred in the purple being out of Richard’s Olympic and European bronze medal winning mare Ballaseyr Royale and by Edward Gal’s former top ride Lingh. Like his mother, Bubblingh is owned by Gwendolyn Meyer of the USA but was bred and is trained at Richard’s stable in Staffordshire, UK. Through my contact with Richard’s long-term supporters, WOW saddles, I was able to get an invitation to meet this special horse at home.

Settling down in the beautifully appointed gallery overlooking Richard’s indoor school to watch Bubblingh train, I was struck by the horse’s elegance and athleticism. He has an attractive, kind and intelligent head “and has also inherited his mother’s big eyes and ears,” agrees Richard.

I watched as the pair spent time gradually warming up and loosening Bubblingh’s scopey frame. Richard used repeated walk-trot-walk transitions in a long outline before including a similar trot-canter-trot exercise. “They help open the horse’s back and are gently gymnastic” offers Richard. Then, after a walk break, transitions within each pace were included and the intensity increased. “Bubblingh is a very responsive horse and tries very hard, so it’s important to get the optimum reaction and not too much. I like to think we add power a layer at a time.” explained Richard before continuing “It’s also important we have the ability to choose to remove a small degree of power and expression to keep relaxation and suppleness.” Half halts are refined until they are no longer noticeable but form an intimate communication between Richard and Bubblingh.

Richard Davison and Bubblingh at the 2016 CDI Drachten Lateral work was then introduced using sweeping and effortless leg-yielding, from one side of the arena to the other, both in trot and canter. While doing this Richard tested the adjustability of Bubblingh’s neck position and also varied the size and type of steps – some with more ground cover while others with more expressive or quicker action. “It’s all about the ability to choose the various components of a horse’s biomechanics and making sure they are calmly in place before progressing.” Almost seamlessly Bubblingh’s movement has transformed to springing off the floor and he glides through half-passes and expressive extended trots.

Then Richard works through sequences of flying changes until they become springy and uphill; they show remarkable straightness due to the discreet aids Richard uses.
When it came to piaffe and passage, Bubblingh’s talent is clearly exceptional. In the piaffe he naturally lowered his hind quarters and sat while raising his forelegs with ease. His passage was expressive, rangy and had a clockwork rhythm. It is clearly easy and natural for him and was a joy to watch. There is none of the straining for the required movement that one sees in less talented horses.

I asked Richard why he has chosen a slightly unusual plan for Bubblingh so far. “He needed time to grow, as a youngster he was a tall and lanky horse. We only did one competition with him as a five year old. His ability as a grand prix horse was obvious early on but I wanted to take it carefully so he mentally enjoyed his work. The downside of this plan is that he was inexperienced in a competition environment, but it is so important that a horse enjoys his work. When he started grand prix last year he was still only nine years old, immature and naive. He needed to get used to shows with enough (but not too much) atmosphere to gain his confidence yet it was important that I did not ask too much of him in the arena. So we did a few shows in Europe to assess his progress and let him become familiar with the environment.”

Richard and Bubblingh at the 2015 CDI Roosendaal Indoor That part of Bubblingh’s development has worked as, having watched him at Drachten CDI in December, he looked confident and rideable, Richard agrees. “Yes he is now much stronger in his body and in his mind. I feel we are now ready to show what he can really do’.”
And this exciting new kid on the block has attracted yet another fan. He has huge presence – hard to define, but obvious when you see it. Add that to his combination of power, althleticism and elegance throughout all the Grand Prix work, and you have to say Bubblingh has it all. It’s not surprising that those ‘in-the-know’ say he is definitely the one to watch. I’ll be watching him for sure.

by Felicity Norrie

You can see a video of Bubblingh and Richard in training here. Watch them compete through the live stream from the Jerez CDI's 24th Feb – 6th March at www.topiberian.com